Dieter Faas, Gutenbrunnerhof                                        Translator : Rosemary Çelim 

Good  Well   -  Good Well Estate

The Former Spa of the von Hacke Barons

The narrow road leading from  Karl’s Valley past Oberhammer and the Blicker Pond to Johanniskreuz runs alongside the Moosalb stream’s Meadow Valley, which is often called Hut Valley as well. Shortly before its winding rise to the Lauber Forest and quite a way from the source of the Moosalb, the valley widens and opens a view upon the houses of the Lauber- and Gutenbrunnen estates. The Lauber estate, the former Loyben Estate, which is situated on a hill on the nearside of the stream , is very old and was first mentioned in the records as early as 1174 as Hornbach-, and later as Eusserthal monastic property, whereas the Gutenbrunn estate was not documented until 18^th century. (1)

 Huts on the far side of the stream were first mentioned in1736.(2) Wood-cutters and charcoal burners lived there with their mostly large families. On the maps which Baron Carl J. von Hacke had drawn up between 1762 and 1773 by the Wilenstein Court Authorities there are huts marked along the edge of the forest. (3) This altered decisively in 1778. On a map that the Palatinate Clergy Estate Administration had drawn up (4), the huts are no longer present and the Hacke Spa building is marked in their place with the actual baths building, adjoining buildings and the well itself.

Like all the many other “small” territorial Lords in the Palatinate of that time, Franz Carl J. von Hacke, who resided in Trippstadt from 1752 – 1780 and founded the Castle and the water tunnel, also wanted to improve his small reign both economically and culturally. 

He introduced the rearing of silkworms (sericulture), planted new kinds of trees, founded the Iron Works and, corresponding to the fashions of that time, had a Spa with medicinal baths constructed. A “ good well “ was sought and found near the huts on the present Gutenbrunnerhof – Good Well Estate.(5) A Professor pf Medicine from Heidelberg, Fr.G.Schoenmetzel, supplied his expert opinion recommending the “opening” effects of the water and thus the construction of the spa (1773 – 1778 ) could begin. Index-D / Index-GB

The well is still present in its original state today in the form of a 3 m deep, roughly built, hewn sandstone, round

 shaft of approx. 1 m in diameter and with a varying water level. One stone at the bottom of the shaft is said to be marked  with the year 1742 At that time there was a approx. 40 m pipe from the well to the baths building. The water was used for mineral water cures and for medicinal baths. The spa comprised  on the one hand of the single storied baths building, 22m long and 10 m wide with high sloping roof and flat gable ends, as well as the still existing storage building with its beautiful sandstone arch, a so-called source hut and an outlet (drain) construction in the fields. .Local history expert, Prof. Dr. Haeberle, revealed the following about the interior installations, having examined the attic in its present day state. A 1 m wide corridor leading from the stairs passed right along the center allowing access to 14 small “cubicles”on  either side – one can not find a better expression for these 3m x21/2m rooms with slanting ceilings that provided very simple accommodation. Apparently, these were the bedrooms for the Spa’s guests, whereas the larger rooms on the ground floor were for recreation or bathing purposes.

Initially the spa facilities were well used, but this was not to be for long. It’s end came at the latest when the von Hacke family fled beyond the Rhine in 1793. It had probably already been taken over as early as 1785 by Stephan Weisenauer, former head hunter and ridden forester responsible for the Lauber – and Aschbach forests for the Hacke family. He came with his family, forest labourer, maid and farm labourer and remained there, later as Royal Bavarian Quarter-Ranger until his death in 1824. The house was then sold to two families who built a dividing wall and made two homes from the one building. The baths building was destroyed only about 35 years ago. Its foundations, which have partly been built on, can still be recognized today.  

From the mid 19^th century further domestic and farm buildings have been erected around the baths house, partly by those who were already residents, but also by new arrivals, mainly small farmers. Von Hacke’s Gutenbrunnen Spa  developed into the Gutenbrunnerhof settlement for wood-cutting farming people.

The well served as drinking water for a long time.Then it became known that hikers and other strangers who drank from it suffered stomach disorders although the natives were not affected. Subsequent water analyses, which were often requested after 1900, did not reveal any specific curing powers in the water, however they did prove it contained high ferruginous, aluminium and manganiferous parts.

The Regional Water Authority determined in 1994 among other things that the composition of the water was definitely not typical for a red sandstone ground water area, but that it was not of drinking quality.(8)

Plans have existed for years now to re-construct this historic well and possibly cover it, but the desired realization of these plans will be long in coming.

 Quellen                                                          

 1)       H.W.Hermann: Geschichte der Grafschaft Saarwerden, Bd. 1, 1957 und GLA Karlsruhe, Selekt C 65

 2)   Kath. Kirchenbuch v. Trip pstadt u. Trip pstadter Bürgerbuch v. Heinrich Haas, 1993

 3)         ‘Geometrische Graencz Carte über das Hoch freiherrlich von Hackische Amt Wilenstein“ von Sigm und Joseph Häecker, 1762, und Neuzeichnung u. Ergänzung von Peter Dewarat, 1773

 4) “Grundriß über den zur Probstei Eußerthal gehörigen Lauberhof“ von dem Renavator Bürger, 1778

 5)   Prof. Dr. Häberle verweist in seinen Veröffentlichungen 1909 u. 1912 noch auf folgende “Gutenbrunnen“ hin: Bei Edenkoben, Rockenhausen und vor allem Wörschweiler, sowie den Gutenbrunnerhof bei Zweibrücken.

 6)         Fr.G.Schönmetzel “Beschreibung des Gesundbrunnens in dem Frevherrlich von

Hackischen Orte Trip pstadt“. Erwähnt in Wun dt‘s Pfälzische Biographie Bd. 1, 5.75 u.Bd.lIl

 7)   Prof. Dr.Häberle in “Der Gutenbrunnerhof, ein vergessener Badeort bei Trip pstadt“, 1909

 8)   Landesamt für Wasserwirtschaft Rheinland-Pfalz - Hvdrochemische Untersuchung des Gutenbrunnens vom 3.11.1994