“Dem Bröckemännche de Botz jeflickt” That’s what sculptor Jakobus Linden wrote on his bill. He’d repaired the Brückemännchen the little stone man that sits proudly here on the Kennedybrücke in Bonn. Look closely. He’s a cheeky fellow isn’t he? His backside is turned towards Beuel across the Rhine.
The Brückemännchen isn’t just a statue. It’s a symbol of a long-standing rivalry between Bonn and Beuel. Back in 1898 when the first Rhine bridge was built the two towns couldn’t agree on its location. Beuel didn’t want to pay because the bridge didn’t suit their needs. Bonn built it anyway. The Brückemännchen was Bonn’s playful retort a little stone man mooning Beuel.
The original Brückemännchen was placed on the bridge in 1898. It had a rather unfortunate accident during World War II. The bridge was destroyed by German soldiers retreating from the Allies. The Brückemännchen fell from its perch. A local innkeeper Philipp Otto hid it in his garden fearing souvenir hunters. He kept it safe until 1949 when the 125th anniversary of Weiberfastnacht was celebrated. Then it was found again.
After the war a new bridge was built. The Brückemännchen needed restoration. Linden’s humorous bill reflects the lighthearted nature of this whole dispute. After the restoration the little man was repositioned. This time he faced south. A rumour spread that this was a deliberate move after Bonn won the capital city status against Frankfurt. That’s not quite true. There simply wasn’t any suitable masonry to fit him into his original position.
Unfortunately the Brückemännchen was severely damaged by vandals in 1960. But don’t worry. The people of Bonn and Beuel raised money for a replica. A new Brückemännchen now stands proudly here. Even parts of the original were used in the replica. Another Brückemännchen can be seen in the Bonner Stuben a local pub.
In 2007 the Brückemännchen was removed again for bridge maintenance. The Heimatmuseum Beuel and a local stonemason painstakingly recreated it based on old photos. It and its counterpart the Brückemännchen’s angry female companion the Brückweibchen were temporarily displayed at Beuel before being restored to their original positions in 2008. The current Brückemännchen is therefore a faithful copy of a very special piece of Bonn’s history. So let’s raise a glass to this resilient little stone fellow. To the Brückemännchen. To a long-standing joke and a symbol of reconciliation. To Bonn. To Beuel and to the Rhine.