Kattenvenne

Kattenvenne is a village in Germany (Northrhine-Westphalia) about 10 Km from Münster. The name Kattenvenne is first mentioned in a contract of the year 836 in which it is called "Hadunveni"(Latin). A second mentioning is found in a document of 1312. In the middle ages Kattenvenne was known for its peat moors. In the 18th century 23 farms were documented here. The very first development of the village followed the construction of the railroad between Münster and Osnabrück (1868 – 1871). Some prisoners of the French-German war (1870) must have been working here, too. In 1873 the Kattenvenne railway station was built. The first stone of the church was layed in 1887 and the building was finished in the following year. Already at Christmas 1887 the first service was held in the unfinished building by Pastor Philipps. In 1897 a tower was added on the front of the church. Since the end of the 19th century economy developed rapidly. As a consequence the population more than tripled within the next 130 years, even though 400 persons emigrated to North America and 230 died in the two world wars.

References: Hunsche F.E.: Lienen am Teutoburger Wald; Lengericher Handelsdruckerei, 1965.