Gahmen

Gazing across the landscape, we find ourselves in Gahmen, a suburb of Lünen with a rich history. Gahmen, once a small agricultural settlement, has seen its share of transformations over the centuries. First mentioned in records during the High Middle Ages as Schultz zu Gahmen, the area was largely rural. The Hof Schulz-Gahmen, a prominent farm, played a crucial role in the local economy, later expanding to include a distillery. Gahmen was part of the Amt Derne from 1905. Thanks to the efforts of local farmer and politician Paul Schulz-Gahmen, Gahmen became part of Lünen on October 1, 1923. At the time of its incorporation, Gahmen had a population of 1,612. By 1987, this number had grown to 3,490 and reached 3,873 by 2006. The arrival of the Industrial Revolution marked a significant shift for Gahmen. In 1873, the Zeche Preußen established Shaft 2 (Preußen I/2 – Prinz Heinrich) here, which began operations in 1902. However, the coal crisis led to its closure in 1926. Despite this setback, mining continued under Gahmen after 1962 by the Zeche Gneisenau. This activity unfortunately caused ground subsidence and significant mining damage, creating a valley known as the Gahmener Loch. Gneisenau also ceased operations in 1985, and the former mining site is now a commercial area. A reminder of the mining past is the Karlstraße settlement in Gahmen-Nord, built in 1900 on land owned by Carl Schulz-Gahmen. Located in the northwest of Gahmen, near Buchenberg, is a copper smelter belonging to Aurubis AG, formerly Hüttenwerke Kayser AG, which has been there since 1916. Gahmen’s northern border is marked by the Datteln-Hamm Canal and the Shellhafen. While industrialization shaped Gahmen, it has retained much of its rural character. To the west lies the Gahmener Wald, a local recreation area. At the edge of the woods stands the protected two-trunked Napoleon’s Beech. Gahmen also has the “Spielplatz am Wasser” with its own outdoor swimming pool. Gahmen is more than just industry and history. It is home to a vibrant sports scene, with active clubs like the SG Gahmen 24/74 football club and the TTC Gahmen 1960 table tennis club. The Tennis-Gemeinschaft Gahmen achieved national recognition, with its men’s 60+ team winning the German Championship in 2016.