You are here :
  1. History of Villa Salve
Sprachauswahl - Select language

Villa Salve - A Journey Through Time

It begins with a long party

Es beginnt mit einer langen Party | Geschichte der Villa Salve

We will never know what inspired the wealthy iron and coal merchant Christian Jürgen Kühlcke and his wife Dorothea to buy the plot of land on the Kehdingertors-Ravelin from the Stade City Administration in the year 1897/8 and to build the imposing Villa Salve on it. The three children had long grown up and were ready to begin their own lives.

“The need for prestige” in the Wilhelminian period certainly played an important role in it. The well-preserved family album is witness to exuberance and enjoyment of life, large society gatherings and fun family parties (always with dog), celebrated in the brand-new villa. On other occasions, they occupied themselves with modern inventions: trips out with the newly invented two-wheeler (the first car was not registered until 7 years later in Stade) and romantic rowing parties on the castle moat. Of course, the Imperial family were revered and meetings were recorded in the family album – although taken from a far distance.

The party lasted for a good 12 years, however, the Kühlcke couple then had to move out and rent out the villa. City chronicles lost track of the family’s activities afterwards, but they are credited with giving the town of Stade one of its most beautiful villas.

Important Years

Bedeutende Jahre | Geschichte der Villa Salve

Leonhard Richarz bought Villa Salve from the widowed Dorothea Kühlcke on 24 March 1919 and transferred it shortly afterwards to his unmarried daughter Gertrud. At that time, Leonhard Richarz was probably the most important man in town. As founder and co-owner of the North German (shortly afterwards: Stade) Leather Factory, founded in 1896, he was the town’s biggest employer, having 400 employees, and was able to pay his shareholders a 20% dividend. For many decades, the Stade leather factory was the leading manufacturer in Stade. Business operations were continued until 1960 when they ended due to negative future prospects. However, a high sum was gained from the liquidation proceedings.

Leonhard Richarz did not move into the Villa Salve himself, he let Carl Rudloff, his colleague from the directorate and co-owner of the leather factory live in it, virtually as an official residence. The directors were aware of their social responsibilities. In the face of bitter resistance from other business enterprises in Stade, they forced through high, fair wages and social contributions in the leather factory and soon afterwards profit sharing as well. They established social security schemes for working-class families and “pensions for veterans”.

Carl Rudloff lived in the (service) Villa Salve with his wife Therese and his 3 sons. One can easily imagine how the most important people in town came and went from the Villa Salve. Concepts were developed here and decisions made. Meanwhile, 9-year old son Leonhard was playing in the garden in his sailor suit. He would join the directorate in 1943 and be the last director of the Stade leather factory. During this period, the villa was certain to have seen heated debates – but also balmy summer evenings, family celebrations, happiness, friends and laughter.

After the death of director Carl Rudloff in 1935, his family remained in the villa. It was not until 1949 that Gertrud Richarz moved in as owner. (Her wise father had obviously known that in those days an unmarried woman needed her own house). Gertrud Richarz lived in the villa until 1974 and rented out the numerous rooms. The grand days were a thing of the past. The Villa Salve fell apart.

First restoration in the 1970s

In 1975, the Stade architect Manfred Börner acquired the Villa Salve from the estate of Gertrud Richarz and saved it from total ruin and demolition. 25,000 hours of work saved the villa and modernised it – in the spirit of the 1970s. Ground plans were radically changed, kilometres of cables were laid, there was brickwork, hammering and sawing. Ceilings were hanged out, parquet floors bonded with felt and “impossibly” high doors removed and replaced with mass-produced doors. All this happened more than 40 years ago.

Second restoration and a modern living and service concept

Die zweite Auferstehung | Geschichte der Villa Salve

The present owner, business graduate Holger Börner, is restoring the villa’s original splendour and is employing modern methods for the use of this unique property. 120 years of old, creaking – simply wonderful – parquet floors reappeared. Rooms with 3.60 metre-high ceilings and stucco ornamentation. The original doors, however, have been lost. In their place, committed craftsmen have replaced them with equally beautiful new varnished solid wooden doors. Modernity has not been overlooked: Today, light enters the rooms through triple glazing, with maximum sound and heat insulation levels. The bathrooms and fitted kitchens are state-of-the-art. The villa is also extremely energy efficient and meets highest demands again.

In 2013, things came full circle and – after almost 100 years – the Villa Salve can again be used as an official residence or, to express it in a more modern way, a “serviced apartment house” for those who help to determine the fate of our town – far away from their own families. The villa offers 11 individual serviced apartments. Villa Salve extends a warm welcome to its guests! When it comes to modern living and all service features “for home and living”, it will be our greatest pleasure to exceed your highest expectations. The motto of the dignified old Villa Salve could also be interpreted as: quality always makes the difference…, it is just a question of time.

Impressions

Your Hosts:

Ina & Holger Börner
Mobil: +49 (0) 173-52 31 222
Telephone: +49 (0) 4141-82055
Telefax: +49 (0) 4141-77 75 44
E-Mail: info@villasalve.com