1860 - 1869

1860

April. The erection of the iron roof truss began. Including the roof-horseman this construction was completed October 15th, its technical development was achieved by the later Cathedral master-builder Voigtel.

October 15th. On the birthday of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV., who was severely ill, Cathedral master- builder Zwirner put the golden morning star on the spire of the roof-horseman 109 meters high.

1861

January 2nd. King Friedrich Wilhelm IV., first protector of Central Cologne Cathedral Building Society, passed on. For the first time the Cathedral paper’s edition appeared with black border.

December 22nd. Cathedral master-builder Zwirner passed away. Cathedral building friends suffered from bewilderment and grief. Again the Cologne Cathedral paper was issued with black bordered front page, an honour, which no-one ever received except King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. and Zwirner.

1863

July 15th. Demounting the mural separating choir and nave, which had been erected about 1300 after the choir’s completion, started.

September 12th.The last rock was lifted from the church’s floor.

September 22nd. The last piece of the interim roof covering the crossing is taken down. The Cologne Cathedral’s interior was clear!

October 13th. King Wilhelm of Prussia visited Cologne Cathedral and downed a document about the Cathedral’s completion in the crossing’s closer.

October 16th. Election meeting of the ZDV on town-hall square. With pride the Cathedral building society looked back on its accomplishments of the past 21 years. The first goal, the perfection of the Cathedral’s interior was achieved. The northern half of Cologne Cathedral was solely and completely constructed with society’s funds.

1864

June 14th. At the 278th meeting of ZDV’s management board its president announced the authorisation of a lottery. The society regarded the lottery as additional revenue.

September 4th. First draw of Cologne Cathedral building raffle. The first prize in the amount of 100.000 Thaler accounted for the ticket number 328 158. 320.000 tickets had been sold. The net avails added up to 177.000 Thaler.

December 31st. This year’s society’s proceeds accounted for 108.617 Thaler, including several rates from the first lottery. For Cathedral construction 89.000 Thaler were procured.

1868

February 29th. The demolition of the old crane on the south tower started. The Cathedral’s roof rested on the belfry, which filled the southern half of first floor and was not demounted until 1872.

April. The Cathedral’s patio at the “Trank”-ginnel was completed.

May. The windows were installed in the southern transept, which were founded by the Köln-Mindener railroad company.

1869

The society’s memorial paper this year showed Cologne Cathedral from the Northwest. The paper was the last die-stamping in a proud succession of society’s memorial sign.

March 29th. Heinrich von Wittgenstein, government president retd., first president of the ZDV, passed away at the age of 72.

December 31st. Almost five-hundred workers are now employed at Cologne Cathedral construction. The building sum this year added up to 244.000 Thaler, 80 percent of which were procured by the ZDV.