Exhibition at Heemkundevereniging Geleen: Would you like to see the MINE?
In 1915, the construction of the national Staatsmijn Maurits in Geleen-Lutterade began. This marked a revolutionary change for the entire Western Mining Region.
In 1908, the municipal administration wrote to the Provincial Government: "No, Geleen is too dear to us with its healthy, brave, and prosperous population to degrade them to mine slaves." In a short period, Geleen transformed from a farming village into the bustling mining town it remained until its closure in 1967.
Currently, the interest in Geleen's mining history is very high again. Many residents in our region have ancestors who had a working relationship with this mining period. For Heemkundevereniging Geleen (a local history and geography association), this milestone is an opportunity to reintroduce the public to this era through an exhibition. The association aims to do this by supplementing the permanent exhibition on the mining history with a large display of photos from the Regional Archive Sittard-Geleen, most of which have never been shown before. Of course, they are accompanied by explanatory texts.
What made the Western Mining Region unique was the fat coal and the associated coking plants. This led to the arrival of chemical companies. The Maurits coking plant, its production, and products are also highlighted in the exhibition. Other topics include the construction, underground and above-ground activities, the slag heap, the exterior view, and the demolition.
Dynamic Exhibition
Display cases will be filled with archival documents and items from the HV Geleen archive, but there is also space to exhibit material that is kept at home by private individuals. Heemkundevereniging Geleen wants to involve as many people as possible in this exhibition, making it a dynamic, constantly changing exhibition. For example, they want to pay attention to the (Geleen) coal merchants through photos and documents.
During the exhibition, the association will regularly organise events such as lectures and workshops.
From April 5th, the exhibition can be viewed at the premises of Heemkundevereniging Geleen, Jupiterstraat 35 A, 6161XD Geleen. Opening hours are Monday and Thursday from 2:00 to 4:30 PM, Tuesday between 7:00 and 8:00 PM, and every first Saturday of the month from 9:30 AM to 12:00 noon, and further by appointment.
