"Two became one"

The half-timbered barn from 1860 was helped by the Georgsdorfer Mühlenverein by the Schmidt (Schlagelambers) families in Schulstrasse in Georgsdorf and Smoor in Meyerdiek in Alte Piccardie.

Volunteers rebuilt the half-timbered barn in 2011 - 2012 with the help of sponsors and grants from the community of Neuenhaus and Georgsdorf.

Today the barn serves as an exhibition room for historical tools and machines.

History of the half-timbered barn

--- by Heinz Sloot ---

Until it was demolished in 2010, the barn was owned by Helmut Schmidt, the traditional Schlagelambers.

The founder of the court war, Engbert Rötgers, b. March 13, 1822 in Georgsdorf. His property belongs to the full heir Jan Koel, Koelhoek.

"Koel has changed several parts of the legacy without the manor" (Source: Bentheimer Jahrbuch 1996, page 145, Dr. Heinrich Voet)

In 1882 several people from the Koel family emigrated to America. The remaining legacy was sold in several parts.

I do not know when Engert Rötgers decided on his settlement. On April 13, 1866, after the laying of the foundation stone of the pastor's house, a meeting was heard in the Rötger house, Engbert Rötger's war member of the church council. This means that Rötgers has lived in his property for some time and our barn will be over 145 years old.

The residential and farm buildings were in the barn and in the canal construction. In 1880 the building was a new house with a pub and a grocery store. A bakery belongs to the shop, also in half-timbered construction.

In 1942 the barn fell victim to a storm. It has been restored new and larger. Many wooden parts have been replaced with new ones. Building materials were hard to come by during the war. Engbertus Schlagelambers bought an oak trunk each from Gerhard Raterink and Lambert Schippers (both from Ostend). Rafters belonged to a farmer from Adorf and he received roof tiles on loan from Harm Hindriks (Jöpen).

At the end of the 1940s, the barn was expanded to include a horse stable and a workshop. In 1952 the last extension to accommodate the first motor vehicle of the Georgsdorf volunteer fire department was completed.

Hay and peat were stored on both sides of the passage. The right side of the barn facing the economy also offered overnight accommodation. The Heuhotel was popular with anglers from Nordhorn. But even tired drinkers found a welcome sobering camp here. There are only guesses about other uses.

An original from the Georgsdorfer Moor is said to have once said: "You have to take off your hat to this barn!"