Torches, celebration and pride from the factory - 25th anniversary of the Hegenscheidt plants in Petersdorf (now Szobiszowice)
Archiwalna publikacja z 2025-04-22.
Torches, celebration and pride from the factory - 25th anniversary of the Hegenscheidt plants in Petersdorf (now Szobiszowice)
On April 22, 1877, Petersdorf - still an independent municipality at that time, now Gliwice district - experienced a special day: the wire and nail factory founded by August Wilhelm Hegenscheidt celebrated its 25th anniversary. The event not only highlighted the industrial development of the region, but also showed a deep respect and connection between the plant owner and his employees.
When the trade councilor Hegenscheidt, who was originally from Nadrenia, founded the factory in 1852, Upper Silesia was just entering the era of industrialization. Thanks to his entrepreneurship and modern approach, he quickly transformed the plant into a well-functioning, reputable company. Wire and nail factory, later also known for its production of springs, provided jobs to hundreds of people and became the driving force of the economic development of Szobiszowice.
On the evening of April 21, 1877, workers organized a solemn march with torches through the streets of Petersdorf - a touching expression of gratitude and loyalty towards the "patron". Such light processions were not only a Christmas ritual in the 19th century, but also a manifestation of a lively labor culture. The conclusion of the evening was an open-air party, to which families of employees and neighbors were also invited. Music was played, dancing, beer was drunk - a true celebration of the local community.
The next day, April 22, numerous guests arrived at Hegenscheidt's house: friends, officials, city councilors from Gliwice and owners of nearby industrial plants. Wishes were made, toasts were raised, and the speeches emphasized the social importance of the factory: stable employment, modern management and decent treatment of the crew. The press at that time wrote about a "model facility", in which capital and work did not stand against each other, but cooperated - a message especially important in times of increasing social tensions.
In 1887, the Hegenscheidt plant merged with the competing company of industrialist Oscar Caro; thus created the powerful **Obereisen** group, one of the most important in Upper Silesia. The factory survived both world wars, and in the times of the PRL it functioned as a state-owned enterprise, producing m. in. steel chains and ropes - still employing many residents of Gliwice.
Today, the historic halls on Dubois Street are the subject of heated debate. In 2023 the owner of the land applied for permission for demolition, which was met with strong social resistance. More than a thousand residents signed a petition to preserve the industrial heritage; the Silesian Voivodeship Conservatory of Monuments rejected the request for demolition and started the procedure of registering objects to the Register of Monuments. Planning works are currently underway on the revitalization of the complex - with the intention of transforming the area into a space combining cultural, commercial and service functions, following the successful adaptation of inter-industrial facilities in Katowice, Obód Ob and Berlin.
Although the torch light from April 1877 has long extinguished, the spirit of the factory founded by Hegenscheidt is still alive - in the walls, in the city, in the memory of Gliwiczians. What started with wire and nails remains a living chapter in the city's history that is still being written.
