iron grave cross for Dr. Ritscher
The Executive Board and Advisory Board of the support group Kings’ Hut ( Koenigshuette) wish all readers of our website
a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2026
Because of the approaching end of this year,we would like to take the opportunity to look back on important events relating to the support group. This year's general meeting took place on 5 April, as usual at our member's hotel/restaurant Riemann in Bad Lauterberg. 25 members found their way to Bad Lauterberg.
As every year, the members' meeting began with a public lecture. This year, Mr Hillegeist reported - as a farewell gift, so to speak - on historical Harz ironworks. These were the Kings’ Hut (Koenigshuette), the Rothehütte (today located in the village Koenigshuette, which is part of the town “Oberharz am Brocken”), the Lerbach-hut (Lerbach: district of Osterode/Harz), the Sollingen hut (in the town of Uslar) and the Harz-ironworks in the villages Ruebeland and Zorge. Everyone present was very impressed by the presentation. Enthusiastic applause was the thank you for the successful presentation.
An important point of the general meeting was the elections, which are held every two years. This year it was that time again.
Mr Hillegeist had already announced in advance that he would no longer be standing for election. There were also changes to the position of secretary and a new composition of the advisory board.
During the election, it was suggested that Mr Hillegeist be offered the position of Honorary Chairman. This suggestion was very well received by those present, but also by Mr Hillegeist, and Mr Hillegeist accepted the election as Honorary Chairman.
Mr Hillegeist had already pointed out in 2023 that the cast-iron grave cross of Dr Benjamin Ritscher, which stands in the Bad Lauterberg cemetery below the cemetery chapel, was in great need of restoration. - Dr Benjamin Ritscher (1803 - 1859) was a doctor and opened a cold-water spa in Bad Lauterberg in 1839. (Note: Sebastian Kneipp, who is now much better known nationwide for his water treatments, did not carry out his first treatments until 1850, but was not a doctor). An appeal for donations was successfully launched for the restoration of Dr Benjamin Ritscher's grave cross, and the grave cross was restored. The grave cross was reinstalled in the week before Christmas. The board and advisory board of the support group would like to thank Mr Haase and his employees from Metallbau (metal construction) Haase for their excellent work. The board and advisory board would also like to thank all those who supported us so generously and kindly with donations. Now the cast iron grave cross shines again in new splendour, and the lettering has also been reapplied in golden letters - not so easy, as the former raised lettering had almost weathered away.
Another highlight was the purchase of medals cast at the kings’ hut (Koenigshuette), which were also available thanks to a donation - in this case from our honorary chairman Mr. Hillegeist.
The guided tours that we offered this year were very well attended. 35 regular tours were offered, plus 17 special tours. Special thanks also go to the volunteer guides from the ranks of our members. The final number of visitors has not yet been evaluated, but up to the Open Monument Day, including the Open Monument Day, 309 people attended the public tours, and 173 people attended the special tours up to this date (14 September). Two guided tours took place on each of the two special days, International Museum Day and Open Monument Day. - The Board of Directors would like to thank all the helpers who contributed to the smooth running of these days and made them a wonderful experience for visitors.
However, as everywhere else, this year was not all positive for the support group. The restoration of the machine factory has come to a standstill, and the reasons and causes are manifold. But I won't go into them in detail here. One positive event in this context was the visit by the Göttingen CDU district parliamentary group. Its members were given a guided tour of the kings’ hut (Koenigshuette) industrial monument, focussing on the machine factory. It is not yet clear whether there will be a donation in this direction in addition to the donation for the guided tour.
This meeting was organised by our association member and CDU district councillor Mr. Hans Otto Arnold. In addition to raising funds for the renovation, the group also wanted to see how the use of the industrial monument as a museum could be promoted. This is because the site is currently designated as an industrial area and is only used as a museum. The owner of the industrial monument is also involved here. The coming year will have to show what happens next.
With this in mind, once again
Merry Christmas and all the best for 2026
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
