The failing Muskrat Business of Carl Anger

Carl Anton Anger sen. had meanwhile entered the fur business because it promised even more wealth.

Anton implemented artificial ponds in Neurohlau and  imported muskrats from America. But the muskrats mutated, the coat was not shiny, soft and smooth, but rough and unsightly. Making matters worse, the animals increased by leaps and bounds and  became a real  plague. Anton had to pay a lot for damages, lost a large part of his land and thus a large part of his wealth.

But they were far from  poor which came later. Anton then became directly stingy and miserly.

Anton Anger, Karoline, Gisela

Karoline, Anton Anger ca. 1900

Carl Anton Anger sen. war derweilen in das Pelzgeschäft eingestiegen, weil er sich davon noch mehr Reichtum versprach.

Er hatte in Neurohlau künstliche Teiche anlegen lassen und importierte Bisamratten aus Amerika. Aber die Bisamratten mutieren, das Fell war nicht mehr glänzend, weich und geschmeidig, sondern struppig und unansehnlich. Zu allem Übel vermehrten sich die Tiere sprunghaft und wurden zu einer regelrechten Landplage. Anton mußte viel Schadenersatz zahlen, verlor einen großen Teil seiner Ländereien und somit einen großen Teil seines Vermögens.

Aber arm waren die Angers noch lange nicht, das kam erst später. Da wurde Anton dann direkt knauserig und geizig.

Building boom 1870-1900 in Karlsbad

A building boom started: the small houses were demolished. The old and middle class houses in the Rococo, Neoclassical, Empire and Biedermeier style were  gradually torn down as part of the impressive reconstruction of the city during the years 1870-1900.

In its place were modern and comfortable furnished buildings created with the character of a city that became the most famous spa town of Europe.

The row of houses which the Funks bought,   were also replaced by a huge hotel complex made up of five buildings. There were two adjoining five-story houses in almost the same height. Due to the already rising Theatergasse  only a three-story house was built next to it.

In the rear part of the property  were two other buildings which stood probably always there, they were used as storerooms, ice- and wine cellar.



Hotel Hopfenstock vor 50 Jahren und 1908

On the ground floor in one of the five-story houses was a wall that had always been moldy and smelled of horse manure. It was said that  it was a remnant of the former stables of the Thurn and Taxis Post. Whatever had been tried, the mold did not go away. My grandfather had the wall propped up and replaced with entirely new material, but the mold remained. It will probably still be there today.



Genealogie, oldest record

Our family was linked with the history of the springs at least three centuries. The maternal great-great-grandparents were Franz Funk and his wife Anna.

They founded the Hopfenstock.

Most Funks were goldsmiths. My great-grandfather, Franz Funk was also a goldsmith. I own a jewellery  ensemble from him, which was his tradesman’s masterpiece . It consists of two earrings, a medallion and a comb with elaborately rimmed garnets, turquoises and pearls. The socket is not gold, but metal, gold would have been too soft to handle, it was said.

But he must have thought, that, with a tavern and a few rooms for rent, he could get more money than with the manufacturing of jewellery. The couple looked for a suitable property. In the Theater Alley a small gabled inn was for sale. The house met their expectations: Across the street was the City Theater and the “Schildpark”. In the Schildpark stopped  all stagecoaches for  travelers to get off or to continue their journey to Prague or Nuremberg.

Franz and Anna did not think about it for a long time.They bought the little house.

Das kleine giebelige Haus