Church

Kirche

The 14th century stone church of Schlabendorf probably replaced a much older, wooden church. It was built by Cistercian monks from the nearby monastery at Dobrilugk, with the help of the local inhabitants.
On All Soul’s Day -the last Sunday before Advent- the names of those who have died in the village in the previous year are read aloud. and their graves are covered in pine branches. In spring the branches are removed and the graves planted with flowers. In the following months the graveyard is a lively meeting place for family members who get together to water the plants.
With the looming demolition of Schlabendorf to make way for the coalmines, the villagers started to relocate their dead. Those who died during the years of waiting were of necessity buried elsewhere.

Manor

Gutshof

The chestnut tree standing opposite the church is still young, but replaced a much older tree. This is where the women used to meet before setting off to work in the fields. Flax production and linen weaving used to be an important cottage industry in Schlabendorf: in practically every house stood a spinning wheel and loom. After weaving, the linen would be bleached, dyed or printed, before delivery to the tailors. The last Lord of the Manor before WW2 was Klaus Haake, who managed to escape the Russians just before the end of the war. He is remembered well by his workers, as more than a good employer: he also provided homes, food and education for their children. The land reforms which took place in the aftermath of WW2 disinherited the former Landlords and the land was divided up and given to the workers, emigrants and poorer farmers.
The manorhouse was demolished, and later the MAS stood here (depot for state-owned agricultural machinery for the use of the workers). Once more, this became the meeting-point for the women, when they brought their husbands’ midday meal.