Borová Lada – History

The most important year in the history of the village of Borová Lada is 1750, when upon an incentive of the Vimperk manor estates owner Joseph Adam of Schwarzenberg (in whose possession was the whole area) started foundation of so called suzerain ("dominical") villages in the "virgin" forest. Historical tourist guides mention the village under the names of Vrchovina, Bříza or Ferchenhaid, which it preserved until 1945. The first settlers, in particular wood-cutters, were coming from neighbouring villages of Vimperk estates and from various cancelled glass-works in vicinity.

Hence, the village of Borová Lada had three families of so called dominical colonists in 1780 already. Just 75 years later, in 1855, there were 26 mostly wooden cabins with 230 inhabitants. Further 75 years later the village already had 384 inhabitants, mostly of German nationality. In the same period, there were 29 trading licenses registered in there, including for instance 2 bakeries, 2 shops with general merchandise, 2 dressmakers, 3 pubs, 3 smiths, 3 saw-mills, a cabinet-maker, a mill, a butcher, a shoemaker, a wheelwright, a saw-maker, a cartage, etc.

Another interesting, but rather dirty, business carried out in Borová Lada, was axle-grease making. Production of solid axle grease was necessary for lubrication of the carriage wheels as well as various machinery of mills, iron-mills or craftsmen shops.

Strategic position of Borová Lada on the confluence of three mountain streams initiated development of certain industrial production represented by saw-mills, flour-mills and a small iron-mill. We should also mention certain activities in the field of timber floating in the Malá Vltava. Wooden sills were installed into the riverbed, which enabled floating of short timber from Knížecí Pláně down to Borová Lada.

Though Borová Lada had its own post office and telephone, administratively it belonged under the local authority and the parish of Nový Svět - Neugebau.

Many villages of the area disappeared after 1945, or just a few recreational cottages remained thereof. New inhabitants moved to Borová Lada mainly from the inland.