You have to be on fire for the city

Stefan Weber

Hardly any other Chemnitz resident has been photographed and filmed so often. With his in-depth knowledge of the city's history, he was and is valued as an expert dialogue partner by guests, locals and the media and his guided tours are simply an experience. The tower keeper Stefan Weber is a Chemnitz veteran and a unique individual who lives his passion. For many years, he even lived in one of the most striking towers in Chemnitz. In our eyes, it's time for the 72-year-old, who is celebrating his birthday today, to become Maker of the Week.

How did you become so fascinated by towers?

Stefan Weber: Even as a child, I was interested in towers, clocks and bells. It was something I was born with. At the age of four, looking out of the window - at a fairly high altitude - I counted all the towers. I also knew them all by name. After the war, it was particularly bad for me. With the destruction, many towers disappeared from the cityscape. That cut deep into my heart. I then started collecting - everything that concerned the old Chemnitz.

And how did you end up moving into a tower and becoming a tower keeper?

That was a stroke of luck. There was very little living space in GDR times. If you wanted to leave your parents' house as a single person, it wasn't easy to get one. I was a member of the Schlosskirchenchor. It was and still is an important choir in the city. After a rehearsal in the summer, we liked to stop off somewhere. As it happens, my throat was dry from singing. (Laughs) So one evening we were sitting in the beer garden of the Miramar and I saw the light at the top of the tower of the castle church. It must be romantic to live up there, I thought. When I voiced my thoughts, the cantor next to me said: "Mr Weber, no problem. The lady who still lives there is moving out next week. We need someone else. That's how it turned out and I moved into the castle church tower with all my duties in 1970. I then lived and worked in the tower for 37 years. The tower warden grew out of this situation. You can only call yourself a tower warden if you also live there - the hat and black coat alone don't make it so.

What were these duties?

All the things that were necessary: winding the clock by hand. When the motors of the bell clock were broken, I also hung myself on the ropes.

The castle church was his home and workplace until 2007. At the age of 65, Stefan Weber decided to make a "big change in his life". In 2007, he moved out of the tower of the castle church and into a flat in the castle district. "You don't know how much longer you're going to be there, you can fall ill or something can happen to your legs - you can't get up and down there any more. At the same time, I officially retired from my job."

37 years in the tower of the castle church. Not many people can imagine that.

When you grew up in the GDR, with a lack of housing, no great luxuries and you had to limit yourself, having your own four walls was an asset. I started with furniture that was given to me. It looked like a colourful living room. But first you had something. Sometimes the water ran out in winter. I didn't have a drop of water. So I went to Miramar with buckets and containers and fetched water so that I could at least make myself a coffee. The coals had to be dragged up and sometimes the toilet was frozen. But it was a matter of furnishing. If you have money today, you can afford luxury and furnish even a church tower like that. Back then it was exciting, romantic and unusual. I also had a roof over my head.

On 1 June 1990, the city was given back its original name of Chemnitz. "I'm still happy about that," says Stefan Weber, an event in which the Türmer was not entirely uninvolved. He was part of a small citizens' movement of six people who demanded the city name Chemnitz back at the Monday demonstrations.

In addition to the political change and the renaming of the city, 1990 was also a special year for you?

I was a member of the local history association and suggested that this tradition for Chemnitz should be reintroduced in the town hall tower, where the tower keeper used to live. I started in the same year and was taken on permanently as a tower keeper by the city in 1991. It was unique in Germany that the administration created a position to maintain tradition. I then accompanied protocol events. When someone signed the Golden Book or a visitor was expected, I showed them round the town hall.

Did you also provide "educational services" in the form of local history lessons?

I took dozens of school classes up the tower through the town hall and passed on the history of the town. That was crucial work after reunification. This position filled a gap. There is now a similar centre in every major city. Very importantly, I have enjoyed great support from the city council all these years since reunification. That's quite unique and I'm the envy of my colleagues all over Europe.

Next year you will be celebrating 45 years as a tower keeper. What were your favourite years?

For me, the years after reunification were quite extraordinary. It was a great start. And then the city name came back. The vigour and the mood were enormous. There was a real boost for the city.

He knows the history of the city off the top of his head. "I can't go on a guided tour of the city with ten books. What does that look like," says Stefan Weber with a grin. He is always in a good mood, tells anecdotes that can't be found in any history book or starts rhyming: "May the Lord God protect our city from all misfortune and evil deeds. May he protect you from great suffering, from illness, war and costly times."

What qualities does a doorman need to have?

You have to be a local patriot, passionate about the town. That's important. You have to be reliable. Nothing has ever broken down in all these years, because I've never been ill.

Do you have a favourite view from the town hall tower?

The whole thing, actually. When I step out of the door, I look towards Sonnenberg. I can see St Mark's Church with its two beautiful spires. I also like to look at our colourful chimney. Just looking at the chimney: from the tower, over the town hall to Düsseldorfer Platz, over the city administration building, the town hall, the Hotel Merkur. The various architectural forms from different periods are so diverse.

What are Chemnitz's strengths?

The city is exciting and is open to its discontinuities. Nothing in the city is rounded off. It is the way it is, which is a strength. We don't have to bend ourselves. We also don't need comparisons with other cities. We are Chemnitz and the city is like that. And if we are aware of this strength, that there are rough edges, then the city is exciting. It's boring when a city is planned correctly and down to the last detail. We still have open spaces in Chemnitz, there are still places that can be built on. In contrast to other cities, which first have to tear something down when a new building is planned.

What do the guests who stand on the tower say?

I've been taking people up the tower for 24 years. The basic tenor is astonishment. They say: "We wouldn't have thought so. Such a green city, everything is clean and tidy. The city is a surprise for people. They don't expect it. That is also my statement. When you come to Dresden or Leipzig, you know what to expect. That's also how it's presented in the travel guides. Who publicises us so much? That's what I miss in the media, that Chemnitz is always pushed to one side. And when people come to us, they have no expectations and are surprised by the city.

Is there nothing about Chemnitz in travel guides?

I look at them regularly and am very disappointed that we don't have as many lines as other cities. There are so many great museums here. Which "industrial city" offers such a variety of culture? Chemnitz offers this and was not a residence, but does it through its own efforts and achievements. These are strengths that the city has and we can be proud of that.

What is your favourite building in Chemnitz?

(Shot from a pistol) Definitely the town hall. I like being here more often than I do at home. I put together the entire exhibition that's up here. I simply live my job and can't imagine my life without it or without this building. That sounds crazy, but it's how I feel.

How many tourists have you brought up here?

(Reflects): It's definitely in the six-figure range.

Where did the tourists come from?

From all over the world.

Can you remember one in particular?

Yes, there is one experience that sticks in my mind. It must have been five or six years ago. A 90-year-old Argentinian, born in Chemnitz, was visiting the city with his two sons. I was asked to climb the town hall tower with him again. I thought, I hope he can do it. He was still walking with a stick. We climbed the tower and the gentleman said very little the whole time. When we were on the dome and stepped out into the circular walkway, he leant on the parapet, looked down at the city and tears ran down his face. He cried like a little child. This look must have triggered something in him, suddenly he began to talk in the original Chemnitz dialect about the city of the past. I like to think back to this encounter.

Why do you still do the job of doorman on a voluntary basis?

I wanted to give something back to the city. I still stand by that today. I had such a good time when I was officially employed and I was very grateful for that. That's when I took up the honorary position and I continue to look after the protocol events and keep the tradition of the Türmer alive. I also take tourists up the tower, but most of the time I do all this on a voluntary basis. I stand by it until I can't do it any more.

Are you approached on the street? After all, you are an urban personality.

When I walk in my "work clothes" from the town hall to the theatre square, for example, people don't approach me. I don't even stand out anymore. But the crazy thing is that when I'm sitting on the train or walking down the street in my civilian clothes, they ask: "Aren't you the doorman Stefan Weber?

On his 70th birthday in 2012, Stefan Weber was awarded the city's prize of honour. This honoured the dedicated work of the now volunteer for his city and his guild.

You are the only "non-athlete" in a list with Jutta Müller (figure skating coach), Lars Riedel (discus thrower) and Jens Fiedler (cyclist) to have been awarded the Chemnitz Prize of Honour. What does that mean to you?

(Laughs) I'm the least sporty person ever. I'm not one to hang on to prizes. But it still makes you happy inside. Otherwise, I'm embarrassed by such honours and awards. On the other hand, it's also an obligation for me to keep going. I'm not going to rest on my laurels anyway. The award has shown me that my work is recognised and that I may have shown the right way forward. It is also an obligation.

Speaking of the journey - how many steps do you have to take to get to your "workplace"?

When the Christmas season arrives, there will be between 8,000 and 10,000 steps. There are lots of tours, preparations and I also have to go up to the dome for the calls. It used to be three times as many, but that has become a little less for my age. I try to use the lift as little as possible and stopping in between is no good either. You should always keep moving (laughs).

Is there any nostalgia? There probably won't be a replacement after you.

The city tours of the CWE are on offer. Costumed tours can also be booked. But a Türmer like me will probably not come back. There is definitely a sense of melancholy. But you have to have a bit of a knack if you've been doing this job your whole life.

Our standard question at the end: Do you have to encourage the people of Chemnitz for their city?

I have the feeling that many Chemnitz residents stand by their city. I also know many of my generation who are proud of their city and rave about it. In my voluntary work, I also get to know former Chemnitz residents who visit the city and have a soft spot for it. I don't know why that is. Is it that we are being humiliated and held back a little from the outside? We don't really need it. And if the city continues to develop well, be it with jobs or with the local industry, which is growing, self-confidence will automatically return.


Türmer Stefan Weber passed away on 15 May 2015.