Schalke Market

When the myth was more than a song

Schalke Markt was once the beating heart of the industrial town of Schalke. In 1934, the people of Schalke celebrated their first German championship here in frenetic fashion - six more were to follow. Today, it is hard to imagine that the Schalke Markt was once a place full of life and activity.

Eine Postkartenansicht in schwarz-weiß zeigt den Schalker Markt um das Jahr 1900. Der Schalker Markt ist mit Bäumen bewachsen. Zwischen ihnen steht der Grillo-Brunnen. Rechts steht die Evangelische Friedenskirche. Im Hintergrund ragen Schornsteine in den Himmel.

Living - Housing - Work

At the Schalker Markt, the working, living and lifestyle worlds of the district came together. On the right, at the eastern edge, was the Protestant Friedenskirche (Peace Church), and to the north of the square was the Consolidation mine's shaft 1/6. In the middle of the square stood the Grillo monument with its fountain.

Source: Sammlung Karlheinz Weichelt

Hinter einer Reihe mehrgeschossiger Wohnhäuser rauchen Schornsteine. Der schwarze Ruß verdeckt den Himmel.

Dirt from the chimneys

However, the Schalker Markt also clearly showed the dark side of the close interlocking of work and living: The sky above the neighbourhood was often so black that the sun was only dimly visible.

Source: Sammlung Karlheinz Weichelt

An einer Straßenecke steht ein prächtiges Gründerzeithaus. Im Erdgeschoss befindet sich ein Textilgeschäft mit großen Schaufenstern. Eine Straßenbahn fährt vor dem Haus entlang.

Good location for business

There were many shops on Schalker Markt. Business was good here.

Source: Sammlung Karlheinz Weichelt

Eine Menschenmenge wartet am Schalker Markt vor der mit Fahnen geschmückten Kaiserhalle. An der Hausfassade hängen große Porträts der Spieler des FC Schalke 04.

The centre of Schalker life

The Kaiserhallen was the club's home, office and pub. All important victories and titles were celebrated here, such as the first championship in 1934. To celebrate Schalke's heroes, the windows of the Kaiserhalle are decorated with oversized medals. The portraits of the players can be seen on them.

Source: Institut für Stadtgeschichte Gelsenkirchen

Henriette Thiemeyer steht vor dem Eingang zur Kaiserhalle.

The mother of success

Henriette Thiemeyer was the owner of the Kaiserhalle. Together with her nieces, she looked after the physical well-being of her guests. In the difficult early days of the Schalker Kreisel, she looked after the young players - which earned her the nickname "Mother Thiemeyer".

Source: Institut für Stadtgeschichte Gelsenkirchen

Berni Klodt reicht ein Tablett mit vollen Biergläsern über den Tresen seiner Kneipe "Schalker Kreisel" zu seiner Frau.

World champion at the tap

Berni Klodt opened the "Schalker Kreisel" pub on Schalker Markt after the Second World War. The boss still personally tapped the beer there.

Source: Institut für Stadtgeschichte Gelsenkirchen

It's a big day in Schalke. The team around Szepan and Kuzorra returns from Berlin today. For the first time, they bring the trophy for the German champion, the so-called "Viktoria", to the Schalke Market. In a heart-stopping final, they had beaten FC Nuremberg 2 to 1. 30 years after the founding of the club at House Goor, Schalke are the pinnacle of German football. The whole neighbourhood is in ecstasy. Thousands of people stream through Schalker Straße (Schalke Street) and Kaiserstraße (Empereor’s Street) towards Schalke Market. They all want to be there when Kuzorra presents the trophy in the Kaiserhalle. Huge medals with portraits of the players hang from the windows of the hall. At the other end is the Friedenskirche. At the northern end of the square is the Consolidation Colliery with its shafts 1 and 6. And in the centre, the monument to the industrialist Friedrich Grillo stands out from the crowd. Everyone waits in anticipation for the carriages with the players. When they arrive, the people cheer for their heroes. People dance all night in front of the chimneys and smokestacks and in the glow of Schalke's industry. The myth of the Schalke Market is born.

Until 1942, Szepan and Kuzorra will bring the "Viktoria" to the Schalke Market five more times. But even if no championships are celebrated at Schalke Market, it remains the beating heart of the neighbourhood. It was the intersection of living, life and work. The Kaiserhallen were the centre of FC Schalke 04's club life, acting as club pub, office and club museum all in one. The Schalke Market No. 10 was a meeting place for officials, players and fans. As an active player, Ernst Kuzorra ran a tobacco shop right next to the Kaiserhallen for a while, Fritz Szepan a textile shop. After the Second World War, Berni Klodt stood behind the bar of his pub "Schalker Kreisel" directly on Schalke Market from 1952 to 1963. As captain, he brought the German championship to Schalke for the last time in 1958. Just like in the golden age, the blue and white triumphal procession made its way from Gelsenkirchen's main railway station to Schalke.

Schalker Markt in virtual reality

The Schalker Markt was reconstructed as a 3D model for the Schalke Erleben app. It shows the state of the Schalker Markt in the 1930s - the time of Schalke 04's greatest successes.

Source: mxr storytelling

Der Schalker Markt ist nur noch ein leerer, unbelebter Parkplatz. Im Hintergrund ist die Berliner Brücke zu sehen.

Bonjour tristesse

There is nothing left of the former glory of Schalker Markt. Today it is just a parking lot under the Berliner Brücke.

Source: mxr storytelling gmbh

Im Erdgeschoß eines Hauses am Schalker Markt sind die Schaufenster eines Ladenlokals mit Folie beklebt worden.

Vacancies

Business at Schalker Markt is no longer as good as it used to be. Fritz Szepan and his wife ran a textile store in this building until 1972.

Source: Olivier Kruschinski

When Berni Klodt opened his pub, the Schalke Market was unrecognisable from the successful days of Szepan and Kuzorra. Most of the magnificent buildings were bombed during the Second World War. The same was true of the Friedenskirche. The Grillo monument was destroyed, and a replica of the bust of the Schalke’s founder moved to Grillo Square. Today, only a few cars are parked at Schalke Market, off to the side and in the shadow of the Berlin Bridge. Nothing points to the much-sung "myth of the Schalke Market". Yet its cradle is right here.