History of the city of Wiehl
The history of the city of Wiehl in North Rhine-Westphalia , which goes back to the 12th century, is dealt with here.
middle Ages
Wiehl was first mentioned in 1131 in the " Papal confirmation of possession for the Bonn Saint Cassius Stift , which owned a court and the church tithing in Wila ". The spelling of the first mention was Wila . In 1250, the knight (or count) Adolf von Wyle gave Count von Berg his lordship from Bieberstein to the mouth of the Wiehl as a fief and became his archdic (steward) and first Bergischer Vogt of Windeck . Knights of Wyle were called as early as the 11th century.
In 1385, the Counts of Sayn and Sayn-Wittgenstein tried to expand their small Oberbergischen dominion Homburg by buying the Vogtei Wiehl . A Vogteigericht in Wiehl had been important since the high Middle Ages. The district court that emerged from this in modern times existed until the municipal territorial reform in 1969.
Modern times
For the year 1528 there is a reference to the early iron processing with a water-driven hammer, probably at the Ohlerhammer, the current location of the Bergische axis factory : Hermann im Seiffen and the Ferber vom Ol (Siefen and Ohl are old districts of Wiehl) have no prior knowledge and permission from the gentlemen At Homburg a hammer dike was built in the Wiel , which the Saynian bailiff had torn away . In 1531 the chaplain to Wiehl Bertram Hase complained to the Homburg rulership that the people of the Count's bailiff Quad zu Isengarten had harassed and kujon him, even had taken his horse to Homburg. This complaint is the first written testimony from a clergyman in Wiehl. In 1540 Mathias Lindenstock was appointed pastor by the Cassiusstift in Bonn, obviously a Catholic clergyman who refused to accept the new teaching even after the Reformation was introduced by the Homburg lords.
In 1537, the Bergisch bailiff von Windeck convicted a subject for adultery and had the shameful stone hung around his neck through the mayor Aiff (Adolf) an der Wiell , which the offender had to carry around the churchyard (this was a so-called honorary penalty ). In 1577 the Bergische mayor Johann Dick asked the elders to report to him what Bergischen and other gentlemen had suffered in Toitschlegen, Diberej and other such misdeeds and painful (embarrassing) criminal offenses . Some of the persecutions and punishments of the Anabaptists have come down to us from Bergisch and Homburg, but no documents have been found for Wiehl himself.
In 1553 and in the following decades, the Bergisch Schultheissen reported a lively mining activity and the yields of the iron and lead ore mines in the area of the triple Vogtei Wiehl as in the Homburg region. They reported inconsistencies in the removal and distribution of the Zollstein (mountain tenth ), which the Duke von Berg on the one hand and the two gentlemen over Homburg, who von Sayn and von Wittgenstein each had to receive a third.
Wymar Fischer became the first Protestant pastor of Wiehl in 1560. After being divided into two parishes in 1568, Georg Hollmann was appointed pastor to Wiehl by the Homburg rulers . Previously, Hollmann, who was born in Wiehl, had been removed from the vicariate of his place of residence in Bergneustadt by the (old-faith) Bergisch bailiff, despite resistance from the citizens, because he was completely sectarian and repulsive . In Gummersbach, too, his position as vicar was prevented for the same reason. Pastor Hollmann and his family lived - like their predecessors and successors - from the income from the Pfaffenberg parish . In 1563 a Lutheran church order was introduced, followed by the Reformed church order in 1605.
In 1580, a total of 41 taxable households (fireplaces) were counted in the fodder oat lists of the Homburg rule for the village of Wiel together with the districts included today such as Zirre, Zaun, Bruch, Ohl, Puhl, Wülfringhausen, including 21 Saynic and 10 each Wittgenstein and Bergische subjects.
Probably the oldest “sports news” from Oberbergischen was passed down from Wiehl in 1595: There is a playground there, on which several people hit balls and otherwise play . During the service, a kind of punch ball was played, about which the senior (church elder) Joh. Schmidt complained to some of the pastors gathered at Homburg Castle . The result was a serious rebuke with a warning to the Wiehlers to attend church according to their duty. (A report on this can be found in the Princely Archives Berleburg. H 57.) As a result of the Siegburg settlement , the skirmishes over the rule of Homburg came to an end in 1604 . The dwarf state of Homburg , which essentially comprised the Wiehl and Nümbrecht parishes, was secured in its existence.
In 1618 the Thirty Years' War began and the population in the Kirspel Wiell (Wiehl parish) and its places were defenselessly exposed to the atrocities and acts of violence of the imperial-catholic war people. The Bruchten zue Wiel has been handed down from 1628 . The word "Brüchten" belongs to the verb " break ", break the law. Up until the 18th century, minor offenses were consistently punished in the rulers' brigade interrogation. Particularly frequent cases were: card games on Sundays and public holidays, insults, quarrels and abuse, fights, bodily harm, disobedience on the guard, during interrogation, premarital and illegitimate sexual intercourse, fishing and selling goods during the service, marriages "outside the country" , d. H. In a neighboring small state without sovereign permission, theft of wood, fruit, hay, child baptism celebrations that are contrary to the police (cots) and weddings (marriage weddings). In addition to fines, there was also the "stick", i.e. H. Shackling of the arms and legs in the block, block and imprisonment in the tower. Serious crimes threatened with death such as murder, manslaughter, but also adultery and rural exodus (!) Were punished by higher-order courts. (Original of the Bruchten in the archives of the Princely House of Berleburg)
In 1650 the mill bridge was built over the Wiehl. In 1696 a Latin school ( schola latinitatis ) was founded by order of Count Wilhelm Friedrich of Homburg. How long this higher school department lasted cannot be said. The stone tablet with the Latin founding text, which has been lost for centuries, is now in the grammar school. An uprising of the peasants against the oppression of the rulers through taxes and compulsory labor, led by the judge and then counts council from Wiehl Henrich Büttinghausen, was militarily suppressed in 1699.
The forests around Wiehl presented a bleak picture in the 18th century. They were pushed back to the ridges, exploited and cut down for house firing, peeling of tanners (for the tannery) and the enormous increase in the need for charcoal for iron production. Only after the use of hard coal in the second half of the century did charcoal milking lose its importance. Measured against the current abundance of forests in the area, old photos from the past century in some places show the poverty of wooded areas once caused by overexploitation .
In 1813 Wiehl was the scene of a rebellion against Napoleonic rule, which took hold of the entire Bergisches Land. This so-called uprising of the Bacon Russians was quickly put down by the French. Prince Carl , a certain Carl Schmidt from Kehlinghausen, had been the leader of the marauders ; They got their name popularly because they mainly targeted sausages, ham and bacon.
Through the Congress of Vienna , the rulership of Homburg and thus Wiehl was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia in 1815. During the French period , the communities Wiehl and Drabenderhöhe / Bielstein were formed roughly the same size as the parishes. For the establishment of a higher school as a privately financed and housed rectorate school, there are u. a. numerous written documents for the year 1850. After interruptions and renewed efforts, this private school finally closed again in the 1870s due to a lack of funds and a lack of teachers and students. In the years after 1850 the Wiehltalstraße was expanded, the first efficient transport connection to the surrounding area. In 1860, axles were forged on the Ohler Hammer and later patent axles. Around 1870 many men were looking for a livelihood through seasonal migrant work as bricklayers and pavers in the cities, preferably in Wuppertal and in the Saxon industrial areas (so-called Sachsengangserei ). In 1879 the mayor wrote in his quarterly report: “ Public mood in general and with regard to church and church-political affairs: The public mood is quite patriotic, only it appears depressed in relation to the high taxes that have to be raised. The civil war is meaningless here. Police conditions: There is nothing special to report about this either. The wandering craftsmen have reduced themselves to a minimum. “Around 1895 electricity was generated at the mill (Müller Soest), which could also be used to supply some neighboring community places (Wülfringhausen, Alpe, Morkepütz).
The connection to the railway network (Oberberg) in 1897 gave impetus for economic development in the entire Wiehl valley. 1898 was the founding year of the Bergische Patentachsenfabrik Wiehl (BPW) , which is still family-owned , and the largest industrial plant and employer in the Wiehl valley. It is the leading company for the manufacture of drawn (non-driven) axles and has numerous offices around the world. In 1901, mainly at the instigation of the Bielstein mayor Heinrich Brindöpke, the United Sparkasse of the Homburg communities (Wiehl, Bielstein, Nümbrecht, Marienberghausen) with its headquarters in Wiehl was founded. At the beginning of the 20th century, Wiehl had difficulties finding teachers for schools. In 1904 the mayor wrote: “ School attendance was fairly regular. As a result of a lack of teachers, the schools in Büttinghausen, Oberwiehl, Marienhagen, Neudieringhausen u. be taught half a day at 2nd class Wiehl ”. And further: “ The local council has decided to increase the salaries of the teachers as follows: Permanently employed teachers receive 1,350 M; dto. female teachers 1,050 M. The age allowances are increased to 150 M for teachers and to 100 M for female teachers. "
The mayor also commented on the economic situation in 1906. The corresponding report says: “ The mountain. Patentachsfabrik currently employs 49 workers who work for 10 hours and earn 3.50 - 6 Marks a day, depending on their performance at accord prices. She has enough orders so that the facility can currently be fully utilized and is also able to accommodate the products domestically. The company Gebrüder Bion, who own a small iron hammer (6 workers), complains that they have difficulty in accommodating the products at the corresponding prices given the increased prices of raw products. The company has to struggle with competition from large companies, which have all possible technical aids at their disposal. In the stone industry , the most important branch of industry for the local area, the demand for paving stones has increased, sales are brisk and the prices for finished goods have risen somewhat. Accordingly, wages have also increased. The latter fluctuates between 3.50 and 10 M per day. Around 500 to 550 workers are now employed in the local quarries. "Another two years later (1908) he noted:" There is still no prospect of improvement in the situation. The stone industry in particular has seen a significant decline in the last six months. The import of the Swedish stones had a very negative impact on sales of the greywacke. The demand for paving stones is very low. Production exceeds sales and most of the stocks from winter are still in the factories. The number of workers therefore had to be limited to the bare minimum and wages reduced. "
In 1905, after a long break, Wiehl was given another educational institution. The Realschule (upper elementary school, middle school) came into being at the instigation of influential, educated citizen circles with benevolent, albeit financially modest, support from the municipal council. In 1909 the new building of the rectorate school (the later secondary school) was decided by the local council. When the grammar school was founded, the Realschule moved to the Bielstein school center in 1971. In 1939, the municipal administration moved to the newly built town hall, which has become the building that defines the townscape (today's old wing). Shortly before the end of the war, members of the Gestapo (Secret State Police) went to Wiehl and looked for shelter in the stalactite cave . For fear of air raids, the population noted their disappearance by night and fog with relief.
The Americans occupied the place on April 11, 1945. On the last major campaign in western Germany to split up the so-called Ruhr basin , they had advanced at a rapid pace from Sieg and were only temporarily stopped at Drabenderhöhe . In the preceding days Wiehl was under artillery fire, houses were destroyed or badly damaged. The church tower was shot down; when it was later rebuilt, the top was a few meters lower.
After the Second World War
1948 was the founding year of the non-profit building and settlement cooperative Wiehl eG. It quickly became an indispensable instrument for alleviating the precarious housing shortage in the post-war decades, a result of the destruction of living space in the bombed cities and the acceptance of many expellees from the formerly German eastern regions. One of the main tasks was not only the construction of inexpensive social housing, but also the supervision of countless private homes. Today the cooperative has more than 460 apartments in 83 houses. They have been brought up to contemporary living standards through extensive renovation and modernization programs. In 1951 the Catholic Church of St. Mary's Assumption on Ennenfeldstrasse was inaugurated in the presence of the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Frings ; the architect was the future diocesan master builder Wilhelm Schlombs . The principles come from Elmar Hillebrand , the windows from Paul Weigmann .
In 1964 the state horticultural show was held in the Wiehltalaue - at the current location of the Wiehl valley stadium. In addition, Max Deubel and Emil Hörner from Wiehl became world champions in motorcycle trailer driving for the fourth time , after which they were twice vice world champions. From the mid-1960s onwards, planning and the gradual expansion of the Cologne-Olpe motorway (A 4) brought strong growth impulses for the city. With the designation of industrial and commercial areas around the Bomiger traffic intersection , a sustainable strengthening of the economic power and thus the consolidation of the municipal financial strength was initiated. At the same time, the development and development of receptive residential areas ( Sonnenhang, etc.) began. This resulted in rapid population growth. The previously pursued goal of placing Wiehl as a state-approved climatic health resort was finally abandoned in favor of the industrial-commercial economic orientation in order to avoid conflicting goals. In the same year, the last major floods occurred before the Wiehl dam was built . In 1965, passenger traffic on the Wiehl valley rail was stopped. Freight traffic was retained for the time being, but was also gradually shifted to the Aggertalbahn.
In 1968 the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Grammar School was founded. Until the completion of the first construction phase in 1971 (on the site of the old secondary school), teaching began in 1969 in the rooms of the primary school with 78 students in 2 classes. In 1971 the bypass road was opened, without which the center of Wiehl would be stifled in through traffic today. In addition, the Wiehlpark with green and water areas for games, sport and leisure was created under the bridge spanning the Wiehl valley on fallow meadows. In 1971 Wiehl received city rights . In 1975 the Wiehltalhalle was built as the assembly hall of the grammar school, which also offers space for extracurricular events such as cultural and social events. The town hall, which had become too small, was expanded to include a modern extension on Bahnhofstrasse. The mayor's house that stood there, burned out during the war and then restored, had to give way to the extension. In 1976 the ice rink with a new outdoor pool was completed as a large-scale test facility for the use of solar energy . The ice sports department was founded.
In 1981, the 850th anniversary of Wiehl was festively celebrated. In the same year the Sparkasse got a new building on the main street. The old building and the district court building, which previously served as an alternative quarter for the city administration, were demolished. In 1983 the Raiffeisenbank was rebuilt on Bahnhofstrasse, today Volksbank Oberberg eG . The Weiherplatz , which was started in the first section in 1977, gradually developed through further business and residential units in 1984 into a new business center with an attraction beyond Wiehl. In 1986 the first weekly market in Wiehl met with great buyers' interest. From 1987, the influx of repatriates and asylum seekers increased. The city was therefore forced to purchase buildings in Wiehl, Bielstein and other localities that were intended for future traffic or local redevelopment plans and to prepare them for housing. In 1988 the first Wiehl city festival attracted over 15,000 visitors. In addition, the so-called cross bar was built to link the main road with the bypass, which is of great importance for relieving the through traffic of Wiehl and Oberwiehl and at the same time opens up open spaces to secure the location and to expand the Bergische axis factory. Furthermore, the wall to the old Eichhardt quarry was broken through for the construction of the new Friedhofstrasse. A high-performance traffic artery was created for the rapidly growing Sonnenhang residential area , for the planned second sports field and the modern fire station . In 1989 the traffic management in the town center was rebuilt. The traffic lights hindering the flow of traffic at the town hall intersection disappeared. The Weiherplatz was connected to the newly built Wülfringhauser Straße. In January and February 1990 previously unknown hurricane-like storms raged across the country and caused great damage, especially in the forests. The Eichhardt sports field followed after a long search for a location and financing problems as a replacement for the previously abandoned soccer field at the site of today's ice rink. The International Wiehl Jazz Days took place for the first time. In 1991, medical care was gradually rounded off as needed by a further branch of specialists. In 1995 the power supply Aggertal GmbH Aggerstrom took over the energy supply for Wiehl, Gummersbach, Bergneustadt, Engelskirchen and Overath. The affiliated company of the municipalities with GEW Rheinenergie takes the place of RWE .
The Johanniter -Haus was built on Homburger Strasse in 1998 to replace the old postal garages. In addition to owner-occupied and rental units for assisted living, it houses rooms for the OASe senior citizens' meeting place, a deaconry and social station with outpatient and inpatient day care services. In 1999 Wiehl took over as a middle district town (with over 25,000 inhabitants) new functions of the local building supervision and the building permit authority as well as own youth welfare office . On May 3, 2001, the Wiehl valley (as well as the Aggertal) was hit by a flood of the century. After only one hour of torrential rain, the Wiehl and the otherwise peacefully babbling Alpebach broke their banks. Floods never seen before on such a scale caused great damage to roads, buildings and vehicles. The Wiehltalsperre , which was built primarily as a drinking water reservoir on the upper reaches of the Wiehl, was only suitable for flood protection to a limited extent. In 2004 a serious accident occurred on the Wiehl valley bridge, in which a tank truck loaded with 32,000 liters broke the guardrails, fell down the bridge and exploded. As a result, the through traffic of the A4 heavily burdened the urban area of Wiehl. After a long planning phase, securing the land and uncovering the route, the implementation of a central connection between the town center and the bypass road (roundabout, completed in 2005) began in 2004, and with it the urban restructuring of the area south of the track system. After the demolition of old buildings by a construction company, the construction of an enlarged consumer market was completed.