Ottoshöhe observation tower
The Ottoshöhe observation tower is a 28.5 meter high, roofed, wooden observation tower on the southern slope of the Meller Mountains in the Osnabrück hill country . The viewing platform is at a height of 24.3 meters.
The tower stands above the Meller district of Eicken-Bruche on the Otto height, a hill on the so-called Eickener Egge at approx. 200 m above sea level. NN altitude and in good weather offers a clear view of well over 20 km, for example as far as Osnabrück , Bielefeld , Porta Westfalica or the Ibbenbüren power station .
The tower is already the fourth in the same location. After the years 1895, 1924 and 1967, the observation tower was rebuilt for the fourth time in 2008. Thanks to the efforts of the Melle-Mitte Beautification and Transport Association (VVV) under the direction of Chairman Hermann Kuipers, the observation tower was reopened on June 14, 2008 in an official opening ceremony. Thanks to the good cooperation with the city of Melle, the EUR 170,000 project succeeded as planned, with institutions, organizations and companies as well as private individuals contributing to the financial support. The project was originally planned to run for five years, but could already be implemented within three years.
history
First tower (1895-1924)
The construction of the first observation tower suggested as part of the homeland movement of Meller District Otto von Pestel from Good Bruche on. He also provided a suitable property belonging to the estate for this purpose. Here the VVV built a tower in 1895, which was christened in honor of the initiator Ottoshöhe . The square tower without a roof was only 8.5 meters high up to the platform. It could stay there until 1924.
Second tower (1924–1937)
A simply constructed successor tower to the first tower only stood for 13 years until 1937.
Third tower (1967-2007)
Thirty years after the demolition of the second tower, the VVV built a third, higher tower at the same location in 1967. This was hexagonal and about 18 m high up to the uncovered platform. For almost 40 years, the tower was a popular hiking and excursion destination in the region, until experts discovered that the load-bearing parts were rotting and the ascent had to be closed for safety reasons. The necessary repair work was classified as too expensive at around € 30,000, so that the VVV decided in 2006 not to repair the old tower. The ambitious goal was to replace the tower with a new, higher and more beautiful tower.
Fourth tower (since 2008)
After private individuals, representatives, the council and the city administration of Melle had promised their support, the von Bar family as property owners were also ready to sign a new lease agreement. Around € 150,000 was budgeted for the new building and a fundraising campaign was organized. Financing commitments could be made and a sponsoring campaign with the symbolic sale of the 125 steps was organized, one step costing 100 € and the names of which are visible on the steps. Thus the first logs could stand on the concrete slab on April 16, 2008.
The mistakes in the construction of the tower in 1967, which had to be torn down due to increasing decomposition, could not be committed again with the current tower. With the extremely weather-resistant, Canadian Douglas firs , it was therefore possible to dispense with impregnation of the logs and a long period of storage was not necessary, as the wood was installed in the fresh, moist air. The giant Douglas firs in the Meller Mountains were around 100 years old and 35 meters high and at a height of 28 meters they were 25 centimeters in diameter. The wooden construction of the tower was based on the Luisenturm in Borgholzhausen and the Beutlingsturm .
After the completion of the tower and the preparation of the site, a seating group and an information board with technical data were installed. This was followed by the official inauguration of the tower on June 14, 2008. On July 24, 2008, the heavy wooden table and the benches made of pressure-impregnated pine were stolen by unknown perpetrators, but replaced by the VVV at short notice.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Ottoshöhe observation tower. Beautification & Transport Association Melle-Mitte eV, accessed on November 6, 2013 .
Coordinates: 52 ° 13 ′ 33.6 ″ N , 8 ° 21 ′ 52 ″ E