Perhaps, the name S\u00f6lder Bruch doesn’t immediately conjure vivid images. But let’s delve into this place. It’s more than just a name.
S\u00f6lder Bruch is a nature reserve. It offers a glimpse into Dortmund’s past. It whispers tales of the town S\u00f6lde.
S\u00f6lde itself boasts a history stretching back centuries. Around 1150, the Reichsabtei Werden mentioned de Sulethe. By 1226, a nobleman named Robertus de Sulede appeared in the L\u00fcnen documents. Over time, names like Solede and Seulde marked S\u00f6lde in Volmarstein’s register.
Once, S\u00f6lde was a collection of farms. These farms clustered around the knight manor Haus S\u00f6lde. The name Sulede appeared around 1176. Later, around 1249, Soledhe emerged. The name means place, where is marsh.
The village transformed rapidly in the 1960s. S\u00f6lde turned into a suburb. Before World War II, the Zeche Margarete was a major employer. It sat along Schlagbaumstra\u00dfe. A bell tower on S\u00f6lder Stra\u00dfe became S\u00f6lde’s landmark. The church lacked funds. So, they hung the bells at only 4 meters high. Residents endured the loud chimes. They had to wait for the completion of the bell tower.
S\u00f6lde officially became part of Dortmund in 1929. However, some areas merged into Holzwickede.
The housing development “Maigl\u00f6ckchenweg” caused some issues in the 1960s. Many families from disadvantaged backgrounds moved there. This led to social tensions. The completion of buildings along Begonienstra\u00dfe normalized relations in the 1970s.
VfR S\u00f6lde, the local soccer club, enjoyed success in the Oberliga Westfalen. This was during the 1980s and 1990s. They shared the title of Dortmund’s most successful amateur team with SG L\u00fctgendortmund. Today, they play at the “Am Rosengarten” sports field.
The population structure of S\u00f6lde is also interesting. In 2018, those under 18 made up 12.8%. This is below Dortmund’s average. Those 65 and older formed 26.8%. This is higher than the city’s average.
Walter Demgen, a worker painter, once called S\u00f6lde home. Also Heinrich Spaemann, a Catholic priest, was born in S\u00f6lde.
The Dortmund-S\u00f6lde train stop connects the town. It sits on the Dortmund-Soest line.
So, as you explore the S\u00f6lder Bruch, remember its layers. It is a place shaped by time, industry, and community.