1850 - 1859

1850

May 14th. Election meeting of the ZDV. – On this day workings on the northern portal of the western frontage, which had to be discontinued because of shortage of money, were resumed. ZDV’s memorial sign of the year showed Cologne Cathedral in the state of construction in 1851. The edition added up to 10.000 copies.

1851

December 28th. The management board received a suggestion by Professor Walter of Bonn to bring a Cathedral building lottery into being.

1852

January 28th. Professor Walter elucidated his suggestion to the management board to arrange a large- scale lottery for the Cathedral building pointing out the beneficial results of such enterprises in France. Society’s Secretary General opposed this proposal, stating it would be irreconcilable with Cologne Cathedral’s dignity, since “ignoble motives” would induce donations. The proposition was not rejected entirely but postponed, since one believed that now means would be flowing abundantly again anyhow. Zwirner, who hinted at the “dangers of the future”, belonged to the supporters of the lottery. He probably had thought at that time already thereon, that the towers were unlikely to be built with the current means available annually.

February 2nd. After a stormy debate, in which among other things a letter by von Reichensperger was read out, who spoke against the lottery as well, ZDV’s management board dismissed Professor Walter’s proposition.

May 22nd. In Cologne’s newspaper “Kölnische Zeitung” the announcement of Foucault's Pendulum experiment appeared, which took place only a few days later in the Cathedral’s High Altar / High Chapel with approval of the archbishop and in the presence of crown prince Wilhem of Prussia. Organiser was Dr. Gahrte, who founded the Cologne zoo in 1860.The impressive experiment, which was realised eight months prior to this by Leon Foucault in the Pantheon of Paris for the first time, ought to establish the fact of the earth’s rotation.

June 25th. Cathedral building celebration – King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. inserted the coping stone in the anterior arch of the main entrance of the western frontage.

1854

May 2nd, 1854. Sulpiz Boisserèe, privy councillor, first and most effective promoter of Cathedral’s construction, passed away in Bonn.

April 3rd. Master-builder Richard Voigtel took up his post with Cathedral construction.

1855

April 4th. By decision of the cabinet the roof-horseman’s effectuation was approved to be metal.

May. In Paris the world exhibition showed selected work pieces of Cologne Cathedral builders’ hut, “coincidentally chosen from the availabilities for the northern gable and mould a beautiful adornment of the main-aisle in the palace of industry.” The Cathedral builders’ hut was awarded the golden medal of honour.

October 3rd. Cathedral building ceremony – It was King Friedrich Wilhelm IV’s last abode in Cologne. Before midday the foundation stone for the first solid bridge over the Rhine was laid, which, according to His Majesty’s wishes, should cross the stream exactly on the axis of Cologne Cathedral. Thereupon the ceremony took place on Cathedral’s court, celebrating the completion of the southern transept frontage. An artificial eagle carried the capsule with the certificate up to the finial’s pinnacle within 15 seconds.

December 6th. Also the northern transept frontage solely erected with means of the ZDV, was perfected with the fitting of the finial. The spire of the gable was destroyed on June 29th, 1943 by an aerial bomb.

1857

The society’s memorial sign of the year showed the Cathedral’s image in the condition of 1824. Zwirner chose the same perspective of preceding memorial papers to make the progress of Cathedral’s construction clearly visible.

1858

August 14th. Cathedral building friends celebrated the 25th anniversary of Zwirner’s activity for Cologne Cathedral.

October 3rd. The Rhine bridge was inaugurated. On this occasion prince regent Wilhelm (later emperor) visits the Cathedral construction site.