Tower House Stork's Nest Götterswickerhamm

Many excursionists are familiar with the old mill tower at the Götterswickerhamm exit with its octagonal, widely protruding viewing area and the "Stork's Nest". Today's architecture, however, reflects the eventful history and building forms typical of the time.

The builder, Heinrich Wellmann, learned his trade from the owner of the Voerder windmill - which unfortunately no longer exists today - Friedrich Vorstius. After marrying Margarete Schepers from Voerde, he bought a plot of land on the Rhine from the farmer Hermann Schürmann for 200 thalers and was able to put a stately mill into operation in 1849. To build the mill, he had to borrow 1,000 thalers. But the mill did not bring him much luck - in 1853 it burned down in parts. Wellmann died a year later, and his wife followed him a few months later. 6 small children were left behind.

To ensure that the mill did not come to a standstill, some local residents - farmer Schürmann-Dickmann, landlord Borgardts and farmer Rockhoff, known as Nienhus - got together and bought the mill to run it together. They had the milling business carried out by journeymen. The last owner of the mill was Wilhelm Schiefelberg. Lack of customers and competition from motor-driven mills prompted Schiefelberg to shut down the mill in 1900. Since the building could not be used for other purposes, it was left to decay. The grinder, mill hood and wings were soon gone. But the tower remained standing.

The stump was converted into an observation tower in 1924/1930 as you find it today. Until about 1967, there was a popular and well-known excursion restaurant here. "Haus Storchennest" is now privately owned.

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