- Joined
- Mar 14, 2013
- Messages
- 424
- Reaction score
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- Points
- 18
Evening all,
First stop on the way from the red eye flight to Dusseldorff was this charming place which was pretty much empty but not in any real signs of trouble from local thugs or graffiti. We were heading South for the hotel and to start our first day with some epic so thought it would be rude not to stop here and check it out. Even had to hide from the farmer who uses the ground to store his tractor, etc but no dramas. Was a good hour or so around here and worth chalking up on the several hundred mile trip. Broke the monotony most definately.
Some history
This three-winged castle-like villa was built in the years 1919 to 1922 by architect August Greifzu in neo-Baroque style. Besides the castle there are also a big barn and stables with a slaughterhouse. In 1926 the owner went bankrupt and the estate was sold to a children hospitals. The children’s home had 80 beds. In September 1928, the administrative and housing building burned down in a fire and was rebuilt a year later. the orphanage was closed in 1933.
In June 1934, the Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt (NSV) bought the Villa. The NSV meaning ‘National Socialist People’s Welfare’ was a social welfare organization during the Third Reich. It was used as a ‘Müttergenesungsheim’, a rest home for around 120 children of railway employees. In 1957 the Müttergenesungsheim was closed and turned into a nursing home and brew house. The nursing housed between 50 and 85 people. There was not much money available, many times there was not enough money for daily food. Every year 6 to 8 people died. The nursing home was closed in 1971 because of the poor management and care.
Since the beginning of the 1990s, the buildings are listed and protected. Since then, various renovation and construction safety measures were made.
On with some photos.
Cheers for looking in.
First stop on the way from the red eye flight to Dusseldorff was this charming place which was pretty much empty but not in any real signs of trouble from local thugs or graffiti. We were heading South for the hotel and to start our first day with some epic so thought it would be rude not to stop here and check it out. Even had to hide from the farmer who uses the ground to store his tractor, etc but no dramas. Was a good hour or so around here and worth chalking up on the several hundred mile trip. Broke the monotony most definately.
Some history
This three-winged castle-like villa was built in the years 1919 to 1922 by architect August Greifzu in neo-Baroque style. Besides the castle there are also a big barn and stables with a slaughterhouse. In 1926 the owner went bankrupt and the estate was sold to a children hospitals. The children’s home had 80 beds. In September 1928, the administrative and housing building burned down in a fire and was rebuilt a year later. the orphanage was closed in 1933.
In June 1934, the Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt (NSV) bought the Villa. The NSV meaning ‘National Socialist People’s Welfare’ was a social welfare organization during the Third Reich. It was used as a ‘Müttergenesungsheim’, a rest home for around 120 children of railway employees. In 1957 the Müttergenesungsheim was closed and turned into a nursing home and brew house. The nursing housed between 50 and 85 people. There was not much money available, many times there was not enough money for daily food. Every year 6 to 8 people died. The nursing home was closed in 1971 because of the poor management and care.
Since the beginning of the 1990s, the buildings are listed and protected. Since then, various renovation and construction safety measures were made.
On with some photos.
The villa
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Cheers for looking in.
