Legends and Mysteries of the House
The story of Mr. Schmidt and the mysterious tunnel beneath the parish house in Trzciel reveals the dramatic fate of its residents and hidden treasures that will forever remain in the memory of the local community.
Legends and Secrets of the House
The Story of Mr. Wilhelm Schmidt and the Evangelical Church Community in Tirschtiegel
In the 1930s, life in the small town of Tirschtiegel (now Trzciel) revolved around the Evangelical Church Community, with the parish house as its central point. The story of Mr. Wilhelm Schmidt, one of the tenants of this house, is full of drama and mysteries hidden within its walls.
LEASE AGREEMENT
In 1932, Mr. Wilhelm Schmidt signed a rental agreement with the Evangelical Church Community in Tirschtiegel. He rented an apartment in the Parish House for an annual rent of 240 RM. Pastor Müller signed the agreement as the lessor. Schmidt committed to paying the monthly rent and adhering to the house rules, which was standard procedure in such agreements.
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND BAILIFF EXECUTION
Already a year later, Mr. Schmidt encountered serious financial difficulties. Documents from January 2, 1933, from Meseritz (now Międzyrzecz) indicate that court bailiff W. Dux attempted (though ultimately unsuccessfully) to carry out a debt enforcement against Schmidt. No items were found that could be seized to cover Schmidt’s debts. The bailiff prepared a document and attached an itemization of his own costs, which amounted to 4.99 RM.
In February 1933, senior court bailiff W. Dux again informed the Evangelical Church Community that the enforcement attempt had yielded no results. The enforcement title was returned without success.
SCHMIDT'S FATE
Mr. Schmidt, despite his efforts, was unable to get out of debt. His financial problems caused him to become insolvent, which ultimately led to his eviction from the rented apartment. His story served as a cautionary tale for other residents and, as it later turned out, a secret that remained in the memory of the local community for a long time.
NEW CARETAKERS
After Schmidt’s eviction, a married couple applied to take over the position of caretakers of the parish house. Their application was a response to the community’s need for responsible individuals to look after the building. The couple, determined and full of enthusiasm, moved into the house with hopes for a better future.
MYSTERIOUS DISCOVERY
A year later, the new caretakers, while doing cleaning and renovation work, came across a mysterious spot in the basement of the house. It is said that this could have been the entrance to an underground tunnel that connected the parish house with the wooden Evangelical church across the street. In the tunnel, the couple found a large amount of valuables, paintings, and suitcases full of money. Since Wilhelm Schmidt had access to the rooms with a direct entrance to the tunnel, it was assumed that he knew about this wealth all along, yet despite facing eviction, he did not claim ownership of the treasure nor did he take it when moving out. Unfortunately, by this time, Mr. Schmidt had already passed away (he died in poverty), taking the secret of the treasure and the tunnel with him to the grave.
Less than a year later, the couple disappeared without a trace. There are many theories about their fate—some say they were removed by the pastor, while others suggest they vanished because of the valuable discovery. Rumors spread that the couple had been dishonest about finding the treasure, and Pastor Müller had serious reservations about them. After their disappearance, the search for a new caretaker began again, as documented by numerous applications from 1934-1935.
Later discoveries confirmed that the legend of the tunnel might have been true. During the war, this tunnel was likely used to hide valuable artifacts and documents. Such mysterious discoveries in the house and on the property added even more mysticism to a place that already had an incredibly rich history.
The Mysterious Building
On Zbąszyńska Street in Trzciel, there is not only the former Evangelical Parish House, but also the entire building complex of this community, which has held many secrets for decades. One of them is the former building located in the garden of the old Evangelical Parish House, whose name remains a mystery on the map. This mysterious building (although no visible trace of it remains above ground) continues to fascinate researchers and local historians with its supposed connection to underground tunnels and hidden treasures.
Construction and Early Years
Legend has it that the construction of this mysterious building began simultaneously with the construction of the Evangelical Parish House in 1928. Both buildings were to be part of a larger complex serving the local community. While the Parish House was the center of religious and social life, the mysterious building had its secrets that drew the attention of locals.
Mysterious Tunnels
One of the most fascinating part of the legend concerns the network of underground tunnels that supposedly connected the parish house, the mysterious building, and the nearby cemetery chapel.
Established in the 19th century, the Evangelical cemetery in Trzciel had several chapels serving the local community. The oldest chapel, built in the mid-19th century, was the central place for parishioners. There are unconfirmed legends about tunnels connecting the cemetery chapel located at the southern end of the cemetery with other parish buildings, which might have been used as places to hide treasures during dangerous times or (in later periods) as shelters during wars.
A hand-drawn map, about 100 years old, has been preserved, indicating the spatial arrangement of the buildings and describing their purposes.
You can view the map and other documents in the gallery.
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