Did you know Leherheide in Bremerhaven sits on the edge of the Hohen Lieth hills? It is a fascinating part of Bremerhaven. Leherheide offers a unique blend of history and modern life.
Leherheide is a district in the northern part of Bremerhaven. It is part of the Nord administrative district. This area has a rich history. Stone Age and Bronze Age finds show early settlements here.
The name Leherheide comes from its location. “Lehe” means hill in old High German. Leherheide is on the edge of the Hohen Lieth hills. “Haide” refers to the heathland that once covered the sandy area.
In the past, the area was mostly farmland belonging to Lehe. It was not an old village itself. In 1827, Bremen bought land north of the Geeste River. They built the seaport and city of Bremerhaven.
Starting in 1846, farmworkers from Mecklenburg moved here. They found work in Bremerhaven’s port. Johann Krüger, with his house on Fehrmoorweg, was the first settler. In 1846, common land was divided among Lehe citizens. People dug peat in the nearby moor for heating. Disputes arose between settlers from Lehe and surrounding areas. These arguments were mainly about using the Ferne Moor, now Fehrmoor. They also argued over pastureland.
By 1870, there were only seven settlements in Leherheide. The first school was built on Mecklenburger Weg in 1894. Around 1900, more settlements appeared near Langener Landstraße. The center was at the intersection with Debstedter Weg. Lehe built a waterworks on Debstedter Weg in 1901.
The Leherheide fire department was founded in 1909. Dankrot Hesse, a building contractor, was the first fire chief. The Leherheide school opened on Debstedter Weg in 1909 as well. In 1911, a section of the Lehe Gymnastics Association formed in Leherheide. This became TSV Leherheide, later SFL. From 1911 to the early 1920s, a windmill stood on Ginsterweg. From 1919, the extended tram line ran through Leherheide.
Between 1921 and 1923, single and two-family houses were built. These homes were located between Debstedter Weg, Mecklenburger Weg, Hermann-Löns-Straße, and Pappelweg. In 1923, the Thiele brothers bought land. They created a small sculpture park. The city bought it in 1985. In 1935, the Norddeutscher Lloyd built the horseshoe-shaped Seefahrt settlement. It had 42 houses for sailors. Each house had 1000 square meters of land.
In 1936, the Reformed Church on Heideschulweg and the Lutheran Johannes Church on Langener Landstraße were dedicated. The Gestapo watched the sermons of pastors who opposed them. A waterworks developed in the Stadtwerkewald. It was expanded in 1962. The streetcar ran through Leherheide until 1982. It went from Lehe to Langen-Friedrichsruh. In 1961, a bus station opened at the Langen city border.
After World War II, Bremerhaven needed more housing. From the 1960s to the 1970s, Neue Heimat built new residential areas. About half of Leherheide’s residents live in Leherheide-West. By 1964, 3500 apartments had been built. Leherheide had 12,000 residents. A primary school opened on Mecklenburg Weg in 1962. The Heinrich Heine School opened in 1967. A cultural association formed in 1964.
The Nord indoor swimming pool opened in 1970. The Johann Gutenberg School and Karl Marx School opened in 1971. In 1971, Leherheide became a district of Bremerhaven. The A 27 highway opened in 1974. Leherheide is accessible via the Überseehäfen/Leherheide exit. The Cherbourger Straße feeder road opened in 1971. The Hans-Gabrich sports hall opened in 1975.
Today, Leherheide is a vibrant part of Bremerhaven. It has parks, schools, and community centers. The Leherheider Tunnelberg offers great views. Thieles Garten is a lovely park with sculptures. Leherheide is a place where history and modern life come together. It is a district with much to offer.