A symphony of clanking metal echoes in my memory. The Zeche Vereinigte Helene & Amalie. This very spot. I see it all now.
The Zeche Vereinigte Helene & Amalie wasn’t just a mine. It was the heartbeat of Essen-Altenessen-Altendorf. A place where generations toiled deep beneath the earth. Extracting the black gold that fueled an industrial revolution. It’s a story woven into the very fabric of this city.
Our story begins in 1839. Georg Friedrich Wülbern sought coal. His first exploratory drilling near the Schölerspad mine’s tunnels was a triumph. A 40-inch seam was discovered at a mere 17 fathoms. The following day he staked his claim: Vereinigte Helena & Amalia. Another successful drilling followed in 1840 west of Segeroth. This time a 72-inch seam. He started digging the Amalia shaft. It was rectangular. 140 inches by 76 inches. In 1842 the shaft reached the coal. Soon coal was being mined. A 40-horsepower engine was installed. It started operation without permission. The authorities temporarily shut it down.
By 1843 the mine was officially inspected. Two levels were opened. Coal extraction commenced. The three mine fields were consolidated into Vereinigte Helene & Amalie in 1844. A coke oven was built. Count von Beust visited in 1844. He was impressed by the high-pressure hoisting engine and the high-quality coke. A new shaft the Neue Zeche Helene & Amalie was started in 1850. By 1855 the mine was the largest in the Ruhr area producing 154,700 tons with 501 workers.
The years that followed were a whirlwind. More shafts were sunk deeper levels explored. A new hoisting engine was installed in 1857 a powerful 250-horsepower beast. More fields were added. But disaster struck in 1869. A water-pumping system failed. The mine flooded. It took time to pump the water out and resume operation.
The Zeche Vereinigte Helene & Amalie became a pivotal player. A founding member of the Rhenish-Westphalian Coal Syndicate in 1893. Accidents occurred. A methane explosion in 1882 claimed three lives. The mine expanded continuously. More shafts were added. New technologies were implemented. In 1910 a briquette factory was added.
The mine’s operations continued through the 20th century. More modernisations were made. More shafts were created. Then came the dark days of war and post-war recovery. Finally the mine closed its doors in 1965. The final chapter was written.
Today the Zeche Vereinigte Helene & Amalie stands as a testament. A memorial to the dedication and hard work of those who toiled within its depths. The remnants of this mine serve as a reminder. They are a tribute to an era. The era of coal mining in the Ruhr. They tell a fascinating story. A story of resilience. A story of progress. And a story of loss. A story that is part of Essen’s identity. A story that resonates still.