Perhaps the most surprising thing about Ober-Erlenbach is its sweet past. This district was once the center of Germany’s fruit juice industry. Imagine apprentices from around the world traveling here. They came to master the art of fruit processing.
Ober-Erlenbach sits near Frankfurt am Main. It is a part of Bad Homburg. This area blends into the southern Wetterau. Flat fields and meadows surround it.
Let’s journey back to Ober-Erlenbach’s origins. The Erlenbach stream gives the town its name. This stream flows through the district. The first written records of Arilbach date back to the 8th century. Ober- and Nieder-Erlenbach both evolved from this early village.
Ober-Erlenbach belonged to Lorsch Monastery for a time. The Benedictine Abbey of Hersfeld also held rights here. Later, noble families gained control. Eventually, Kurmainz acquired Ober-Erlenbach. The village farmers were serfs.
Around 1600, the Solms region’s laws became custom in Ober-Erlenbach. Common law only applied if Solms law was silent. This Solms law remained even under the Grand Duchy of Hesse in the 19th century. It wasn’t replaced until 1900. The German Civil Code then applied throughout the German Empire.
In 1691, the Archbishop of Mainz granted Ober-Erlenbach to the Ingelheim family as a fief. They held the rights to the local court until the 19th century. With their support, the current St. Martin’s Church was built in 1765. A new schoolhouse followed in 1793.
The Napoleonic Wars changed Ober-Erlenbach. It became part of the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt. Serfdom was abolished here. But the Ingelheim family retained ownership of land.
From 1821 to 1879, Ober-Erlenbach fell under the jurisdiction of local courts.
In 1901, Ober-Erlenbach laid the foundation for a new schoolhouse. The village population exceeded 1,000. By 1900, there were 1,053 residents. Ober-Erlenbach had changed. It was no longer just a farming village. The end of serfdom and the Industrial Revolution transformed the social structure. Many residents worked in nearby Frankfurt.
Technology advanced. The village connected to the state telephone network. The postal service expanded. On July 23, 1913, electric lights illuminated Ober-Erlenbach for the first time. However, running water didn’t arrive until 1958.
World War I interrupted Ober-Erlenbach’s progress. Forty-six men died in the war. Church bells were melted down for munitions. The bells were replaced in 1922.
The Weimar Republic began with about 1,100 residents. Around 800 were eligible to vote.
In 1927, an organization acquired land near the village. Josef Baumann, an orchard master, was tasked to create a teaching and research institute. It focused on non-fermented fruit processing. Baumann had developed methods to preserve fruit juices without chemicals. He became the father of the European fruit juice industry.
Soon, Ober-Erlenbach became a hub. From the 1930s, courses were held year-round. Trainees came from many countries. Trade fairs took place. The magazine “Flüssiges Obst” was published monthly. New machines for the fruit juice industry were tested. Conferences occurred. From 1930 to 1980, Ober-Erlenbach was the “Mecca” of the fruit juice industry. After Baumann’s death, Geisenheim and Weihenstephan universities continued his work.
In 1975, the Rühl family took over Baumann’s fruit juice business. They closed it fifteen years later. The land was sold to Bad Homburg. The Erlenbachhalle community center was built here in 1997.
World War II again impacted Ober-Erlenbach. Ninety-six men died in the war. The Nazis murdered the village’s Jewish family except for one son who escaped. Two church bells were melted down. They were replaced in 1951.
In 1946, refugees arrived. They needed housing in the village.
In the late 1960s, a commercial area was designated. Companies settled there. They provided jobs for Ober-Erlenbach residents.
A new elementary school was built in 1968. The Catholic kindergarten expanded. Another kindergarten was built. By 1971, the number of Protestants had increased. A new community center was built.
In 1972, Ober-Erlenbach lost its independence. It became part of Bad Homburg.
Today, the Zehntscheune, dating from the 16th century, is privately owned. It is used for living and exhibitions. St. Martin’s Church features a Dreymann organ.
Ober-Erlenbach has a fascinating history. It evolved from an early village. It became a center for fruit juice innovation. It faced challenges during wars. It adapted to social and economic changes. The memories of Ober-Erlenbach remain.