A magnificent building that once stood at the corner of Fischpfortenstraße and Markt in Hamelin during the founding era has been reduced to historical photographs. Merchant Heinrich Rocholl commissioned the construction of this four-story residential and commercial building in 1894, creating what would become a notable architectural landmark in the city's old town.
The impressive structure featured high gables and was constructed with red brick accented by sandstone details, according to Bernhard Gelderblom's book "Hamelin - Then and Now." The ground floor boasted floor-to-ceiling windows, which was quite unusual for that time period. Above the commercial space was a two-story aristocratic apartment, demonstrating the typical mixed-use architecture of the era.
A life-sized figure of a blacksmith complete with hammer and anvil adorned the facade facing the market square. This sculptural element served as the business sign for merchant Rocholl, who operated a hardware store in the building. The blacksmith figure became an iconic feature that residents would remember long after the building's demolition.
In late 1932, Louis Keiser opened a shoe store at Markt 1. Keiser came from a Jewish family in the Netherlands who had been residents of Hamelin since the late 19th century. His father Salomon operated a clothing and shoe business on Ritterstraße, in what is now the location of Kolle store. Under Keiser's ownership, architect Fritz Röpe modernized the building by expanding the retail space, relocating the entrance from Fischpfortenstraße to the market square, and installing the "Schuhe Keiser" (Keiser Shoes) sign. Notably, the blacksmith figure remained during these renovations.
The rise of the Nazi regime brought devastating consequences for the Jewish business owner. The Nazis called for boycotts of Jewish businesses through the Dewezet newspaper, specifically targeting establishments like Keiser Shoes. On March 12, 1933, the store's windows were smashed in an act of anti-Semitic vandalism that marked the beginning of systematic persecution.
Following this attack, Louis Keiser was forced to leave the country. His shoe business was subsequently taken over by Schuh-Müller. Tragically, only a few members of the Keiser family survived the Holocaust, representing the broader destruction of Jewish life and commerce in the region.
By the end of the 1950s, shoe merchant Otto Maue decided to demolish the historic building entirely. In 1959, he erected a new structure in its place, introducing the first modern facade into Hamelin's old town. This architectural transition marked a significant shift from the ornate 19th-century style to contemporary functional design.
At the time, the Dewezet newspaper reported that the new building, which currently houses a travel agency, "harmoniously integrated into the venerable surroundings of the old town core." This assessment reflected the changing attitudes toward modernization and urban development in post-war Germany.
In a poignant epilogue to this story, Louis Keiser later visited Hamelin from Israel and provided the impetus for creating a memorial to the synagogue destroyed by the Nazis on Bürenstraße. This gesture connected the personal tragedy of one Jewish merchant to the broader community's effort to remember and acknowledge the Holocaust's impact on their city's history.
