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History of the municipality of Vorderstoder
The number of inhabitants of about 1000 in the year 1869 reduced rapidly especially after the 2nd World War to only 690 inhabitants in the year 1980, mainly due to lack of work. Today with the increasing building industry, the numbers have increased to 760. The historical development of Vorderstoder starts with the settlement of homeless peoples and tribes during the migration period. Mainly slavic tribes settled in the region and old slavic names like Retschitz (small stream) or Stoder (rocky ground) bear witness of that, although most likely there were no permanent settlements in todays Vorderstoder. Christianisation from the 10th century onwards brought new settlers from Bavaria and Franconia absorbing any Old Slavs left in the area before official settlement and clearings started in 1170. During that time the Stoder valley became the property of the Pyhrn hospital. The development from that side explains the seemingly illogical names of Vorderstoder (before Stoder) and Hinterstoder (behind Stoder). In the abbey claims record of the year 1492 there are 65 farmsteads listed in Stoder. In 1507 the current church was erected as first church in the land, dedicated to the Margrave Leopold, the most modern Austrian Saint of the time. The two small bells are engraved with the year 1401 and are one of Upper Austria’s oldest church bells. It is likely that a much visited chapel featuring a picture of mercy stood in its place beforehand. The pilgrimages to the “God Mother at the Stone” reached their peak in the 18th century and lasted to the beginning of the 20th century. Since 1675 the church has its own pastor, up to then there were only mass services read from time to time by a clergy from Spital am Pyhrn. In 1725 the cemetery was erected, before that the deads were burried in Windischgarsten. Innerstoder, todays Hinterstoder, belonged to the vicarage of St. Leopold until 1787. Only from that time onwards does Vorderstoder feature by name. The religious upheavals during the 16th century lead to a range of rebellions and punishments culminating in the tragedy of the Filzmoser chapel in 1597, where according to legend three farmers were hung as rebel leaders on a still existing lime tree . Although there is no full proof of the legend, it is historically noted that death sentences and burning down of farmsteads were used for punishment at the time. The authorities kept the upper hand, but the population did not turn Catholic. For more than 200 years Stoder was mainly Protestant in religion. A second legend still known today tells about Heinrich Otto Gassner from the Abbey of Spital am Pyhrn during the 17th century, a well known personality of the time, who especially looked after Stoder. He strived constantly to improve the interior of the church and was strongly involved in the religious and social education of the population. The following legend is dedicated to him: During his 14 day long visit to Stoder he forgot to bring the key of the church with him and so stood before closed doors. By merit of his intensive prayer alone, the church door opened up, witnessed by the people. The so called key wonder is even portrayed on a window of the New Dome in Linz. The economical rise of the region due to the developing scythe industry did not extend much to Vorderstoder. One such “scyth hammer” was in use until 1659 in the area of Baderau. Until the developoment of tourism as independent economical branch, most of the population lived off agriculture and its accompaning crafts and trades. The high altitude, the unpredictability of the weather and its harshness brought much misery onto the local farming community. Up to the interwar period the local farmers grew their own grains to make bread and long winters or rainy summers did much damage to their crop. Especially the school chronics bear witness to extreme times of need. The structural changes taking place after 1945 were advantageous to Vorderstoder and had a positive impact on the local economy. The local agriculture turned away from farming to a pure meadow land agriculture and therefor is not so dependant on climatic conditions anymore. Further the tourism industry has created additional income opportunities. The climatic disadvantages of the region for agricultural purposes are the advantages of the tourism industry today. The fog free zone of the area guarantees many sunny days during winter and the original form of the countryside now turn into untouched gems. Within the imposing alpine scenery of the Tote Gebirge mountain range, far off industrial and traffic noises, pollutions and city centres, much has developed at a slower and more careful pace. The fact that the region transformed only slowly, without major changes or buildings rising to distort the picture, can only be seen as a major advantage today.
