From 1908 to 1997, the Sophia-Jacoba coal mine brought industrial growth to the region. With up to 6,000 employees, it was the largest employer far and wide. After it was closed in 1997, well-known people in Hückelhoven came together to preserve the "Shaft 3" shaft structure as a monument. The "Shaft 3" Hückelhoven e. V. support association was founded in 1997. After initial reluctance, not least due to resignation over the closure of their mine, the increase in membership was moderate. When one day it was possible to see what some volunteers had achieved and to show this to a wider audience, the number rose from 197 to 1,000 members between the end of 2002 and July 2007. At first it was older former miners, but more and more younger people are becoming members. With a contribution of just 10.00 euros – or more if you wish – per year, you can help to preserve a witness of the past. The aim of the association is to show future generations the history of mining and the importance that Sophia-Jacoba had in this region. The headframe “Shaft 3” is not only an industrial monument, it is also a symbol of the mining era.
Today “Shaft 3” with its engine house and shaft hall is a magnet for school classes from all over the district. But clubs, hiking, cycling and senior citizen groups also take advantage of this offer. Since March 2007, the Barbarastollen (70 m section, 23 m longwall) has also been part of the guided tour program. Tours for groups of 10 or more people can be arranged at any time in addition to the “open days”. They usually last 90 minutes. The team at the shaft can also take care of physical well-being.