“Mit Gott f\u00fcr K\u00f6nig und Vaterland” The inscription on the Brunnen am Wei\u00dfen Stein speaks volumes. This isn’t just a fountain. It’s a silent testament a memorial to those lost.
The Brunnen am Wei\u00dfen Stein sits here in Eschersheim a quiet corner near the S-Bahn station. It’s made of shell limestone a sturdy material reflecting its enduring purpose. The fountain itself isn’t particularly ornate. It’s simple a series of 16 spouts pouring water into a basin. Yet its unassuming nature enhances the weight of its history.
This fountain wasn’t always here. Initially it stood before the old Eschersheim schoolhouse. Then came the construction of the U-Bahn station in the 1960s. The Brunnen am Wei\u00dfen Stein was moved several meters to its current location. This subtle shift underscores the change in Eschersheim over time. The fountain moved but the memory remains.
The Brunnen am Wei\u00dfen Stein was a gift. In 1910 Kommerzienrat Gottfried Kleinschmidt a local businessman donated it. He was more than a businessman. He was a local politician representing Eschersheim after it became part of Frankfurt. His dedication to his community is reflected in this memorial. A street was even named in his honor.
The original fountain had a Herkules statue a symbol of strength. But the statue was lost after World War II. It wasn’t until 2009 that the local council reconstructed it. A replica now adorns the Brunnen am Wei\u00dfen Stein completing the circle.
The inscription is key. “Mit Gott f\u00fcr K\u00f6nig und Vaterland” it proclaims. “With God for King and Fatherland”. The words reveal the context of its creation. It commemorates those from Eschersheim who died in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. This was a war that redefined Europe and left its marks even on a small fountain in Frankfurt.
This unassuming fountain has endured wars and urban development. Its quiet dignity speaks volumes of those it remembers. The Brunnen am Wei\u00dfen Stein a testament to a community’s resilience and its memory. The water flowing from its spouts a gentle reminder that life goes on and that those lost should not be forgotten. It is more than just a fountain. It is a piece of Frankfurt’s history a tangible link to the past.