What if I told you that this obelisk commemorates not a war, nor a monarch, but the vision of a banker? This is the Albert Hirte Obelisk. It stands as a monument to Albert Hirte. He was the founder of the Hirschgarten colony.
Albert Hirte was not a king or a general. He was a man with a dream. He envisioned a community. That vision took root here in 1870. Hirte transformed a pasture into a thriving colony.
Let’s rewind to the 19th century. Albert Hirte, a chemist by training, married Berta Kaumann in 1859. Berta’s family owned land near the Spree. Hirte inherited this land in 1864. It was called Hirschacker or Deer Acre.
In 1870, Hirte decided to develop this land. He created the Hirschgarten colony. One year later the first villa was ready. More construction followed. The colony grew.
By 1895, Hirschgarten celebrated its 25th anniversary. The Albert Hirte Obelisk was erected to mark the occasion. It stood on Am Stern. This central square became Hirteplatz in 1920. The obelisk honored Albert Hirte’s contribution.
The Albert Hirte Obelisk is made of red Main sandstone. It was designed by Otto Stahn. Stahn was a royal construction official. He was also known for building the Oberbaum Bridge. The Albert Hirte Obelisk originally had a golden sun at its peak. It also had a weather vane.
The Albert Hirte Obelisk bears an inscription. It reads: “In memory of the 25th anniversary of the Hirschgarten colony founded in June 1870 by Albert Hirte 1895”. In 1895, 42 villas stood in Hirschgarten. Wealthy families lived in them. The anniversary celebration was organized by the Hirschgarten Improvement Association. Albert Hirte even wrote a commemorative booklet. It detailed the colony’s development.
After World War II, the Albert Hirte Obelisk lost its top ornament. A private initiative raised funds to replace it. In 2001, a new ornament was crafted by Hans-Joachim Kunsch. Kunsch was a Berlin art smith.
The Hirteplatz became the social center of Alt-Hirschgarten. That lasted until World War II. In 1989, Hirteplatz was added to Berlin’s list of historical monuments.
Today, you see more than just stone. The Albert Hirte Obelisk is a symbol of community. It represents a man’s vision. It shows the power of dreams. It reminds us that even a banker can leave a lasting legacy. The Albert Hirte Obelisk stands as a reminder of the past. It also embodies the spirit of Hirschgarten.