Question(s): if the house had still been there, do you think that the city would have placed a plaque or something? Or in the end, this is only important for us, and the authorities would have only wondered what you are on about?
Honestly, I'm not sure. Most of these buildings are still private residences or businesses, with some having building names and build dates written over the doors (use street view on St. Alban Vorstadt and walk around for examples), but even some of the more "famous" buildings have only that. Zum Hohen Dolder at 35 has a plaque, but it's an actual historical site.
I think the point you bring up around what important to who is also a good point. Do Basel historical register people actually care about a famous-to-us fechtmeister's parents lived at a specific house? Or is that our own HEMA nerd bias making it more weighty?
"Do Basel historical register people actually care..."
Yes, it's exactly that. But I also don't want to be a cynic about it. We should look at this in a more pragmatic perspective: people just don't know, so we should promote this. There are always micro history episodes that would enrich a neighbourhood and lead to micro-tourism if a city would be aware and post a plaque (in this day and age, a digital sign would work just as well; but people need to know).
I want to go to Florence, visit Uffizi for the art, and visit Medici palaces for the history. But so would a good part of the public (to the point of overtourism becoming a thing). But I also would like to see the house Meyer lived in, make a small detour if I'm in the neighbourhood, stop and have a coffee around there. Other people will like other things, and that's fine as well, but we should promote "our own". ;)
Question(s): if the house had still been there, do you think that the city would have placed a plaque or something? Or in the end, this is only important for us, and the authorities would have only wondered what you are on about?
Honestly, I'm not sure. Most of these buildings are still private residences or businesses, with some having building names and build dates written over the doors (use street view on St. Alban Vorstadt and walk around for examples), but even some of the more "famous" buildings have only that. Zum Hohen Dolder at 35 has a plaque, but it's an actual historical site.
I think the point you bring up around what important to who is also a good point. Do Basel historical register people actually care about a famous-to-us fechtmeister's parents lived at a specific house? Or is that our own HEMA nerd bias making it more weighty?
"Do Basel historical register people actually care..."
Yes, it's exactly that. But I also don't want to be a cynic about it. We should look at this in a more pragmatic perspective: people just don't know, so we should promote this. There are always micro history episodes that would enrich a neighbourhood and lead to micro-tourism if a city would be aware and post a plaque (in this day and age, a digital sign would work just as well; but people need to know).
I want to go to Florence, visit Uffizi for the art, and visit Medici palaces for the history. But so would a good part of the public (to the point of overtourism becoming a thing). But I also would like to see the house Meyer lived in, make a small detour if I'm in the neighbourhood, stop and have a coffee around there. Other people will like other things, and that's fine as well, but we should promote "our own". ;)