Guardhouse 92

Along the Mechelen-Terneuzen railway line (MT), which was in operation from 1871, guard posts were built, also known as railway houses or trackkeeper's houses. Between Station (stop) Kijkuit and Station Axel at a distance of 5 km, 5 houses were placed. The railway official, who was employed by MT, was tasked with guarding the line day and night and ensuring a safe crossing. The level crossing had to be cleared with a bell.

Carolus Verstraeten, born in 1846 (Koewacht), joined MT in April 1871 and went to live with his wife in 1877 in guard post 82 near station (stop) Kijkuit. Even before the small railway houses were replaced by larger ones in 1907, the Verstraeten family had already left in 1892 for guard post 92 (listed in the municipal archives under K8, later K78) on the Armendijk in Axel. Carolus' wife, Antonia van Hove, was a 'level crossing guard' there, for which she had entered the service of MT in August 1878. Carolus died at the age of 47 and it was a very difficult time for Antonia as a widow with eleven children. She had been employed by MT for over 40 years when she moved and her son came to live in the guard post. He was a switchman and lived here with his family until 1950. After that, two more Verstraetens family lived in the house, all working as railway officials, in 1954 the house was declared uninhabitable. The connection of three generations of Verstraeten with MT is well known in Axel.

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