Once a humble village, Leuben needed a new administrative hub. This is the Rathaus Ortsamt Leuben.
The Rathaus Leuben, standing proudly at Hertzstraße 23, is a testament to Leuben’s growth. Imagine this area bustling with activity. The year is around 1900. Leuben transformed from a farming village into an industrial center. The population boomed to around 3,500 residents.
The village decided to build a new Rathaus. Construction of the Rathaus Leuben took place from 1900 to 1901. The community purchased land for the new town hall in 1897. By November 1899, plans were finalized to include a restaurant. Gustav Hänichen, a Dresden architect, was selected for the project. He also participated in the competition for the New Dresden City Hall.
Hänichen managed to keep costs below the 150,000 Mark limit. The original plan was to build a four-winged structure. For financial reasons, this idea was scrapped. The three-and-a-half-story building blends architectural styles. These styles include Historismus and Jugendstil elements. The Rathaus Leuben features a high roof and multiple towers. Inside, there is a staircase decorated with stucco, columns, and stained-glass windows. Renaissance gables adorn two sides.
The Ratskeller, a large winter garden, was initially accessible via an outdoor staircase. The staircase and winter garden still exist. The restaurant closed in 1921. Today, the Ratskeller hall serves as a community hall. Its walls are paneled with wood. The ceiling boasts five large stucco images. Students rediscovered these images in 1999.
The Rathaus Leuben originally housed various offices. These included the municipal administration, registration office, police station, and savings bank. These were primarily on the ground and first floors. Otto Dittrich, the mayor, lived on the second floor with his family. The third floor housed apartments for municipal employees.
A public bath opened in 1925. It featured four bathtubs and four showers. The bath closed in 1992. From 1933, the second floor became part of the municipal administration. The ground floor housed the savings bank, welfare office, and police station. A spiral staircase connected the “Kriminalabteilung” to holding cells. The “Kriminalabteilung” was a cover for the Gestapo headquarters.
After Leuben was incorporated, Residenzstraße became Hertzstraße. The street was briefly named after Hans Knirsch. The house number remained 23. After 1945, the Rathaus served as a shelter for bombing victims. Later, it housed a tuberculosis station and a maternity clinic.
In 1992, Dresden divided into ten districts. Leuben became a central district. The Rathaus Leuben was renovated. In 1998, it became the seat of the district office. The Rathaus Leuben celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2001. Today, the Rathaus Ortsamt Leuben continues to serve the community. It stands as a reminder of Leuben’s rich history and development.