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TENNIKEN [extracted from various sources and translated from German -- Charles Scholer, 2002] Since the autobahn runs through the countryside, Tenniken, like the other villages in the Diegler valley, has lost much of its tranquil solitude. Although the village grew quite a lot during the last decades, most of the old village core has been preserved. To some extent this was due to the bypass road which was already built about 1890 along the bottom of the valley west of the original village. Thanks to this progressive under-taking, most of the ever increasing through traffic was kept away and the former country road, which wound its way through the village up to the parsonage, remained the main road of the village. Tenniken has retained its homey character to this day. “Tenninchon” is first mentioned in a document of 1226. Together with the lower parts of the village of Diegten, it formed the “Herrschaft Diegten” during the late Middle Ages. Centre of this was Diegten Castle, close to the church. Together with other property that was under the rule of Diegten, Tenniken was sold to the city of Basel. The little village that consisted of only a few houses will have hardly changed during the following centuries. A few families lived off the land. The Diegten Valley was remote, therefore somewhat backwards, and did not offer any possibilities for development for a long time. At the end of the 18^th century, silk ribbon weaving as a home industry brought some progress. Some weavers were working from home even in our century. Good years brought humble wealth to the population; this had an effect on building techniques. In the decades after 1800, the old-fashioned houses built from wood and covered with straw, vanished in Tenniken. In their place, lots of new houses were built that give the village its particular style today. From 387 in the year 1941, the number of inhabitants has risen to 575. [Note: this article was written about 1980 – the inhabitants number 890 in 2002.] The biggest part of the working population still does not find work in their village and has to make an outside income, commuting to work. However, there are a few smaller industrial businesses that even employ workers from outside the village. Due to the construction of the highway, fields were combined which allowed farmers a more profitable way of farming. Tenniken, 1749 Protected from cold winds by the Tennik Flue and other slopes climbing to the heights of the Jura Mountains, the village lies on the exit of a little side valley of the Diegt Valley. From its favorable location the majestic Reb Mountains on the slope below the Flue are visible, just as they were captured by Emanuel Büchel in his drawing. Then the village consisted for the most part of wooden houses with straw roofs. As it still does today the somewhat elevated little church towers over the other buildings of the village. Its plain form, which it retains today, was received shortly before the Reformation in 1515. At the foot of the church hillock stands the manse. After a fire in 1559 it was rebuilt. From this time comes the splendid gothic facade. An imposing group of houses is recognizable at the right of the picture. On the only exit from the village (leading toward Diegten) is the "Höfli," the one time ruling estate and summer home of a Basel family. In 1694 Captain Johann Jakob Hebdenstreit, called La Roche, of Basel had an already existing stone structure rebuilt into a palazzo-like building and enclosed the area between the living quarters and the work buildings with a one story tall wall. Later a French garden was laid out on the slope. Tenniken, ca. 1770 Tenniken is a pleasant village, lying down the valley between Dieckten and Zunzgen; Dieckter Creek flows hard by the village down to Zunzgen and Sissach and irrigates the meadows there; a tiny brook called the Ubach, arising in a mountain spring and running through Tenniken, loses itself into this Tennicker creek. One other rivulet arises in the so-called Rheintahl Grove, also running down into the Tennicker creek. The village of Tennicken has its own special school that has been heavily supported by a Ryhinerisch Endowment; and belongs to the court jurisdiction of Dieckten, where it also has a shooting range. Its town officials now consist of: an “Amtspfleger” [town overseer] and two sworn jurors. The Court at Tennicken has three and the “Gescheide” or circuit court has two men. Three running fountains decorate the same [courthouse] and the parish chancel has its own; as well as also housing owned by Herr Nicolaus Hebdenstreit of the Grand Council. Its forests are: the mountain-arable-land forests and the "Lametrain" both consist of beech trees. Beyond the "flue" there is a small oak forest. The "Gabenholz", "Stockerrain" and "Songetenrain" consist of beech trees and poor firs. "Rheintahl" is a large forest and due to its banning [cutting of trees prohibited] it consists of beautiful silver firs, young oaks and beeches. The church is mentioned in the records as "Our Dear Ladies at Tennicken". The choir was built in 1515 and the next year the general vicar of the Bishopric of Basel consecrated it.” (1760) Tavern Problems The people of Tenniken did not want a tavern in the village. Many years ago, like in other villages, there had been a tavern. However, it disappeared in 1709 "because the community had already then felt and seen the bad influence of it, as many community members had become bad householders, who put an undue burden on the community". Later then Colonel Hebdenstreit, a citizen of the town of Basel, sold in his house in Tenniken his own growth [of wine] without interference [of the village]. However, later his son, Master Hebdenstreit, took over the estate. Not only did he sell wine, he also claimed for his tenant the rights of a regular tavern keeper and had him act in this function. As a result of this, all of Tenniken "with the exception of three people, which agreed with the Master [Hebdenstreit]", brought the case to the council in Basel "in order to avoid much trouble in the community, hoping that the officials will consider their arguments and protect them from a tavern". Following the request "Johannes Debary, mayor, and the councilmen of the city of Basel," had their deputies investigate the question, whether the house, which is part of the farm of [Master] Hebdenstreit, has the right to being a permanent tavern or not. (1774) As a result of the investigation the council decided "that this, the house of Master Habenstreit, does not have the right of being a tavern. The owner of the house, nevertheless has the privilege - like other citizens and people - to sell wine of his own growth or wine he has received in payment of debts. This privilege, however, is limited to the person of the owner and cannot be transferred to tenants or other persons." The Restaurant Grieder, about 1907 The first house that was built on the new street that bypassed the village on the west side, was the Restaurant Grieder, built in 1902. The picture, taken a few years later, shows the house with the family of the builder, Hermann Grieder. The father is sitting on the bench to the left of the entrance, beside him his son Hermann, who later was called "Säumänni" because of his extensive pig trading. The mother, Wilhelmine Grieder-Wälti, is standing at the front door. Their three daughters and the second son Hans can be seen on the other side. Keeping an inn in a village was not enough to feed a family in those times. For that reason, the busy woman also ran a general merchandise store. – Photo Lüdin AG. Restaurant Grieder in Tenniken about 1907 – Photo Lüdin AG The Riding Bailiff He who holds the office of deciding over quarrels shall speak according to law and conscience, so that he won't receive the same judgment as the bailiff of Tenicken. Below that village is a side valley, called the Hofletten. Both villages, Tenicken and the neighboring Zunzgen, claimed this land. Zunzgen demanded a half share, though legally it belonged wholly to Tenicken. This caused such a quarrel and strife between the two communities that no peaceful settlement could be found. The bailiff before whom the quarrel was brought decided in favor of Zunzgen, awarding them the half share. This judgment, however, cost the bailiff dear. He shall still pay for it. He rides around in the side valley on a white horse and cannot come to rest. (1874)
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