Recall a time when coal was king. Right here stands the Denkmal f\u00fcr die verungl\u00fcckten Bergarbeiter Minister Stein. It honors the lives tragically lost in the Minister Stein mine. This memorial serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by miners. It also commemorates their vital contribution to Dortmund’s industrial heritage.
The Zeche Minister Stein, or Minister Stein Mine, dramatically shaped Eving. It operated from 1856 until its closure in 1987. The mine profoundly impacted the area. Today, the “Neue Evinger Mitte” visually reflects its legacy. The Denkmal f\u00fcr die verungl\u00fcckten Bergarbeiter Minister Stein now stands prominently. It ensures the miners’ sacrifices are not forgotten.
This Denkmal f\u00fcr die verungl\u00fcckten Bergarbeiter Minister Stein is deeply rooted in tragedy. A devastating firedamp explosion on February 11, 1925 claimed 136 lives. Eight miners miraculously survived this catastrophe. In 1927, a memorial was erected on the Nordfriedhof to honor the deceased. Dortmund sculptor Friedrich Bagdons created it. Nearly thirty years later, another memorial was built near the site of the disaster. Sculptor Fritz Petsch received the commission from the operating company. He worked on it between 1950 and 1954. This is the Denkmal f\u00fcr die verungl\u00fcckten Bergarbeiter Minister Stein we are standing in front of.
For decades, the memorial reminded the miners in Eving to be cautious. Gotthard Kindler, who began working at Schacht IV in 1950, felt this deeply. Like many miners, he was moved when Minister Stein ceased coal production in 1987. Minister Stein became the last active Dortmund mine.
Eving was determined to honor the memory of those killed in the disaster. Starting in 2005, the district council repeatedly ordered cleanings of the Denkmal f\u00fcr die verungl\u00fcckten Bergarbeiter Minister Stein. Due to frequent vandalism and theft, its relocation was decided in 2014. The Eving district council allocated 48,800 euros for this purpose. Private donations and RAG contributions also helped. The Denkmal f\u00fcr die verungl\u00fcckten Bergarbeiter Minister Stein now stands opposite Saturn. It is within sight of the Hammerkopfturm. It commemorates almost 150 years of mining history.
The statue of a miner was stored on the main cemetery for years. This prevented it from being stolen. Some old stones were also secured. Some were reused at the new location. Others were given to supporters and the Eving History Association as tokens of gratitude.
The Zeche Minister Stein profoundly changed Eving into a typical mining suburb. The “old colony” stands out. It features architecturally diverse houses. Residents prevented the planned demolition of the entire settlement after the first houses were torn down. The careful renovation of the former welfare building created an attractive residential area. Most of the adjacent settlements have been similarly modernized.
The mine closed in 1987 as economically viable reserves dwindled. Expected reserves on the new eighth level were sufficient for continued operation. Numerous disruptions prevented profitable mining in automated longwall operations. Increased sulfur levels in some seams also contributed. A northward expansion was impossible. The Zeche Minister Achenbach lay to the north.
Two years passed before most buildings on the mine site were demolished. Plans for an underground storage facility were being considered. It would have stored groundwater-safe waste. This could have created 40 to 50 jobs for five years, but it was also unprofitable. The city of Dortmund had no reservations. However, strong public protests arose. Residents feared the storage of hazardous waste. The operation of a disposal facility for PCB-contaminated waste oil at F\u00fcrst Hardenberg only became known at that time. The residues were properly disposed of in hazardous waste landfills.
This Denkmal f\u00fcr die verungl\u00fcckten Bergarbeiter Minister Stein is a solemn reminder. It stands as a testament to the sacrifices made. It ensures that the memory of the miners lives on in the heart of Eving.