Here stands the Personaltor der Zeche Gottfried Wilhelm. It is a silent reminder of a bustling past. This gate marks the spot where miners once entered to extract black gold from the earth.
The Personaltor der Zeche Gottfried Wilhelm is more than just an entrance. It is a symbol of Essen’s industrial heritage. Rellinghausen was independent until 1910. Joseph Sartorius was its mayor. From 1749 into the 20th century, Rellinghausen hosted several mines. The Zeche Gottfried Wilhelm was the most famous. Its shafts were deep in the Schellenberger Wald.
Almost nothing remains of the old coal mine. Near Frankenstrasse and Hellweg Baumarkt stands a rebuilt Personaltor. It is the last mining relic of that time. Processing buildings were all on the Frankenstrasse side. The Gottfried Wilhelm mine used a cable car. It transported coal 1.5 kilometers.
Imagine this area filled with the sounds of industry. Visualize miners passing through this gate daily. They were heading to work in the depths below. The Zeche Gottfried Wilhelm was one of the first fully electrified coal mines.
The mine’s name comes from Essen merchant Gottfried Wilhelm Waldthausen. He owned the Kuxe or shares. In 1906, the mine went to Essener Steinkohlenbergwerke AG. They sank a shaft in the Schellenberger Wald. At the same time, they began building the Gottfried Wilhelm Colonie on Frankenstrasse.
Baron von Vittinghoff Schell opposed building a mine in his forest. The Schell family had owned Schellenberg Castle and the forest since 1492. Unable to prevent it, they moved to Kalbeck Castle near Goch. His objections did have two important results. The forest remained quiet as Gottfried Wilhelm was Germany’s first fully electric mine. Only essential mining facilities were built in the forest. Processing and briquette plants were on Frankenstrasse. A hanging railway of over 1,400 meters led from the forest to them. It operated until 1942. Mining began in 1909.
In 1910, the Zeche Gottfried Wilhelm mined 310,000 tons of coal. It employed about 895 people. Peak production was around 484,000 tons in 1913. There were 1,314 employees. From 1942, coal was sent underground to neighboring mines. These were Pörtingsiepen and Carl Funke. They processed the coal there. Mining stopped in 1958. The Frankenstrasse buildings were demolished in the 1970s.
As you stand here, remember the hard work of the miners. Respect the history that this Personaltor der Zeche Gottfried Wilhelm represents. It is a testament to Essen’s coal mining past.