Museum of iron and steel works opened in Linden
“I want to turn my anger into energy. Just getting angry isn’t healthy,” says Stef Wildung. The reason for their anger is the demolition of the historic factory building on the site of the former Linden iron and steel works between Badenstedter and Davenstedter Strasse.
Wildung, who owns the former canteen building of the steelworks, is now converting the energy triggered by the anger into a project: In a garage, she has started building a museum to commemorate the history of the Linden iron and steel works.
Demolition despite protests
“With the demolition, another part of Linden’s history as a working-class district was lost,” says Wildung. With the small museum, she wants to help ensure that this story is not forgotten.
The factory floor of the company founded in 1872 was in October 2021 Demolished despite protests from the citizens of Linden. The building is not under monument protection. The real estate company Aurelis is building a business park on the site. “I don’t understand why the city and region allowed this,” says Wildung. “Hanover has such an exciting industrial history, but far too little is being made of it at the moment.”
Wildung’s project has already taken shape. A sign with the inscription “Werksmuseum Eisen & Stahl” (Iron & Steel Museum) hangs above a garage on the site of the old canteen building. Inside there are various partitions with pictures and information from the approximately 100-year history of the company. Production at the plants had ceased in 1968.
Search for information and pictures about the company history
“I researched most of it on the Internet,” says Wildung. But she is also in contact with a man whose father wrote at the factory during the Second World War. The man still had pictures from the time that he made available to her.
But the work on the museum is far from over, says Lindenerin. It is relatively difficult to find information about the history of the iron and steel works. “That’s why I’m looking for people who still know something or even have old pictures,” she says. In doing so, she relies primarily on contemporary witnesses and therefore wants to put up notices in old people’s homes. “With a project like this, time is running against you.”
Replica with original material
Anyone with something to contribute to the museum can send an email to [email protected]. Or drop by directly at Badenstedter Straße 48. “The museum is already open from morning to night,” says Wildung. It should be a perpetrator, a low-threshold place where everyone can find out about the history of the working-class district of Linden and exchange ideas.
Wildung still has a special plan. You want to rebuild the facade of the demolished factory building and create a special entrance for the museum. Mainly the replica should consist of wood. But to give it some historical value as well, Wildung got hold of some bricks from the demolished factory building. “These should be the cornerstone for the model,” she says.
By Yannick von Eisenhart Rothe