Today, let’s explore a protected area named NSG Gro\u00dfholthauser Mark. This area became a nature reserve in 2020. NSG Gro\u00dfholthauser Mark spans approximately 1 square kilometer.
The Gro\u00dfholthauser Mark’s story is intertwined with coal mining history. Relics of this mining past are still visible. Though, the vegetation makes them difficult to spot.
The Gro\u00dfholthauser Mark was once a common mark. Common marks were undivided areas of woodland and heathland. These areas had boundaries marked by stones. People would annually inspect these boundaries.
The division of the marks occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries. This division coincided with the liberation of farmers. New settlements were created for coal miners. These miners came from different regions. They came from Westfalen, Waldeck, Hessen, the Harz and Siegerland.
The Gro\u00dfholthauser Mark itself was divided in 1830. Soon after, houses appeared. Neusiedler or new settlers had to pay hereditary rent to the owners. These settlers often worked small farms to supplement their wages.
One notable figure was Heinrich Wilhelm Deilmann. He was a farmer from Kruckel. In 1840, he built a small cottage from Ruhr sandstone. He then started a small farm. Church records refer to him as a Berginvalide. This suggests that he worked in nearby mines.
Heinrich Wilhelm Deilmann and his wife had four children. Two of their sons became involved in mining. Carl Hermann Deilmann became a mine operator. He founded Carl Deilmann Bergbau-Unternehmung Dortmund in 1888.
Carl Deilmann’s company grew rapidly. It became a leading mining specialist firm. Due to space constraints, the company moved to Dortmund-Kurl after World War I. Carl Deilmann and his family faced challenges during the Nazi era. Despite these challenges, the family continued to operate important mining businesses.
After World War II, the company headquarters moved to Bad Bentheim. This was due to new opportunities in oil and gas drilling. The Deilmann family later sold their mining interests. Today, Deilmann-Haniel GmbH is based in Kurl. It operates internationally under the name Redpath-Deilmann.
From 1888 to the present day, Deilmann has sunk over 550 shafts worldwide. These shafts total a depth of 230 kilometers. The company’s history is closely linked to Dortmund. It is also linked to the Deilmann family’s origins in Kruckel-Gro\u00dfholthausen.
Another son of Heinrich Wilhelm Deilmann, Wilhelm Julius Deilmann, became a wholesaler for construction companies. Three generations of his family lived in the Deilmannhaus in Witten-Annen. The family’s building materials business ended around 1973.
Also, consider the Kotten Am Franzosensiepen. It was built in 1835 by Wilhelm Hunscher. He was one of the first settlers in the Gro\u00dfholthauser Mark. The name Franzosensiepen dates back to around 1806. Farmers retreated to this remote valley with their livestock. This was to protect themselves from French soldiers.
The NSG Gro\u00dfholthauser Mark protects flora, fauna, habitats and landscapes. This natural haven also whispers tales of mining and settlement. It reminds us of the people who shaped this land.