Water dances. Does it tell tales of tolerance? Here at the Maschseequelle, history and symbolism intertwine.
This isn’t just a pretty fountain. The Maschseequelle is a protected water pumping and filtering facility. It sits on the west bank of the Maschsee’s south end. The address is Karl-Thiele-Weg 35. It’s close to the Leine river. Today, it only operates occasionally. Perhaps when the Maschsee needs more oxygen. Or during celebrations like the Maschseefest. A small park-like flower meadow sits next to the Maschseequelle.
Let’s dive into its past. Karl Thiele founded a Maschsee commission in 1904. He was a rowing enthusiast. Some say he founded Germany’s first canoe club. In 1932, Hanover’s city council decided to build the Maschsee. This was during the Weimar Republic. It was part of a government job creation program. But construction didn’t start until the Nazi era.
Architect Schlenstedt designed the pumping and filter system. These buildings have a brick design. A pergola connects both buildings. It has integrated benches. A stepped pool faces the Maschsee. Six small fountains once enlivened it. A bridge crosses over it.
Pumps drew water from the Leine for the Maschsee. That first happened in November 1935. The water passed through two drum sieves. It was also filtered if needed. Then it flowed out of the artificial Maschseequelle.
Ruth Meisner created the Fischreiher sculpture for the facility. She was a ceramicist and sculptor. She had recently moved to Hanover in 1932. Surprisingly, the Nazis didn’t melt down the sculpture for war purposes. That happened to Oskar Winter’s figure at the Holzmarktbrunnen. But the Fischreiher was stolen in 1950. A new cast was displayed at the 1951 Bundesgartenschau in the Stadtpark.
Over time, the Maschsee became polluted. This was due to sediment from the Leine. So, the city built another pumping station in Ricklinger Masch. Since 1962, water has flowed from the Ricklinger gravel pits. It travels through an underground pipe to the Maschsee. The pipe empties below the water’s surface.
For Expo 2000, another flower meadow was planted near the Maschseequelle. There was one there before World War II.
In 2019, a pedestrian bridge over the Maschseequelle’s pool got a new name. It became the “Bridge for Tolerance and Understanding.” This commemorated religiously motivated violence after the Danish Mohammed cartoons in 2005. Since 2006, the Drachenbootfestival Hannover has taken place on the Maschsee. Its motto is “For Tolerance and International Understanding.”
So next time you see the Maschseequelle, remember its story. It’s a tale of engineering, art, and evolving symbolism. It shows how a functional structure can become a landmark. It represents both history and hope for the future.