“Saxonia-Mühle and Bread Factory”. That name whispered from the past. It echoes still at the Micktner Windmill. This isn’t just any old windmill. It’s a survivor a silent witness to Dresden’s history.
The Micktner Windmill stands proudly. It’s located in Mickten a northern district of Dresden. It’s a striking example of a tower windmill. Its characteristic cone-shaped tower remains. The original windmill’s shape is still visible from three sides. However the windmill’s blades are long gone. A multi-story addition now partially obscures the western side. It almost reaches the roofline of the windmill itself.
Before the 19th century Mickten was under the milling restrictions of a watermill in Neudorf. This watermill was located almost two kilometers upstream along the Elbe River. Only after these old laws were abolished could the Micktner Windmill be built. It first appeared on a city map in 1868. It was built about 500 meters northeast of the village center on the Alte Meißner Straße. That’s what this street is called today. This was the Kötzschenbroder Straße.
Until around 1880 the windmill was the sole structure in this part of Mickten. It was then followed by the development of factories on this same road. Before 1900 the windmill’s sails were replaced by an electric motor. Competition became too much. The milling business eventually closed. At this time C A Tippmann integrated it into his bread factory. The windmill was therefore partially surrounded by other buildings.
By 1904 Wilhelm Rämish owned it. He called it the Saxonia-Mühle and Bread Factory. He produced various types of bread. It was sold to Dresden merchants. Even after World War II the mill remained a family business. After Rämish’s death production stopped in the 1950s. Its original purpose was lost. In May 1955 engineer Eberhard Pässler bought the property. He established his company’s headquarters there. It mainly manufactured household appliances.
After German reunification the building suffered from neglect and vacancy. Today the windmill stands unused and dilapidated. It’s still a listed cultural monument in Mickten. The surrounding factory area houses small businesses. The Micktner Windmill a relic of Dresden’s past. It stands as a silent testament to the changing times. It waits patiently for a new chapter in its history.