Haven’t you heard that Rekum was once its own independent municipality? Today, we are standing in Rekum, a part of Bremen’s Blumenthal district. It is a place with a history stretching back centuries.
Rekum officially had 2272 residents in 2014. Imagine this area as its own municipality until 1923. That is when Rekum was integrated into Farge.
Let’s journey back in time. Even in prehistoric times, people lived here near the Weser. Archaeological finds confirm early inhabitants. Urns from the Bronze Age were discovered. These discoveries occurred during earthworks. They happened at Rekumer Strasse 11 and other nearby sites. Imagine these ancient people living along the riverbank.
Around 100 AD, during the Roman Iron Age, more people settled here. Excavations at Mühlenberg revealed Roman coins. The archaeologists unearthed remains of houses and animals. The name Rekum first appeared around 1300. It was known as Reken or Rekene. The name came from the von Reken noble family. They settled here in the 12th century. Diederich de Reken’s name is recorded from 1140. His farm was likely near today’s Rekumer Wurt street.
In 1534, Rekum had 16 farms. By 1580, the names of twelve farmers were known. There were also 31 small farms. All farmhouses were near the northern part of Rekumer Strasse. This was the old village road. It sat at the edge of a Weser River bay. The Weser correction eliminated this bay. The land rises east to Rekumer Geest. Here, you will find Speckberg and Mühlenberg.
For centuries, Rekum belonged to the Neuenkirchen parish. From 1604, it was part of the Blumenthal parish. The only Jewish family in Rekum was Jakum Isaak Gottschalk’s family. He was a livestock dealer. The Gottschalks moved away during the 19th century. In 1816, seven families founded the first Jewish community. They had a prayer room in Grohn.
From 1885 to 1923, Rekum was an independent municipality. It was in the Blumenthal district. Then, in 1923, it became part of Farge. In 1939, Farge became part of Bremen. Since 1946, Rekum has been part of the Blumenthal local office area.
In the 19th century, a few farming families owned much of the land in Rekum. Some residents were small-scale farmers. Others worked part-time on farms. Around this time, canal shipping became another source of income.
In the 1880s, a large sailing fleet operated on the Lower Weser. These ships transported goods from Bremerhaven to Bremen and other towns. These sailing ships were called Segelkähne. Many of these ships were based in Farge and Rekum. The sailors lived here.
The ships mainly carried rice and tobacco. They also transported grain, cedar, mahogany, and overseas goods. Some sailors sailed to Hamburg and the North Sea. Others went as far as Königsberg in the Baltic Sea. The ships had crews of two to four men. They brought most of their food from home. The women often ran small farms.
In 1866, a small shipyard opened. It built only three ships. It closed after the Weser was dredged and straightened. The Weser became deeper. Canal shipping became less important. Larger ships could reach Bremen directly. Former canal shippers became sailors. Others worked in the Witteburg stoneware factory. It opened in 1853 in nearby Farge. Some residents raised pigs as a side business.
In 1902, a large village school was completed. The Rekum construction company Johann Dietrich Trüper built it. By 1922, Rekum was heavily in debt. The village had few industries. Therefore, it collected little tax revenue. Farge had the Witteburg factory and other businesses. Farge absorbed Rekum in 1923. Rekum ceased to exist as an independent municipality.
Even as part of Farge, local Rekum groups continued. These included the Verein für Gemeinwohl. There was also the Rekumer Turnverein from 1890. The Arbeiterturnverein “Frei Heil” from 1910 also remained active. Richard Taylor was the mayor of Farge during this time.
Today, Rekum is a part of Bremen with a rich and complex past. It has evolved through various eras. From prehistoric settlements to its time as an independent municipality. It eventually became part of Bremen. The spirit of Rekum lives on in its community.