Der Schulwald

The inspiration came from the “Day of the Tree”. Students of the former Mausbacher primary school created a small forest here from 1954 to 1959.

Established in the years 1954 to 1959

The idea for the Mausbacher school forest originated in 1954 on the occasion of the “Day of the Tree”. Students born in the years 1939/1940 and 1941 planted a small forest on a 3,600 m² plot near the memorial at Nassenberg, predominantly with birches. Since the Mausbacher primary school was heavily involved, the name “school forest” quickly became established.

The students were housed in the former school building at Markusplatz, which had been built in the late 19th century. The planting was implemented based on ideas from the then school principal Josef Soldierer, supported by teachers like Leo Esser and Peter Staner as well as students Albert Schönen, Walter Klotz, Ingo Roßbruch, and Adolf Konrads. The last trees were planted in 1959, completing the project.

Shortly after the creation of the forest, carpenter Reiner Prost erected an artistic sign reading “School Forest” below three fir silhouettes. The sign was later restored by the artist himself.

A component of the school forest is also a several-meter-high wooden cross, referred to as the peace cross. It was erected on the initiative of Leo Esser, a former primary school teacher, as a memorial for his relatives who died in World War II. The cross was created shortly after the planting began in 1954, replacing a similar memorial cross at the neighboring memorial at Nassenberg. A few years ago, the cross was restored by the CDU local association under the leadership of Heinz-Gerd Baum, Hans Bruckschen, and forester Theo Preckel.

The restored school forest sign was handed over in 2017 by Manfred Esser, the son of teacher Leo Esser, to the Historical Working Group Mausbach to remain accessible to the public.