The rise of Davos as health resort and a winter sport center
The first photo shows that in 1863 Davos was nothing more than a farm land with a church, a bar where the farmers gathered after having been to the church and a house for meetings of the regional government. This situation changed very rapidly because in 1890 Davos was changed in a well-recognized health resort for people who could make the trip. In 1890 more than 10.000 people came for a shorter or longer stay to Davos from many different countries of Europe. In 1898 the first world championships were organized in Davos and after 1900 it developed in a famous winter sport center. In that century 40 times a world or European championship has been organized there and yearly the top of the world speed skating came there together for training. This remarkable development occurred by a combination of events that are interesting enough to present them.
Crucial for the development of Davos was a refugee from Germany, a medical doctor Spengler, who could not go anywhere else but to the region of Davos to avoid a jail sentence as rebel in Germany. He realized, against the general practice, that people who suffered of tuberculosis or other breath diseases, could recuperate well in fresh mountain air. When it became known that his treatment had success, foreign patients started to arrive in Davos from all over Europe to be treated by him. There was however only a very limited number of rooms available for these patients and their companions.
One of the people who came to Davos to cure of tuberculosis was Miss Holsboer and her husband. She was seriously ill while he accompanied her to Davos. Although she died, her husband had so much faith in the treatment by doctor Spengler that he stayed in Davos and became one of the most important developers of Davos. First of all he financed and organized the "Kuranstalt Spengler Holsboer" that had facilities for 50 patients and their companions. He also was one of the entrepreneurs who created the railway connection between Chur and Davos. This was an essential piece in the development of the town because Davos was situated at an altitude of 1600 meters far from larger cities like Zurich, Bern and even Chur.
Crucial for the development of Davos was a refugee from Germany, a medical doctor Spengler, who could not go anywhere else but to the region of Davos to avoid a jail sentence as rebel in Germany. He realized, against the general practice, that people who suffered of tuberculosis or other breath diseases, could recuperate well in fresh mountain air. When it became known that his treatment had success, foreign patients started to arrive in Davos from all over Europe to be treated by him. There was however only a very limited number of rooms available for these patients and their companions.
One of the people who came to Davos to cure of tuberculosis was Miss Holsboer and her husband. She was seriously ill while he accompanied her to Davos. Although she died, her husband had so much faith in the treatment by doctor Spengler that he stayed in Davos and became one of the most important developers of Davos. First of all he financed and organized the "Kuranstalt Spengler Holsboer" that had facilities for 50 patients and their companions. He also was one of the entrepreneurs who created the railway connection between Chur and Davos. This was an essential piece in the development of the town because Davos was situated at an altitude of 1600 meters far from larger cities like Zurich, Bern and even Chur.
Others followed his example and built also sanatoria for people who suffered of tuberculosis or other breath problems. For example, in 1882 the Deaconesses built a sanatorium opposite to the Kuranstalt.
So far the development is remarkable but understandable but how can a center for tuberculosis patients get a name as a winter sport center. For this transformation again a special explanation has to be found.
The explanation can be found in the fact that the people who accompanied the patients also wanted something to do in Davos. So there was entertainment in form of theater and music organized in the Kuranstalt as the richer people were accustomed to have in their own country. But there was also another activity very popular at that time in the higher society. There were at that time in all big towns in the world big halls where people, mainly upper class, went for dancing on roller skates. These people also skated on ice when that was possible. So. first the English community organized a skating track close to their hotel Bellevue and later a skating rink was also organized in the center of the town where people started to dance on the ice as we can see in one of the pictures below.
So far the development is remarkable but understandable but how can a center for tuberculosis patients get a name as a winter sport center. For this transformation again a special explanation has to be found.
The explanation can be found in the fact that the people who accompanied the patients also wanted something to do in Davos. So there was entertainment in form of theater and music organized in the Kuranstalt as the richer people were accustomed to have in their own country. But there was also another activity very popular at that time in the higher society. There were at that time in all big towns in the world big halls where people, mainly upper class, went for dancing on roller skates. These people also skated on ice when that was possible. So. first the English community organized a skating track close to their hotel Bellevue and later a skating rink was also organized in the center of the town where people started to dance on the ice as we can see in one of the pictures below.
When the skating became a success the International skating club Davos was formed in 1894 to organize the skating in Davos and this organization became member of the ISU and so in 1898 the “little village” Davos could organize the first world championships in speed skating and figure skating. When the skaters from the different countries had detected how nice it was to skate in Davos they came back every years for training or for championships. So started Davos as one of the most famous winter sport centers in the 20th century.