Even before these events, however, Kilchzimmer had been undergoing a remarkable change. the fashionable slogan all over Europe at this time was “Back to Nature”, and as a result of this, the Langenbruck valley had begun to swarm with all kinds of tourists seeking unspoiled beauty. The once solitary and peaceful farm of Kilchzimmer became a lively wayside-inn. One proprietress, an energetic spinster named Renggli, was as famous for her good fare as for her strict suppression of all drunkenness.
During the 19th Century, Kilchzimmer had several owners. At one point, when the house was up for sale, the Pastor of Langenbruck, Karl Stüchelberger, tried to raise money to purchase it and turn it into a Christian recreational home. Though he failed and the estate was bought by a speculator, Kilchzimmer did finally become the property of one Herr Sarasin. he offered it to the Deaconesses’ Establishment (“Diakonissenhaus”) at Riehen. The offer was accepted with enthusiasm. With the gifts of other well-wishers, the house was restored, and on April 26, 1896, the first team of sisters moved in to convert the former wayside inn into a comfortable home for weary nurses and paying guests. Their leader was Sister Wilhemine, a splendid matron. After five years, the home boasted 50 beds.
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