The History of the Ruhrpott Guesthouse “Am Stöter”
The Ruhrpott guesthouse “Am Stöter” takes its name from Heinrich Stöter, who originally had the building constructed as a farmhouse around 1575. Heinrich Stöter was first officially documented in 1620, appearing in historical tax records of the so-called “Weniger Bauern” with a tax contribution of one quarter of a Reichsthaler.
Long before that – more than 500 years earlier – coal was already being mined along the Ruhr River. In the nearby Muttental Valley, visitors can still see today how the region’s famous “black gold” – hard coal – reaches the surface. This is where coal was first discovered and recognized for its value as a fuel, which is why the Muttental is still considered the cradle of Ruhr mining.
With the onset of industrialization, the former farmhouse developed into an inn with a horse station and postal stop. Heavily loaded horse-drawn wagons transporting coal from the Muttental to the rapidly growing industrial areas would stop here. The horses were watered – and the coachmen enjoyed a well-earned shot of schnapps.
Even today, numerous historical traces in and around our house bear witness to this rich and fascinating past.
