Gadekær før og nu
Før
I årene før udskiftningen ca. 1790-1840 var gadekærene på mange måder en livsnødvendighed for landsbyens beboere.
En Stinkende pøl formentlig. Landsbyens fritgående ænder, gæs og svin er naturlige gæster. Større dyr trækkes til vanding inden de slippes ud på engene. En hest trækker den tøndeformede vandvogn til tætning eller opfyldning. Fra den nærliggende smedje høres de rytmiske dobbeltslag, hvor smeden lader hammeren springe efter hvert slag. En af smedesønnerne vasker et vognhjul, som måske skal anvendes til vandvognen, som gadekæret levere vand til i tilfælde af brand – dette er trods alt gadekærets vigtigste funktion. Vandplanter havde ikke en chance overfor andefuglene og derfor måtte guldsmede o.l. give op. Fisk og padders levevilkår var i bedste fald ringe eller ikke eksisterende. Ofte løb gårdens møddinger over og ned i kæret.
Udflytningen
Tiden går og behovene ændres. Med udflytningen fra landsbyen blev behovet for gadekæret som vandingssted mindre og gårdene fik egen brønd. Derved blev det muligt, at reducere gadekærets arealforbrug. Ved at opstemme vandet og støbe siderne i beton fremkom noget, der ligner vor tids branddamme. Brandpolitivedtægten pålagde de enkelte landsbyer at oprense og vedligeholde dammen, endvidere skulle sprøjte, brandspand og vandvogn tjekkes årligt. Få af de oprindelige sprøjtehuse har overlevet op gennem 1900-tallet, hvor også branddamme blev mere overflødige i og med vandværkerne blev udbyggede, brandhaner blev opstillet og ikke mindst brandbilen med stige og pumpe vandt indpas.
Nu
1. juli 1992 blev loven ændret fra at vandflader over 500 kvadratmeter var beskyttet til det nu var vandflader over 100 kvadratmeter, der blev beskyttede. I den forbindelse blev en del gadekær og branddamme sløjfet.
I dag er de tidligere gadekær og branddamme et minde om historien i landsbyerne og i nogle byer fungere gadekærene nu som samlingssted for landsbyens beboere.
[English]
Pond before and now
Before
In the years before replacement approx. 1790-1840 was the pond in many ways a necessity of life for villagers.
A stinking puddle probably. The village free-range ducks, geese and pigs are natural guests. Larger animals withdrawn for irrigation before they are released into the meadows. A horse pulls the barrel-shaped water wagon for sealing or filling. From the nearby forge heard the rhythmic double layer, where the blacksmith hammer lets jump after each stroke. One of his sons threw washes a car wheels, which may be used for the water wagon, which pond provide water in case of fire - this is after all pond main function. Aquatic plants had no chance against duck-birds, and therefore had dragonflies ol give up. Fish and amphibians living conditions were at best poor or non existent. Often ran the farm's manure heaps over and down in the marsh.
Relocation
Time passes and needs change. With the relocation of the village was the need for the pond as a watering place and smaller farms had its own well. This made it possible to reduce the pond area consumption. By dammed water and casting the pages of concrete gave anything resembling today's fire ponds. Fire police regulations required the individual villages to clean and maintain the pond, also had to spray, fire bucket, and water truck are checked annually. Few of the original spraying houses have survived up through the 1900-century, when also water points were more redundant in and with water companies were upgraded, hydrants were set, not least fire engine with ladder and pump won their place.
Now
1. July 1992 the law was changed from water surfaces over 500 square feet were protected for it was now water surfaces over 100 square feet, which were protected. In this regard, some pond and water points dropped.
Today the former pond and water points a memory of history in the villages and in some cities operate pond now as a gathering place for villagers.