“Rest in peace” is not just a saying here. Welcome to Kath. Friedhof Husen. This cemetery offers a tranquil retreat. It is a place of remembrance and reflection.
Kath. Friedhof Husen is located on the edge of Husen. You can find it near the Kühlkamp. It is about 300 meters from St. Petrus Canisius Church.
The Kath. Friedhof Husen is linked to the Catholic parish. The parish is the youngest one branching from Kurl. Around 1300, Husen was noted as a main farm with several smaller farms. By 1846, it was just 15 houses.
Things changed with the arrival of the Cologne-Minden railway in 1847. Two mine shafts in 1855 and 1867 further changed Husen. The population grew. In 1867, there were about 250 residents. By 1910, it had grown to 2,371. The Protestant community got its own church in 1904. The Catholic portion wanted a church too. A church building association was founded on December 17, 1908.
World War I put these plans on hold. They were revived in 1921. Negotiations began with the Rheinisch-Westfälische Bank. An offer was made to use the Westermann farm’s barn as a prayer room. This idea was dropped. The use of a hall in the Lahr and Henkel tavern also failed.
After long talks, land was acquired near the center. This is the current church square. Parishioners made sacrifices. A provincial collection raised about 25,000 Reichsmarks.
The first sod was turned on September 14, 1925. St. Petrus Canisius and St. Barbara were named the church’s patrons. Construction progressed quickly. On October 25, 1925, the cornerstone was laid. Associations from the neighborhood and Kurl took part. The church officially formed on September 1, 1927. Soon, groups emerged. These included St. Vincent de Paul Society and others.
The community continued to develop the church’s interior. Pews, paraments, and later an altar cross were added. The Pietà and St. Barbara statues were also acquired.
A major crisis hit in 1931. The Kurl mine closed. Ninety percent of the workforce became jobless. Donations and aid helped with these struggles. By the mid-1930s, employment recovered. In 1970, the new Kath. Friedhof Husen chapel was built.
Kath. Friedhof Husen offers a final resting place. It stands as a symbol of faith. It also shows the community’s resilience. Take a moment to appreciate this place. Remember those who shaped Husen’s story.