Although the name "Gallows Tower" (Gallows Tower) conjures up images of times long past, it actually dates back to this century. But the name certainly has its justification, as this hill once served as a place where high justice (the right of a court to impose the death penalty) was carried out.
Gallows Tower (built in 2009 on the Gallows Height, 465 m)
The name "Gallows Tower" for this observation tower may sound strange at first, but it has a concrete historical background. A gallows stood just a few meters from this spot. A description of the Baldeneck district from 1586 mentions 14 lay judges who belonged to the Mastershausen High Court. Starting in 1330, the court met twice a year at Baldeneck Castle. Life-and-death judgments were passed there, as the following finds attest. During the construction of the sports field in 1921, a complete skeleton was discovered at a shallow depth. Immediately next to it, another skeleton was discovered with a severed skull lying upside down. A foundation of quartzite stones was also excavated, containing shards of broken vessels. Two massive oak stumps were found in the two foundations of the actual gallows, supporting the crossbeam; this type of gallows was called a two-sleeper gallows. Unfortunately, the finds were not photographed or scientifically examined at the time, so precise information on the age of the gallows or the skeletons is lacking. In the spring of 2008, the municipality of Mastershausen decided to build an observation tower in this prominent location on the gallows hill. The design is modeled on a Roman watchtower, because the Roman highway (Celtic Way) from Kirn to Treis/Mosel runs along our municipal border, just 500 meters away. On a clear day, you can enjoy a unique view from here, stretching as far as the Eifel and Westerwald mountains. The tower was built by a group of Mastershausen seniors: Heinz Sobik, Fredi Linden, Günther Reinecke, Rainer Vogt, Hermann Steffen, Hermann-Josef Lehnert, Achim Lilienthal, and 40 other helpers erected the tower from the first stone to the last beam in just six months. The project was also supported by many Mastershausen companies, which provided free or discounted services. The municipality provided the materials valued at €30,000. The tower is literally a shining example of the outstanding achievements that civic engagement can achieve. Source: Text by Toni Christ, Mayor - Mastershausen, September 2009