The colony of Lichtental was the third colony founded in the area of the Sarata Tract. It was originally known as No. III and called Treii Step (Third Steppe) by the Russians. In 1838, discussions began with the Colonist Welfare Committee and the Sarata Territorial board as to what the name the colony should have. The colonists suggested Lobental, but the Committee responded with another name, Lichtental, to which the colonists agreed. On 14 July 1840 the name of the colony became Lichtental.
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| Plat map of Lichtental Source: Lichtental, Bessarabien - Bilder einer schwaebischen Gemeinde Map courtesy of the Black Sea German Research plat map collection |
In Immanuel Wagner's "History of the Establishment of the Colony of Sarata, 1822-1834," Jacob Heer wrote of the naming of the colony.
"The request for the election of this name was, according to a parish notice, the wish of the congregation -- that the bright valley which was not shadowed by any woods, or even any brush, should be an ornament in every way...."
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| Location of Lichtental |
Sources:
- American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Village Files - Lichtental
- Black Sea German Research website, plat map collection
- Germans from Russia Heritage Society, Village of Lichtental
- Germans from Russia Settlement Locations, Bessarabian Colonies map
- German-Russian Handbook, Ulrich Mertens, p. 493
- Lichtental, Bessarabien – Bilder einer schwaebischen Gemeinde, Karl Roth and Otto Haemmerling
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