What if these small houses could talk? The Donbæk Houses stand here as silent witnesses. These houses have seen so much history unfold around them.
The Donbæk Houses are two small houses south of the Marselisborg Monument. They are near Donbækken in Mindeparken. The stream flows right past. The oldest house dates back to 1828. Herregårdsarbejder Rasmus Olesen built it. He paid 5 rigsdaler in rent to the baron of Marselisborg Gods. He also worked for free one day a week on the estate. That was for the land, 3-4 barrels of land.
Around 1833, C.P.R. Ingerslev established a brickyard near the Donbæk Houses. He was the owner of Marselisborg. The brickyard supplied stones to Jægergården’s main building. The brickyard was near the current monument. It only operated intermittently. The last remnants disappeared in 1908.
Around 1850, the innkeeper at Frederikshøj built the second house. From the 1860s, the houses became dwellings for estate servants. These were servants of Marselisborg Gods.
Early in the 20th century, forest workers lived here. Later, the houses served as a material yard. They also served as a lunchroom. This was for the workers from Entreprenørenheden in Teknik Og Miljø. That is the Municipality of Aarhus.
Tragedy struck on April 10, 1996. One of the Donbæk Houses burned down. Machines inside were also lost. Five days later, arson struck again. The other house also burned. The Municipality of Aarhus rebuilt the houses. They rebuilt them in their original style.
In 1858, the Donbæk Houses were the scene of a crime. This robbery-murder shook Aarhus. The victim was Søren Jensen. He was a 48-year-old merchant. He also was a former member of the municipal council. Jensen ran an ironmonger’s shop on Lille Torv. He was a respected person in the city. On October 18, Jensen met Hans Peter Danielsen. Danielsen was the innkeeper at Frederikshøj Kro. They discussed financial matters. On his way home, Lars Jønsson attacked Jensen. Jønsson was a Swedish farmhand. The attack happened near the Donbæk Houses. Jønsson had overheard the conversation at Frederikshøj Kro. He wrongly thought Jensen had a lot of money. Jønsson was sentenced to death. Due to his mental state, he was pardoned. He was sent back to Sweden.
Today, the Donbæk Houses stand as a testament. They testify to the history of servant housing. They also show labor accommodation in Aarhus. They are a cultural landmark. They are in the scenic Mindeparken. This is a memorial park and recreational space. It is next to Marselisborg Palace. Despite their location, the Donbæk Houses have no direct ties to the palace. They were associated with Marselisborg Manor. The manor no longer exists. Marselisborg Gymnasium replaced it. The manor burned down multiple times in the early 20th century.
Take a moment to appreciate the resilience of these houses. They have been rebuilt after devastation. The Donbæk Houses embody the spirit of Aarhus.