Jeweler Verhaeghen House Aarschot

The facts
If you look up at Martelarenstraat, at house number 15, you will see a hard stone, semi-elevated head, in the middle of the facade between the windows of the first floor, under which 'GOLDSMID' is written. Goldsmith and watchmaker Jozef Verhaeghen lived and worked at this place. On the infamous Wednesday evening, August 19, 1914, when Aarschot is being terrorized by the German troops, five German officers enter the house to request accommodation. Some of them pull up, open a window and empty their revolvers into the street. Joseph is accused of shooting and the house is in danger of being burned down. Oddly enough, the officers confess guilt and the house is spared. This happiness is only relative. In the raids later that night, Joseph will be one of the victims in the Leen. His wife Isabella will boldly explain what she saw at home during the German investigation. She will be blamed for that testimony. When the Germans set the city on fire again in September, the house was completely burned down.

About the memorial stone
After the war, Isabella had the house rebuilt and a bas-relief image of her husband placed on the facade. She will manage the jewelry store for several years. In the municipal elections of 1921, she was elected as the first Aarsch female city councilor.

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