Once upon a time in Holzwickede, there was the Zeche Schwarze Adler. This was no ordinary mine. It stood as one of the area’s oldest and most significant coal mines. For over a century its grounds touched both Holzwickede and Dortmund. The Zeche Schwarze Adler’s story begins long before the 18th century. Mining in the Hixterwald started as early as the 16th century. Early miners dug shallow pits. They did not have the means for proper drainage.
In 1711, a nobleman named Caspar Friedrich Freiherr von Hövel was granted rights. He could mine all coal seams in the Sölden Forest. After this, a tunnel was dug toward Selbach. It drained the minefield. By 1736, the Zeche Schwarze Adler was a major player. It was the biggest mine in the County of Mark. Its main customer was the Königsborn saltworks near Unna.
But in 1797, the Zeche Schwarze Adler closed for a long time. Miners had probably dug all the coal down to the groundwater level. The 19th century brought changes. In 1830, the Caroline mine’s drainage tunnel helped the Zeche Schwarze Adler. It allowed them to dig much deeper. New shafts were sunk. These were named Geismar and Aurora. In 1835, the Gumprecht shaft followed. It was right across from today’s Landskroner Straße.
Gottfried Köhling was in charge of the Gumprecht shaft. He also sold the coal. But in 1845, mining stopped. The Zeche Schwarze Adler closed. The shafts were filled in. In 1902, the minefield became part of the Vereinigte Margarethe mine in Sölde. Though the Zeche Schwarze Adler is gone, it is not forgotten.
Today, the street named “Im Schwarzen Adler” in Holzwickede reminds people of the mine. The Historical Mining Trail in Holzwickede has two stops dedicated to the Zeche Schwarze Adler. Stop 7 is at Landskroner Straße 161. It marks the location of the Gumprecht shaft. Stop 8 is a bit further on. It highlights the Zeche Schwarze Adler in general. Stop 11 shows a boundary stone of the Neue Schwartze Adler Zeche. This stone marks the grounds of the old Zeche Schwarze Adler.
Imagine the miners. They toiled deep underground. Picture the landscape. It was dotted with mine shafts and filled with the sounds of industry. The Zeche Schwarze Adler played a big role in shaping this region. Its coal fueled industry and heated homes.
The Zeche Schwarze Adler began in simple pits. It grew to be the largest mine in the area. Then, it faded away. Still, its legacy remains. It is in the street names, the mining trails, and in the memories of those who know its story. As you explore this area remember the Zeche Schwarze Adler. It was a place of hard work, innovation, and community. It helped build the world we live in today.