Postelheim

General information:

The residence on the edge of the market, which is built in the style of the Italian renaissance, has an eventful history. In 1893, the owner, Wilhelmine Postel (1844 – 1933), commissioned the architect Oskar Knölk with its construction. Through the Wilhelminian construction, the image of the city, which had consisted of identical buildings around Marktplatz, was changed in favour of a more individual presentation. One effect of this development was that wealthy and elegant citizens of the time increasingly built residences to bolster their image in the centre again, and not on the edges of the city.

Thanks to her inherited fortune, Wilhelmine Postel was able to have the house built as she envisioned it. She led a cultivated life with festive society in Heide. However, she also acted for worthy causes, meaning that the name of Postel is repeatedly entered in the chronicles of the city of Heide in connection with contributions and donations.

In 1933, she bequeathed the house and property to the city of Heide, and decided on the name of “Postelheim” [Postel Home] for the house in her will. Her will also stated that the city of Heide may not sell the property, and that the lower story should be used primarily for conferences, meetings, lectures, and small festivities. Other areas could be used as apartments for the mayor or other city officials. By no means could the house be used for political meetings or other political purposes. The town hall and the former pension office were later constructed in the former garden of the house.

Until the end of World War II, some of the city administration was housed in this building. Afterwards, the British military government had their headquarters here, before the city administration returned to the building and remained there until the construction of the new town hall in 1963. One year later, the adult education centre took over spaces on the ground floor and basement levels, while the city library was assigned four rooms on the first floor. The School for Mothers also moved into some rooms.