The landmark of Harxheim
Three buildings vie for the title of Harxheim’s landmark. Which one is it really?
Is it the typical view along Gaustraße in the direction of the Protestant church? Or is it the other direction – along the climb up to the top? Is it the chapel on the right or the Schlossberg tower on the left?
The view of the Protestant church is an integral part of our townscape.
In old local history books or publications about the local community of Harxheim this view is often used.
This perspective captures a very significant building that expresses the eventful history of Harxheim.
View through the Gaustraße to the prominent tower of the evangelic church
Image source: Irmgard Kaiser-Vreke
The chapel as a stamp on a postcard from 1914
1250 years Harxheim, festival book 2017
However, you will often hear that the real Harxheim landmark is the little chapel on the Osterberg.
Here is a postcard from 1914 with a postmark showing the chapel.
It has been standing on the Osterberg for over 150 years. The impetus for the construction was given by Sabina Lambinet (1834-1916). The pious parents Anna-Maria and Louis Lambinet built the chapel on the Osterberg in 1864. Sabina and her two sisters Barbara and Katharina, who were in charge of the Harxheim branch church of St. Laurentius from 1870, attended daily Holy Mass in Gau-Bischofsheim. On the way home, they performed a devotion at the chapel.
The Bishop of Mainz, Wilhelm Emmanuel Freiherr von Ketteler, visited the chapel on May 15, 1866 and gave the owners permission to build a Stations of the Cross. However, this was never realized. The chapel served the Wingertsschützen as a shelter during the Weinbergshut.
A group of Hitler Youth destroyed the original wooden structure of the chapel on April 1, 1934. The massive turret was created only after the Second World War.
In the course of the 1200 year celebration in 1967, the marching band made it their task to renovate the building, which by then was already very dilapidated, and to install a large cross on the tower. On the occasion of the parade, a float with a replica of the chapel was presented.
The ownership of the chapel changed due to inheritance. In 1978, the then owner Maria Friedrich transferred the chapel to the Catholic parish of Harxheim/Gau-Bischofsheim.
Renovation work on the chapel 1967
Image source: Christel Deiß
Festschrift for the inauguration of the renovated chapel 17.05.1980
“Save the little chapel” was the call of an initiative led by Heinz Hock to preserve the building, which was threatened by decay. In the Festschrift for the inauguration of the renovated chapel on May 17, 1980 he summarizes the history of the building as follows: “The chapel had already been in existence for almost 115 years, had been exposed to wind and weather, had been destroyed and rebuilt by human hands – shouldn’t it finally be left to its fate? And yet: it may not have been, and may not be, a great monument of architectural art, but wasn’t it a kind of landmark at the feet of the Harxheim development?”
At the Harxheimer Kerb in 1978, the initiative “Save the little chapel” was started. With the sale of pens and key chains, as well as many donations, the necessary funds could be raised.
A wrought iron cross with lighting has decorated the chapel since 1986. It was made and donated by Willi Buchert.
As part of the voluntary work initiative of the Mainz-Bingen district, Klaus-Werner Fritzsch initiated another renovation in 2008.
The chapel in the jubilee year 2017
Image source: Irmgard Kaiser-Vreke
The Harxheim castle tower
Image source: Irmgard Kaiser-Vreke
However, if you ask Harxheim children, many say that the Schlossberg tower is the landmark and the special feature of the community.
The Schlossberg tower was built on the initiative of the Harxheim Farmers’ and Winegrowers’ Association. In September 1999 it was solemnly inaugurated and has also become a landmark of the village. The tower is named after the Schlossberg vineyard site. Four benches, donated by the Sunday regulars’ table of the Reßler estate tavern in 2000, invite hikers to linger.
Photo taken on the occasion of the walk on the Harxheim parish boundaries in 1816 as part of the celebrations for “200 Years of Rheinhessen
Image source: Irmgard Kaiser-Vreke
This place, with a beautiful view over Harxheim, is also often used for events. The Harxheim Schlossberg Tower Festival, organized by Harxheim associations, was a well-attended attraction for several years.
Now everyone can / must decide for themselves which is for him the real landmark of Harxheim!
References:
Harxheimer chapel 1864/1980. Festschrift for the dedication of the renovated chapel on May 17, 1980.
Private records of Klaus-Werner Fritzsch
