Curious about a school with a protective spirit? That is the Hausotter-Grundschule. This public primary school is located in Berlin-Reinickendorf. It stands proudly on Hausotterplatz.
The square is named after Karl Hausotter. He was a landowner who also had the nearby Hausotterstraße built. A “Hausotter” is said to be a benevolent guardian spirit. It warns residents of impending misfortune.
The Hausotter-Grundschule’s story began long ago. Karl Ferdinand August Hausotter owned this land. It was between Winterstraße and Hoppestraße. The community bought it for 38000 gold marks. They planned to build a new school. Hausotter was part of a Reinickendorf farming family. They had lived there for centuries.
Construction started in 1896. The three-story brick building went up along Kamekestraße. Carl Moritz likely designed it. He was a builder for the Reinickendorf community. The school opened on August 2 1897. It was dedicated as the Fourth Municipal Elementary School. This took place in the school hall. Before the brick building, stables and back buildings were used for classes. They were located on Hausotterplatz.
Initially, the Hausotter-Grundschule had seven classes. There were 415 children. Six teachers taught them. The average class size was about 59 children. Gustav Wilke became the first headmaster.
The school grew quickly. So, from 1907 to 1910, a three-story annex was built. It was on the Hoppestraße side of the property. Hans Krecke, the community architect, designed it. This addition provided space for twelve classrooms and a drawing room. After its completion, the girls’ classes moved there.
During World War I, coal shortages caused interruptions. The Fourth Municipal School was sometimes unheated. In 1938 the Reich Grain Office stored grain. They used Berlin school gyms for emergency supplies. This happened at the Hausotterplatz school too.
In 1939, the Fourth Elementary School became a card distribution center. It issued food and clothing ration cards. In 1941, the city set up a shelter for bombed-out residents. Classrooms became reception rooms. The drawing room became a communal sleeping area. Rescued furniture was stored in the gym. A concrete air-raid shelter was built in the Hoppestraße building.
Starting in 1940, school classes were sent to a camp near Misdroy. Later, in 1943, they moved to Lyck in East Prussia. Children who were not sent away had to attend rallies. These were held at the Third Elementary School.
Despite the chaos after the war, classes resumed on May 22 1945. About 35 students attended. The school population grew to over 70 within the month. In 1948, the Fourth Elementary School served as a payout center. This was during the currency reform.
Student numbers continued to rise. By 1949, 1350 students were taught by 38 teachers. In 1971, the school was officially named Hausotter-Grundschule. Today, the school grounds cover 14000 square meters.
The Hausotter-Grundschule is a full-day school. It has a sports-focused profile. The school grounds feature an assembly hall. It has a theater stage. There are also computer, music, art, and science rooms. Two gyms and a library enrich the school.
The Hausotter-Grundschule stands as a testament to education and community. Its story is a reminder of resilience. It shows how a school can adapt and thrive.