What whispers remain where a windmill once defied the Leipzig winds? This is the story of the ehem. Wiederitzscher Windmühle. We are standing where it stood before a storm erased it from the landscape.
The ehem. Wiederitzscher Windmühle’s tale begins long before its demise. It stood on Breitenfelder Flur. Yet it was part of Lindenthal regarding politics and religion. It provided a vital service to the community.
The ehem. Wiederitzscher Windmühle appeared before 1819. It bravely faced the elements. Windmills were common sights around Leipzig. They dotted the landscape especially to the east and north. This was due to the lack of flowing water.
These mills did more than grind grain. They were essential for various trades. Consider the Quandtsche Tabaksmühle. It ground tobacco for snuff. Or the paper mill in Stötteritz that produced brown packing paper.
By 1879 around Leipzig, 35 windmills existed. The ehem. Wiederitzscher Windmühle was one of them. However, few remain today. The city’s growth swallowed those close to town. Electrical power spelled doom for many.
The ehem. Wiederitzscher Windmühle faced its end on August 15 1907. A fierce storm brought it down. It vanished from the horizon.
Today little is left of Leipzig’s windmills. Some exist as stone remains. Others stand with wings. A few are only foundations. The ehem. Wiederitzscher Windmühle is gone completely.
In Lindenthal, the street “An der Windmühle” marks the location of another mill. This stone tower windmill replaced an older one in 1892. The ehem. Wiederitzscher Windmühle is a silent memory now. It reminds us of the power of nature. It speaks of changing times in Leipzig.