Beneath the inscription MUSIS PATRIAEDEO, lies a story. This is the Carl-Humann-Gymnasium in Essen. It is more than just a school building. It is a testament to history, resilience, and the pursuit of knowledge.
The Carl-Humann-Gymnasium’s story began in 1854. Back then, it was a humble Rektoratsschule in the independent town of Steele. Imagine the classrooms in Alte Zeilen. Later, it moved to the Fürstin-Franziska-Christine-Stiftung in 1856.
After the Franco-Prussian War, Steele flourished. The town council decided to build a new school building. This became the Kulturzentrum Grend in 1877. In 1894, the school acquired a flag. It depicted Mary and Jesus with the inscription SEDES SAPIENTIAE. The reverse showed Steele’s coat of arms. It read INITIUM SAPIENTIAE TIMOR DOMINI.
At the end of the 19th century, the Rektoratsschule became a Progymnasium. Anton Wirtz became headmaster in 1901. He transformed the school into a full gymnasium. By 1904, the school moved to its current location on Laurentiusweg.
During World War II, the Carl-Humann-Gymnasium served as an emergency shelter. After the Allied bombing in 1943, people who lost their homes sought refuge here. In 1945, the school building suffered bomb and artillery damage.
Despite the destruction, the Carl-Humann-Gymnasium reopened on November 2, 1945. The Humboldtgymnasium even shared the space until the mid-1950s due to post-war space shortages.
In 1954, the Carl-Humann-Gymnasium expanded its curriculum. A new focus was placed on mathematics and science. A three-story extension was added in 1957. The school initially stuck to Latin as the first foreign language.
The student population grew significantly in the 1960s. By 1968, the Carl-Humann-Gymnasium accommodated three entrance classes for the Gymnasium an der Wolfskuhle.
1972 marked a turning point. The Carl-Humann-Gymnasium began admitting female students. Before that, it was an all-boys school.
The school is named after Carl Humann. He was an engineer, architect, and classical archaeologist born in Steele in 1839. Humann is famous for discovering the Pergamon Altar. The gymnasium was named in his honor in 1935. His 85-year-old sister attended the ceremony. A bust of Humann was unveiled next to the main entrance.
The school building itself is a work of art. Built in the style of the Neo-Renaissance, it was designed by Otto Müller-Jena. The Carl-Humann-Gymnasium has been a protected monument since 1995. The inscription MUSIS PATRIAEDEO adorns the entrance. The school’s name was added below in 1935. Inside, the staircase features a groin vault supported by columns.
Today, the Carl-Humann-Gymnasium maintains several partnerships. These include the Folkwang-Musikschule, Kitokolo school in Uganda, and the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. The school is committed to tradition and progress. It prepares students to shape the world. The Carl-Humann-Gymnasium continues to be a beacon of education in Essen.