Could a building whisper its history? Here, at the former Ölmühle Menges in Frankfurt, I believe it can. Ölmühle Menges, once a vital part of the city’s lifeblood, stands as a testament to Frankfurt’s industrial past. Originally, around 1850, this site housed the Wolf Herzfeldsche Schleifmühle, owned by Wolf Herzfeld and Friedrich Herget. The property changed hands in 1860, becoming the Weißnäherei Kels. By 1901, the mill had ceased operations, serving as housing for the less fortunate. Ölmühle Menges truly came into its own in 1919, operating as an oil mill under Philipp Menges and the Klugmann brothers until 1923. Menges continued his entrepreneurial journey, transforming the building into a raw iron factory in 1925, which ran until 1944. And finally, until 1963, the building was involved in the wine trade. Now a residential building, the Ölmühle Menges stands quietly, its walls echoing the stories of industry, resilience, and the constant flow of change, much like the Urselbach stream that once powered mills like these throughout Frankfurt.
Adlerwerke
From bicycles to Nazi atrocities, the Adlerwerke in Frankfurt has witnessed a tumultuous history. The Adlerwerke, meaning “Eagle Works,” began