Didn’t mining once define Dortmund? Today we stand before Altes Schachthaus Zeche Minister Stein Schacht 5 a relic of that era. This old mine building whispers tales of toil and transformation.
Zeche Minister Stein Schacht 5 was part of the larger Minister Stein coal mine. The mine was founded in 1856 by Theodor Sprenger and Heinrich Grimberg. It was named after Prussian Minister Karl vom Stein in 1871.
By 1878 the mine produced over 100000 tons annually. Friedrich Grillo acquired the mine during the economic crisis of the 1870s. Minister Stein later merged with Zeche Fürst Hardenberg.
Between 1923 and 1926 Minister Stein expanded into a large-scale operation. It eventually had four shafts. In 1926 a hammerhead winding tower was erected over Shaft 4. It was Germany’s first steel tower designed for dual operations.
Tragedy struck on February 11 1925. A firedamp explosion killed 136 miners. A memorial designed by Friedrich Bagdons commemorates them. It stands in the North Cemetery.
In 1929 the mine reached a peak production of over 1.6 million tons. After Shaft 6 opened in 1941 Minister Stein became the Ruhr’s largest mine. It produced 3.67 million tons with 6820 workers.
World War II caused severe damage. Minister Stein and Fürst Hardenberg separated in 1945. Production resumed in autumn 1946.
Shaft 7 began operation in 1958. It reached a depth of 730 meters. Fürst Hardenberg was connected a year later. Post-war production ranged from 2 to 2.7 million tons per year.
Minister Stein experienced wildcat strikes in 1969. These strikes marked the beginning of widespread labor unrest in the Ruhr region.
The mine faced indirect impacts from the decline of Ruhr coal mining. It absorbed displaced miners from closing facilities.
In the early 1980s plans arose for an eighth level. Miners hoped to exploit remaining coal reserves. Exploratory work revealed extensive geological faults. These faults made mining unprofitable.
In 1985 Shaft 6 faced massive water intrusion. Pumps struggled to cope with the influx. The problem was eventually resolved.
Minister Stein extracted its last coal in 1987. It became Dortmund’s last active mine. Today the renovated hammerhead tower symbolizes Eving’s new center. It is a protected monument.
A plan to convert Minister Stein into an underground waste dump failed. Public protests prevented it.
Altes Schachthaus Zeche Minister Stein Schacht 5 originally served as a ventilation shaft. Sinking of the shaft began in 1929. It reached a depth of 951 meters. The shaft’s diameter was 7.20 meters. After operation ceased in 1987 the shaft was filled.
Zeche Minister Stein Schacht 5 is located in northern Dortmund. It is found near Am Beisenkamp street. The surrounding area features fields and woods. A restaurant once operated here.
Today Altes Schachthaus Zeche Minister Stein Schacht 5 stands as a testament. It shows Dortmund’s industrial heritage. The tower offers a glimpse into the past. It reminds us of the miners who labored beneath the surface.