Fulerum

Gazing across the tranquil expanse of Fulerum, can you envision a landscape dominated by sprawling foul swamps? This serene Essen district, nestled in the bustling city’s western embrace, derives its very name, Fulerum, from these ancient wetlands. Fulerum first appeared in historical records in the 11th century. It was documented as a gift from the Count of Berg to Werden Abbey. Imagine a time, some 400 years later, when only 13 hearths dotted the Fulerum landscape. Over time, Fulerum’s administration was divided amongst Mülheim-Heissen, Haarzopf, and the Holsterhausen/Frohnhausen/Altendorf trifecta, a testament to its shifting allegiances. Tucked away in the Nachtigallental valley lies the Halbachhammer, a relic of Fulerum’s industrial past. Originally mentioned in 1471, this hammer mill was transported here in 1936 by Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach from Weidenau, now a part of Siegen. Powered by the relentless force of water, this hammer forged raw iron into shape. Even today, under the watchful eye of the Ruhr Museum, the Halbachhammer continues to demonstrate this age-old craft through captivating demonstrations. A darker chapter in Fulerum’s story unfolded between 1943 and March 1945. The KZ-Außenlager Humboldtstraße, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp, cast a long shadow over this peaceful land. Within its confines, 520 young Jewish women were forced to labor in the Krupp cast steel factory. Fulerum’s unofficial coat of arms, a creation of Kurt Schweder, depicts this unique landscape. The shield, adorned with green and black speckles, symbolizes the meadows interspersed with dark, stagnant water. Rising from this watery base are three black cattails, their green leaves reaching towards the sky, a “talking coat of arms” that speaks volumes about Fulerum’s natural heritage. Today, Fulerum retains a tranquil charm, characterized by agriculture, expansive green spaces, and sparsely scattered residential buildings. These homes, originally built for Krupp workers, possess a unique architectural appeal. The Südwestfriedhof, established in 1914, dominates the eastern part of Fulerum. With approximately 41,000 graves, it holds the remains of far more souls than currently reside in Fulerum. Notable figures like architect Georg Metzendorf, who designed the neighboring Margarethenhöhe, rest here. A striking, listed brick building from 1925/1926, once housing the crematorium, encloses a courtyard and forms the entrance to the cemetery. Fulerum truly embodies the essence of idyllic living within a vibrant city.