Time travelling to 1102. Imagine a golden chalice. A Graf Werner trades it for freedom. He gives away land. That land is Ochshausen. This small village near Kassel has a long history. It’s been around since at least 1102. This is recorded in a donation deed for the Kaufungen monastery.
Ochshausen was a simple village. It had a long layout. It wasn’t densely populated. It nestled by the Wahlebach stream. Its church stood on a hilltop.
The 1900s saw industrialization. This changed Ochshausen’s agricultural structure. World War II brought even bigger changes. The Reichsautobahn I cut through the area. This is today’s A7. Factories and storage areas appeared. Some held forced laborers from the Soviet Union and Belgium. Aircraft factories also sprung up. Ochshausen and Crumbach merged in 1941. They formed the larger community of Lohfelden. After the war displaced people moved to Ochshausen. Modern residential areas grew.
Ochshausen had its own railway station. This was on the Kassel-Bettenhausen to Söhre/Wellerode-Wald line. The ‘Söhrebahn’ ran from 1912 until around 1975.
More than just farming. Ochshausen had a mill. Powered by the Wahlebach stream. It had an overshot water wheel. It also had an undershot water wheel. This mill operated until 1964. Other crafts thrived. There were brick kilns and weavers.
The church of Ochshausen is worth a visit. It’s a hall church. It has a three-sided chancel. It incorporates medieval masonry. Built in 1731 it’s an intriguing blend of old and new.
Ochshausen has a rich history. From its humble beginnings in 1102. To its industrial transformation. To its role in wartime. To its integration into Lohfelden. It holds unique stories. Stories of a golden chalice a railway line a bustling mill. This is Ochshausen. A captivating part of Kassel’s history. Remember Ochshausen. A tiny place with a big past.