Deep in the heart of Haarzopf, a whisper of Essen’s past lingers. This is Hof Eichholz. Don’t let the modern buildings fool you. Imagine, if you will, a sprawling farmyard. This isn’t just any farm. This is one of the original “Hufengüter” recorded in Haarzopf’s very first documented history in 1215. Hof Eichholz. The name echoes through the centuries, a testament to its enduring presence. Picture the year 1364. The knight Eberhard von Luttelnau, residing in the imposing “Kattenturm” near Kettwig, pledged Hof Eichholz and its accompanying Kotten Kreutzenbeck to the owner of Haus Stein. Later, the esteemed Count Wirich von Daun, Count of Limburg and Lord of Broich, took ownership. This powerful figure made a pact in 1516. He promised an annual tribute to the Antonius Altar in Mülheim’s Petrikirche. From his “Gut op dem Eyckholte in der Honnschaft Hartschoppe,” a dutiful delivery of one pig and three chickens was made each year. Hof Eichholz. A place not just of agriculture, but of oaths and obligations. Fast forward to the 17th century. The owner of Haus Stein, Franz Maximilian von Holling, acquires Hof Eichholz. Around 1760, the farm changed hands once more. The tenant farmers, Wilhelm and his wife, purchased the land. They proudly bore the surname “im Eichholz”, further cementing the farm’s legacy within their family history. Hof Eichholz flourished. By 1837, it encompassed a vast 101 Prussian morgens, approximately 25.8 hectares. The city of Essen, recognizing the farm’s importance, acquired Hof Eichholz in 1911 through a holding company. The Rottmann family, the last to farm the land, oversaw its reduction to 47 Prussian morgens, or about 12.1 hectares. Hof Eichholz stands today as a reminder of Essen’s rich agricultural heritage. It’s a story of knights and counts, farmers and families. Although the original buildings are gone, replaced by modern structures, the land whispers its story to those who listen closely.
Kultusgemeinde
Fifty years. That’s how long the Jewish Kultusgemeinde in Essen has stood on Sedanstrasse. Fifty years of resilience. Fifty years