Sioux Montana Ranch

The Sioux Montana Ranch was a replica of a western town in the Duisburg district of Friemersheim in the Rheinhausen district . The property consisted of twenty buildings: church, cemetery, school, shops, barber, shoemaker, saddler, farrier, doctor, museum, hotel, sheriff's office , prison, amusement arcade, bank, whiskey distillery, saloon and a ranch with around 50 animals. At the entrance there was a gallows next to a totem pole . The property was clearly visible from a neighboring bridge. Named were the Sioux - Tribal Culture , and the American state of Montana , where many Indian reservations exist and the frequent scene of Wild West novels was. The facility was demolished in 2012.

history

After it was founded, the Sioux Montana Club that ran it initially focused on depicting Indian life before the construction of the first saloon began in 1962. The rebuilt city burned down twice as a result of arson, but was rebuilt at the location west of Saarstrasse leased from the city of Duisburg. The club regularly opened its doors to the public with a program. Country bands played in the saloon . The church was the scene of real church services, baptisms and weddings. The area served as a backdrop for several radio and television productions. The print press regularly addressed the western town. Officials of the city of Duisburg took on honorary positions in the club and praised its commitment. New Year's and other political receptions were part of the tradition. The property became a tourist attraction.

The operators of the Sioux Montana Ranch assumed that their existence was secure. This changed due to the accident at the Love Parade 2010 , which occurred in Duisburg. The now meticulous city administration recognized the wooden property as being at risk of fire. A hastily started rescue operation by the supporters came to nothing, as the high costs for subsequent permits could not be raised, especially not those for a rule-compliant upgrade. In 2010 the use ban was issued and in 2012 the property was demolished. Only the church was preserved, as it stood on the private property of club member Erich "Fuzzy" Wiesner.

Main operator Erich "Fuzzy" Wiesner

The operator of the western town was the Sioux Montana Club, founded in 1960. Club co-founder Erich "Fuzzy" Wiesner stood out among the helpers. He was the driving force behind the construction and maintenance of the property throughout its existence. Today the western town is ascribed to him and his wife as their life's work. Both lived there too. In particular, the museum furnishings came almost exclusively from them. According to his own statements, Wiesner had planned to become a cowboy and emigrate to America from his youth . Instead, he later brought old America to his home.

Wiesner's appearance as a bearded cowboy and his character made him initially a local original . Since he was reminiscent of the television role of Fuzzy , who was also seen on German television, he was eventually given his nickname. Through his participation in many carnival parades , he became known as Fuzzy to a broad national audience, in particular through the television broadcast of the Düsseldorf Rose Monday procession nationwide. Here he presented himself as a lasso artist on horseback. He also met the zeitgeist of the carnival of that time, when cowboys and Indians were a popular carnival costume. Wiesner also used the western town for social purposes. He lived from December 26, 1931 to October 10, 2017.

Web links

Individual evidence

51.39439 6.69339Coordinates: 51 ° 23 '39.8 " N , 6 ° 41' 36.2" E

[1] Google Street View - view of the western town from the neighboring bridge when it was still in existence in September 2008 - accessed on September 2, 2018

[2] ttps://de-de.facebook.com/montanaranch/

[3] ttps://www.derwesten.de/staedte/duisburg/west/bagger-besiegel-ende-der-montana-ranch-in-duisburg-rheinhausen-id6717369.html

[4] ttps://www.derwesten.de/staedte/duisburg/west/fuzzy-ritt-nicht-mehr-id3684333.html

[5] ttps://waz.trauer.de/trauerbeispiel/erich-wiesner