Kolonnenstrasse

Kolonnenstrasse is the oldest and most important street in the Schöneberger Insel. Until 1860 it was called Colonnenweg. Part of it leads along a path that was used by Schöneberg farmers on their way to their fields in the direction of Tempelhof. Early on there were plans to straighten the street, but its route still shows signs of the many bends in the original rural path.

Many properties in Kolonnenstrasse belonged to the Sarre family who had settled in Schöneberg. The Sarres were of Huguenot background and worked as gardeners, farmers and innkeepers.

 

Kolonnenstrasse got its name because the columns of troops from Charlottenburg and Moabit marched along the road on their way to the military training ground at Tempelhof Field. The street was unpaved until 1870 and it turned into a morass when it rained. The Schöneberg community administrators first got around to paving it after the Prussian government strictly admonished them.

In the years of rapid industrial expansion in the 19th century Kolonnenstrasse was constantly under construction: front lawns and gardens were sacrificed to broaden the street, pavements and canalisation were installed, and the street had to be repaved many times. Many service providers for the military, including tailors, shoemakers, leatherworkers and photographers, settled nearby.