German Village History

W elcome to the German Village History page. This project was undertaken to be the single source for historical information regarding German Village. German Village has a rich history that spans almost a century and a half of time. When it is impossible to reference every single bit of history affecting the area we have done our best to include all documented information available to us.

The area known as German Village today was laid out as South Columbus in 1841. The name German Village is due to the significant German immigrant population that settled in South Columbus, the largest arriving between 1840 - 1860.

The immigrants came to the United States to escape oppression in their country and to enjoy the blessings of liberty and the rights of citizenship. This they accomplished and at the same time their ways, customs and characteristics were preserved. This close knit group of German immigrants, not unlike many American immigrants of the time, kept their culture intact by speaking German in the schools and churches they built as well as publishing German newspapers.

The men working mostly as stone masons, tradesmen and brewery workers also ran businesses out of their homes, mixing business and residential areas. Wedged into living spaces of the tiny houses were areas where cigars were rolled, feathers cleaned and fluffed for sale to hausfraus to make their own pillows, tiny front room saloons were operated and, most often, where bakeries thrived (German Village Society, 1992).

With the advent of the 20th Century three significant events contributed to the dissolution of the German Community in South Columbus as well as German Communities throughout the U.S. The first of these events was the onset of WWI. Even though the U.S. did not get involved until late in the war, vicious campaigns against citizens of German origin took place. These campaigns resulted in German Americans suppressing their heritage and strong community bonds. The Depression, another contributing factor to German Village's demise, crippled the American economy and with prohibition 10 years earlier devastated the German American work force by closing breweries, one of the main sources of income for German Immigrants.

These events took their toll on the German Village Community and in time neglect and urban plight caused many proud German Americans to move out of the area.

The 1950s almost saw the end of German Village. Urban renewal efforts at one time considered leveling the residential area in favor of extending downtown Columbus business district south of I 70.

The 1960s marks the resurgence of German Village interest. Led by Frank Fetch, a small group of neighbors worked to designate German Village as a protected Historic Preservation District. Also chartered in 1960 was The German Village Commission. This commission was established to monitor the rehabilitation of the community. German Village was officially designated on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

1840 - The first German immigrants began to settle in South Columbus.

1867 -Schiller Park originally named Stewart's Grove, was bought by the city and became City Park in 1891.

1868 - St. Mary's Church built, the first German Catholic church on the south side of Columbus.

1914 - 1918 - World War I. The war effort inspired high patriotic fervor and vicious campaigns against pacifists, radicals, and citizens of German origin.

1920's - Prohibition became law in the U.S. and as a result closed down the German Breweries in South Columbus.

1930's - The height of the U.S. depression resulted in urban economic plight.

1940's - The U.S. became involved in World War II, increasing anti-German sentiment.

1960's - German Village was designated as a protected Historic Preservation District.

1974 - German Village was officially designated on the National Register of Historic Places