Samstagern
The village of Samstagern numbers about 1500 inhabitants. Politically affiliated with the township of Richterwil. The people from Richterswil, a.k.a. "am See", and the people from Samstagern, a.k.a. "Berg", were referred to as "Bergler".
Its surrounding landscape was formed during the last ice age, when the slowly retreating Linth Glacier left behind several silt deposits, and many small hills, boulders and ponds (such as that at Huetten), all of which are now protected under environmental law.
In the Middle Ages the district encompassing Waedenswil, Richterswil, Schoenenberg and Huetten was the property of the Barony of "Wedeswil" (a.k.a Waedenswil), which occupied what is now the ruined city of Waedenswil. A sale in 1287 transferred the Barony to the Religious Knights of the Order of Bubikon. Subsequently, in 1549 ownership was assumed by the city of Zurich.
Samstagern did not yet exist on the 1667 map of Johannes Gyger, for at that time a meadow owned in common and dotted with oak trees was located at its current location. It was there that farmers gathered acorns as fodder for their pigs. Pursuant to the first declaration by the owners in common, dated 1568, the acorn harvest was permitted on only Saturdays, and only between the pealing of the morning and evening church bells. Gradually the acorn harvest assumed the designation, "go Samstagere" (go at Saturday to the acorn harvest). This presumably is the origin of the name of the village of Samstagern.
In 1877 the Southeast Rail Line was built. At Samstagern the line connected to a rail line from inner Switzerland, which then formed a complete rail link from Zurich to St. Gallen.
Close to the freeway exit to Richterswil residential and industrial areas have developed.
Author: Jürg Winkler, CH-8816 Hirzel
© Copyright: Rud.Suter AG, Oberrieden/Zürich
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