How about we step back in time to the Middle Ages? We are standing before Kornhochheim. It is more than just a village. It holds stories of war, resilience, and community.
Kornhochheim is a special place. It was founded in the Middle Ages. This village boasts a church from the 12th century. Think about that for a moment. That church has seen centuries pass.
Originally, Kornhochheim was designed as a “rectangular” Rundplatzdorf. This means it was built around a central village square. It sits on a hill south of the Weidbach stream. The stream is a tributary of the Apfelstädt. The Mühlkanal, a millrace of the Weidbach, marks the border. It separates Kornhochheim from Dietendorf. Dietendorf was originally a part of Neudietendorf.
Kornhochheim is near other charming places. Apfelstädt is to the west. Sülzenbrücken lies to the southwest. Thörey is to the south. Molsdorf, a district of Erfurt, is to the east.
Let’s delve into the history of Kornhochheim. It was part of the Amt Wachsenburg. From the 16th century, it belonged to the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar. Later, it was part of Saxe-Gotha in 1640. By 1675, it fell under Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. In 1825, it became part of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. After World War I, it was assigned to the district of Gotha.
Imagine the Thirty Years’ War. Kornhochheim was deserted for years. No one lived here. It must have been a ghost village.
In 1939, Kornhochheim had 353 residents. In the DDR era, Kornhochheim became part of the Erfurt-Land district. In 1974, it was incorporated into Neudietendorf. With the end of Erfurt Land district, Kornhochheim returned to Gotha. Since 2009, Kornhochheim is part of Nesse-Apfelstädt.
In 2014, something special happened. A citizen vote gave Kornhochheim village status. This allows it to have its own mayor and council.
Tragedy struck in April 1945. American artillery fire damaged Kornhochheim. The church tower was hit. Two houses, the school, and barns caught fire. One resident died.
The village layout is interesting. A spring called Davids-Born was important. Stately two-story farmhouses line its north side. These homes were rebuilt after the Thirty Years’ War. They are mostly from the late 17th century. The houses are half-timbered with smooth facades. Many have vaulted cellars made of local stone. The large gates on the south facades are notable. Also, look at the windows, entrances, and stucco work.
The northern boundary features a medieval stone wall. It is similar to the cemetery wall. Today, parts of the wall are missing.
On the village square’s south side is the “Schwemme”. This was once the village pond. In the 20th century, it became a fire pond. Before that, it was a real pond. In dry summers, wagons were driven into it. This prevented the wheels from falling apart. The name “Schwemme” suggests animals cooled off here too.
Until the 1980s, the main village well was in Kirchgasse. It fed the Schwemme. Eight households had connections to it. Roadwork damaged the pipes. Now, the well is underground.
Near the church, you’ll find the old school building. The east part is a half-timbered house from 1768. The west part is a brick building from 1899-1900. It has served as a town office, house, and restaurant.
Before World War II, a half-timbered building stood on the village square. It was a brewery and fire station. Today, a simple fire station stands there.
Southeast of the village center, the LPG collective farms were built in the DDR. Around 1980, they housed 1000 cattle. Today, the Landgut GmbH operates here. Since 1990, a large industrial park has developed south of the village. Also, a new residential area called “Am Berge” has been built.
The church St. Nikolaus is a highlight. It is from the 12th century. The entrance is from the 15th century. It is Kornhochheim’s most important historic landmark. Its tower lost its original form in 1945. It was rebuilt in 1952.
South of the church, a memorial stone stands in an oak grove. It reads “Wir mahnen” meaning “We remind”. It is a modified war memorial from after World War I.
On the Kummel hill, a five-meter oak cross stands. It symbolizes German reunification. Bishop Joachim Wanke dedicated it in 2000. The St. Raphael parish and the fire brigade initiated it.
Today, Kornhochheim has changed. Many residents work in the industrial park. The village is near the A4 and A71 highways.
Line buses connect Kornhochheim with Gotha and Neudietendorf. Neudietendorf has a train station. Kornhochheim is part of the Verkehrsverbund Mittelthüringen transport network. Kornhochheim shows how a village can survive. It has seen war, change, and growth. It is a place where history lives on.