“Waidmühle,” a term whispered through centuries. Do you hear it? We are standing before the Waidmühle Bindersleben. Its story is more than just wood and stone. It is a tale of blue gold and royal misfortune.
This mill was first mentioned in 1510. Back then, it was a Waidmühle. “Waid” is a plant used to make blue dye. Erfurt became wealthy because of it. The Waidmühle Bindersleben played a key role in this prosperity.
Imagine this place bustling with activity. Workers are grinding waid leaves. The air smells earthy and slightly acrid. The blue dye is extracted. It will color fabrics for trade. This mill helped to build Erfurt’s fortune.
However, fortunes can change. By 1605, the Waidmühle Bindersleben was deserted. Why? Perhaps the waid trade declined. Maybe there was a fire or flood. We can only speculate about the reason for the desertion of the Waidmühle Bindersleben. For a while, silence fell over this place.
In 1666, a garden grew here instead. Flowers and vegetables replaced the millstones. Nature reclaimed what industry had left behind. But the story does not end there.
In 1716, the Waidmühle Bindersleben was reborn. It was rebuilt as an oil and cutting mill. Three farmsteads were combined for this new venture. Samuel Thieme owned the mill in 1748. It processed oil, groats, and timber. The Waidmühle Bindersleben adapted to changing times.
The Ritter family owned a mill called Neuerbemühle from 1805 to 1862. It was an oil and saw mill. Some people called it “die Schneidemühle”. The Neuerbemühle was at Neuerbe 48/49. The old number was 532. It is important not to confuse the Neuerbemühle with the Waidmühle Bindersleben.
Now, let us jump to another event in Erfurt’s history. It happened in 1184. Nobles met to resolve a dispute. The floor collapsed during the meeting. Many people fell into a cesspit. This event became known as the Erfurt Latrine Disaster. It is a grim reminder of the past. But it is not directly related to the Waidmühle Bindersleben. It highlights the unpredictable nature of life.
Sadly, the Waidmühle Bindersleben’s story concludes with its demolition. In 1890, the mill was sold. Around 1900, it was torn down. The Waidmühle Bindersleben disappeared from the landscape.
Yet, we stand here today. We remember the Waidmühle Bindersleben. It was a waid mill. It was an oil mill. It was a cutting mill. It was a part of Erfurt’s story. The Waidmühle Bindersleben reminds us that even vanished places leave a trace.