Could the stones beneath our feet whisper tales of kings and commoners? We’re standing at Wettinhöhe. It is a place where history and mystery intertwine.
Wettinhöhe marks the crossroads of Lichtenwalde, Chemnitz, and Niederwiesa. Its name sparks debate to this day. Some say it was named in 1911 to honor the House of Wettin. This was during the bicentennial of the Vitzthum von Eckstädt family at Schloss Lichtenwalde. Others claim the name existed earlier. Evidence suggests the café here bore the name “Wettinhöhe” as early as 1909. Gert Petersen found records dating back to 1912. He suggests that the name comes from the 800-year celebration of the House of Wettin in 1889. Hills across Saxony were named “Wettinhöhe” or “Wettinberg”.
Look closely at the unspectacular area. Notice the unspectacular stone pillar. Dating back to 1835, this sandstone pillar once marked the boundary between Lichtenwalde and Ebersdorf. Imagine it standing here for decades. The original pillar vanished around 1919.
In 1843, Johann Gottlieb Donner sold land to build a Chausseehaus. Gottlob Rockoff is listed as the house owner in 1857. He was also a Chauseewärter. From January 1886, the Chausseegeld was abolished in the Kingdom of Saxony. Friedrich Erdmann Neumerkel took over the building from the state. August Friedrich Hermann Engelmann took it over for 6,420 marks.
By 1890, the address book lists August Hermann Engelmann, Auguste Engelmann, and the widow Christiane Karoline Engelmann. Auguste ran a bottle beer and cigar shop here.
In 1908, Hermann Max Engelmann is listed as the house owner for the first time. Then, in 1909, the “Cafe Wettinhöhe” opened its doors. Max Engelmann expanded the property in 1911. He built a kitchen to create a full-fledged restaurant. A 1914 advertisement promised treats and comfort.
In 1919, Ebersdorf merged with Chemnitz. Engelmann chose to be districted to Lichtenwalde. In 1927, Haase and Coursave built a side building. It housed sewing machine and bicycle repairs. Later, a DAPOL gas station was added. Max Albert Engelmann took over the restaurant in 1944. He ran it until 1972.
World War II left its mark. In 1945, artillery fire destroyed the front building. American artillery shells landed just meters from the house. Chemnitz firefighters parked their vehicles in the garden. Trenches surrounded the restaurant. A quadruple anti-aircraft gun and a tanker were destroyed on the hill.
In 1953, Lichtenwalde renamed Wettinhöhe to “Lichtenwalder Höhe”. In May 1965, the Chemnitz stonemasonry V. Metz restored the pillar. The pillar got different dimensions than the original. Today, the boundary stone is under monument protection. Later, the area was reassigned to Ebersdorf.
Today, Wettinhöhe stands as a testament to time’s passage. It is a reminder of the people and events that shaped this place. It is a simple crossroads, a site of historical significance. As we leave Wettinhöhe, consider the layers of history beneath our feet.