Eichener Mühle

The mill is considered one of the earliest commercial enterprises in the Olpe district. It was formerly powered by three waterwheels. Two tributaries, the Rose and the Brachtpe, feed the mill pond. This water supply from multiple spring areas is rare. A sawmill was added to the grinding mill in 1840. In 1910, a bakery was added, and a little later, a bone crusher was installed to produce fertilizer for agriculture from animal bones.

Even today, both mill ditches channel their water into the large mill pond. The bridge over the Rose did not exist in earlier centuries. Farmers reached the mill with their carts via a ford. Later, a sawmill was added to the grain mill. This combination was a true rarity in the Olpe district. However, once both facilities fell into disuse—the mill was abandoned in 1964—the mill began to fall into disrepair.

It is all the more gratifying that today, following a complete renovation, a beautiful building once again stands on the foundations of the Alte Mühle, and the grain storage, waterwheel, and saw frame have been preserved. The mill’s watercourse, a grinding mechanism, a massive frame saw, a log saw, and a circular saw have been preserved; these were powered by an overshot waterwheel via transmission belts. The building and its machinery are listed as historic monuments.

Opening hours:
The mill is open on Open Monument Day (the second Sunday in September) and on German Mill Day (Whit Monday). Tours are also available by appointment.

Contact
Tel.: 0 27 61 / 83 58 31 (Dr. Ing. Rolf Heinen), Email: drheinen@gmx.de

Tip from
The Eichener Mühle is located directly on the Bergisches Panorama Radweg between the Rhineland and the Sauerland, which runs along the former railroad right-of-way. It is a good 300 meters from the B 55 and B 54, and it’s only about 1 km from the Olpe exit of the A 45 heading toward Drolshagen / Bergneustadt.

Text: Dr. Ing. Rolf Heinen and Drolshagen Marketing e. V.