Preserves the winding engine house of the Grube Adolf colliery and operates a visitor centre on mining heritage in Herzogenrath-Merkstein.
Bergbaudenkmal Adolf e.V.
Herzogenrath-MerksteinNew on Amplifa
About the association
Bergbaudenkmal Adolf e.V. is a registered association founded in 1993 in Herzogenrath-Merkstein which, according to its statutes, is dedicated to preserving the winding engine house of the former hard coal mine Adolf of the Eschweiler Bergwerksverein. The brick building, constructed in 1922/1923 to plans by the Cologne architects Erberich and Scheeben, is the last remaining building of the colliery and houses a 1913 steam winding engine from Gute-Hoffnungs-Hütte Sterkrade, which was restored by association members and has been operated again since 2001. Today the building serves as a visitor centre in Grube-Adolf-Park with exhibitions on the life and working world of the miners as well as on the refining of hard coal. The association offers guided tours, demonstrations of the winding engine operated on compressed air, and cultural-historical events such as Mettenschicht (traditional miners' shift), storytelling evenings and a festival of lights. It also maintains mining relics in Herzogenrath and in the Wurm valley along the Karbonroute and awards the Adolf Prize.
- Site
- Herzogenrath-Merkstein
- Processes
- Guided tours and demonstrations of the steam winding engine, Visitor centre with exhibition, Association and cultural events (Mettenschicht miners' shift, storytelling evening, festival of, Adolf Prize, Heritage conservation and maintenance of mining relics (Karbonroute)
- Materials
- Steam winding engine, Cast-iron friction wheel
- Certificates
- Heritage protection
- Founded
- 1993
- Industries
- Heritage conservation, Museums and education, Mining heritage preservation
Steam Winding Engine Technology
Steam winding engine
Double-acting twin-piston steam engine from 1913, now operated on compressed air (approx. 1000 hp) and demonstrated at 6 m/s.
Cast-iron friction wheel
Two-part Koepe friction wheel with a 5.5 m diameter made of cast-iron spokes, hub and wheel rim.
Site
Herzogenrath-Merkstein
DEWinding engine house / Visitor centre Grube-Adolf-Park
- Materials
- Historic machine technology
- Steam winding engine from 1913
- Radial fan (1933)
- Axial fan (1954/55)
- Assembly and festival hall in the fan motor hall
- Energy centre with thermal solar system
Exhibits and Exhibition
Inside the production
Industries
Additional services
Heritage Conservation
The association maintains the listed winding engine house and the historic technology on a voluntary basis; the restoration of the winding engine was carried out drawing on the knowledge of former winding engine operators.
| Evidence | Herzogenrath-Merkstein |
|---|---|
| Heritage protection |
Mining and Association History
- 1889
Groundbreaking for the Grube Adolf mine of the Eschweiler Bergwerksverein, named after Adolf von Steffens
- 1910
Planning of the 'Alte Kolonie' company housing estate in Streiffeld; first steam winding engine installed
- 1913
Start of coal winding via the own shaft; first company apartments occupied
- 1922/1923
Construction of the winding engine house of the ventilation shaft to a design by Erberich and Scheeben
- 1933
Extension of the building by one bay and installation of the radial fan
- 1959
Historic winding peak of 939,705 t of coal
- 1972
Cross-cut to Grube Anna at the 860 m level; end of coal winding in Merkstein
- 1990
Last shaft inspection ride on 20 August; decommissioning of the shafts
- 1993
Foundation of the association Bergbaudenkmal Adolf e.V. (VR 3046 Aachen)
- 1999–2001
Restoration of the winding engine house
- 2001
Recommissioning of the restored steam winding engine after approx. 14 years of standstill
- 2007
Ceremonial handover of the visitor centre Grube-Adolf-Park on 15 September