Dating back to 1834, Haus Lohmann stands as a testament to Brinkum’s rich history. It’s more than just a building. It is a piece of Stuhr’s heritage. Today, Haus Lohmann serves as a senior citizens meeting place. But its story stretches back centuries.
Brinkum, once known as Brinscimibroch, was a Kirchdorf. This dates back to 1063. It sat along the main military road to Osnabrück, Minden and Hanover. Imagine the comings and goings that this road has seen.
The site where Haus Lohmann now stands was once a farm. Records mention it as early as 1530. The Fassmer and Buschmann families owned it before the Lohmanns. A devastating fire swept through Brinkum in 1729. The house was destroyed. It was then rebuilt.
The Haus Lohmann that we see today is a Low German farmhouse built in 1834. This half-timbered house has brick infill. Its thatched gable roof features an owl hole. Notice the distinctive struts in the gable. Also, do not miss the Groten Dör or large door. The house measures 10 by 23 meters. Inside, a large hall leads to stables, the kitchen and living area.
Haus Lohmann belonged to a family of hauliers. These were farmers who transported goods as a side job. Picture them setting off from this very house. They were carrying goods to distant markets. Later, a brick wall was added to the rear of the house.
From 1990 to 1994, the municipality of Stuhr renovated Haus Lohmann extensively. The old hall became a meeting room. The livestock stalls were transformed into a pottery workshop. A photo lab, media room and office were also added. Sanitary facilities replaced the kitchen. The old living room called the Dönzen became a group room with a new kitchen. A small apartment was created in the attic. Since 1994, it has been used as a meeting place for senior citizens.
The story of Haus Lohmann connects to Johann Georg Lohmann. He was a Bremen merchant. From 1877 to 1892, he directed the Norddeutscher Lloyd. Lohmann promoted the fast steamship policy.
Born in Bremen in 1830, Johann Georg Lohmann made a significant impact. In 1861, he became deacon at the Bremen Cathedral. By 1870, he sat on the presidium of the Bremen Chamber of Commerce.
Lohmann started as an apprentice at Johann Gottfried Schütte & Co at the age of 14. In 1848, he represented two Bremen tobacco companies in Bahia. There, he founded his own company in 1851. As Austrian consul, he received and assisted Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria. Ferdinand later became Emperor of Mexico.
Joining the Norddeutscher Lloyd’s Board of Directors in 1868, Lohmann became Director in 1877. He initiated the construction of new fast steamships for North Atlantic traffic. This launched the “Schnelldampferpolitik”. The NDL became the world’s largest passenger shipping company. Between 1830 and 1974, 7.2 million emigrants sailed from Bremerhaven.
Haus Lohmann stands as a reminder of Stuhr’s past. It reminds us of the people who lived and worked here. From farmers and hauliers to influential figures like Johann Georg Lohmann. Their stories are woven into the very fabric of this building.