Walls, gates and towers
by Nemorino
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The first mention of Orb in any known document was from the year 1050, but it must have been quite a small settlement at that time.
Nearly two centuries later, in the year 1244, Orb was granted the status of a city, a privilege which among other things allowed it to mint a coin, the Orber Hälbling (half penny).
In this period, around the middle of the thirteenth century, the city fortifications were built, consisting of walls, gates and towers, some of which still exist.
Mernes
by Nemorino
Mernes is a village in the Jossa Valley, between Burgjoss and Marjoss.
It turns out that there is a description of Mernes and the Jossgrund area in an English-language geneological website by a man named Robert Desch who lives in Hiawatha, Iowa.
Mr. Desch writes: "Ferdinand Desch Sr. was born in Mernes Germany (Still to be confirmed) in 1825. At the Age of 8 he immigrated to the United States with his Parents who both died at Sea, possibly a brother and a sister, John Desch, John Desch and Adam Desch."
After arriving in the United States, those of the Desch family who survived the sea voyage moved to Indiana and later settled in Ohio.
To this day there are about fifty people named Desch living here in Mernes.