Kaiser Wilhelm Tower (Essen)
The Kaiser Wilhelm tower was in honor of the German Emperor I. Wilhelm in Essen district Stoppenberg befindlicher observation tower with a museum.
history
The observation tower was built between 1897 and 1899 on the recently developed Halloberg in today's Hallopark , a northern mountain cone of a foothill of the Ardey Mountains in the eastern Stoppenberg, at a height of about 86 m . On June 10, 1899, it was inaugurated in memory of the first German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm I.
On July 22, 1901, a commemoration ceremony for the Congress of Representatives of the Association of German Naval Associations was held in the Memorial Hall. Representatives of the League of Warrior Associations of the former mayor's office in Stoppenberg, which comprised around 2,000 soldiers, attended. This ceremony thus formed a brotherhood in arms between the army and navy. A little later, the board of the Association of German Marine Associations donated a plaque designed by A. Schönche-Kiel with sailor symbols.
Every year around 25,000 people including school classes visited the tower. After the First World War and thus the end of the imperial era, the museum pieces were relocated in 1920. Their whereabouts are unclear.
The tower was badly damaged during World War II and was not repaired later. Its remains were blown up in the early 1970s.
Architecture and equipment
The four-story and hexagonal tower with Gothic elements had a viewing platform between the two upper floors. The roof tapered from the six battlements to a shiny imperial crown at a height of about 43 meters. There the flag of the German Empire was waving in black, white and red . There was a cannon on the terrace in front of the entrance, a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II.
Inside there was a memorial hall which, in addition to wall and glass paintings, adorned a collection of weapons and a bust of Kaiser Wilhelm I. The names of the supporters of the tower through monetary and material donations were recorded on a board. To thank the initiators of the tower, the surrounding communities, the dedication of the tower read: "To the memory of Kaiser Wilhelm the Great, the residents of Stoppenberg, Schonnebeck and Frillendorf"
On the keystone was written:
“Stand
proud in the sunshine, in the storm , you Kaiser Wilhelm Tower.
You are to tell later generations
how our hearts beat faithfully.
For the old gentleman who has re-established the kingdom,
his name he will remain forever,
and if you have long since fallen to rubble,
he will still live in all German hearts. "
A march , the Halloturm march, was specially composed in honor of the tower . The text was by A. Reichel, the music by E. Stiller.
Web links
- Pictures from Alt-Stoppenberg: The Halloturm ; accessed on October 8, 2015
Individual evidence
- ^ A b T. Kellen: The industrial city of Essen in words and pictures. History and description of the city of Essen. At the same time a guide through food and the surrounding area. Fredebeul & Koenen, Essen 1902.
Coordinates: 51 ° 28 ′ 41.4 " N , 7 ° 2 ′ 59.5" E