What if I told you that this seemingly ordinary ground beneath our feet was once a bustling hub of coal mining activity? This is the story of Zeche Orion. This small colliery played a significant role in Witten’s industrial past. Zeche Orion may be small but it has an interesting story.
Let’s step back to January 16, 1956. Zeche Orion began its operations. The mine employed 23 dedicated miners who extracted 4458 tons of hard coal that year. Imagine the scene: the rhythmic clang of tools and the determined faces of the workers.
However, Zeche Orion’s initial run was short-lived. Operations ceased on February 15, 1957. But the story doesn’t end there.
August 1, 1958, marked a change in ownership. Karl Heinz Neef took over. The mine was revived. The revival was brief and Zeche Orion was shut down again on December 31 of the same year.
Yet, like a phoenix, Zeche Orion rose again on July 15, 1959. Only three miners were employed at that time and they produced 553 tons of hard coal. This shows the scale of operations had significantly decreased.
On January 1, 1960, operations were suspended again. Another ownership change occurred on February 1, 1960. H. Rautenberg became the new owner.
The final chapter for Zeche Orion came on May 15, 1960. The mine was permanently shut down. The official deregistration occurred on July 7, marking the end of an era.
Interestingly, long before this final period, in 1832, a 53-meter-deep shaft was built at Zeche Orion to mine coal below the existing adit level. This shows the long history of mining in this area, predating the 1950s operations.
Zeche Orion, located on Waldegge street in Vormholz, was owned by Putz & Bruckner. This small mine reflects the broader history of coal mining in the Ruhr region. It reminds us of the hardworking individuals who fueled Germany’s industrial revolution.
Today, as we stand here, the landscape may look peaceful. But beneath the surface lies a story of ambition, hard work and the ever-changing fortunes of a small coal mine. Zeche Orion’s legacy remains a part of Witten’s heritage.