Across the Rhine, a ferry once chugged between Stürzelberg and Düsseldorf-Benrath. Its rhythmic puttering marked the pulse of this riverside village. Now, only memories remain of the ferryman Heinrich Richrath Jr., whose death in 1965 brought an end to this era. Stürzelberg, nestled on the eastern bank of the Rhine, has a rich history. It was a part of the Electorate of Cologne since the Middle Ages, tied to the Zons administrative district. Life here revolved around farming and fishing, dictated by the ebb and flow of the river. Just east of Stürzelberg lies the Heckhof, a manor farm first mentioned in 1389. It served the Deutz Abbey. While parts of the manor may be older, the existing structure dates back to 1694, a date etched into the archway. Imagine the winter of 1788, when the mighty Rhine itself froze over. Then, on October 5, 1794, French soldiers marched into Stürzelberg, marking a new chapter in its story. Stürzelberg became part of the Canton of Zons, then later the Mairie of Zons, within the larger administrative structure of the French departments. The 19th century brought the rumble of industrialization to Stürzelberg’s quiet streets. In 1926, the first sewage system was installed, a sign of the changing times. Stürzelberg even boasts its own coat of arms. The cross represents its ties to the Electorate of Cologne. The river, of course, is the Rhine. An anchor symbolizes Stürzelberg’s harbor activities. Green meadows in the upper part of the coat of arms represent the nature reserve and campground known as the Grind. A swan commemorates the Schwanenburg, a guesthouse destroyed in 1945. Finally, a wall depicts the flood protection barrier, built in 1998 to safeguard Stürzelberg from the rising Rhine. In 1975, Stürzelberg, along with Zons, St. Peter, and Nachtigall, became part of Dormagen. Yet, the spirit of this small village persists, a testament to its enduring connection to the river and its rich past.
Landesrat Dr. M. Brandts Plaque
“Seinem verehrten Mitbegründer dem tatkräftigen Mitbegründer Herr Landesrat Dr. M. Brandts gest. 16. Oktober 1905 in Dankbarkeit gewidmet.” This is