From the narrative description
German Village is located in the southern portion of Columbus, just south of the central business district. Its boundaries encompass 233 acres, over 1800 structures and more than 3,000 residents. The majority of the buildings are single family houses, multiple family units and Victorian commercial buildings. There are few majoy non-conforming intrusions.
German immigrants began settlement in Columbus in 1812 but did not reach significant numbers until after 1839. The bulk of the German population made their homes in McGown's Addition on the south side of Columbus. The population of the area grew steadily and by 1890 there were about 7,000 Germans in south Columbus.
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From the German Village Society
Economic depression and revolutionary turmoil in Europe sent many German refugees to America early in the nineteenth century. A vast number of these refugees settled on Columbus' South side. This new German settlement was composed of a people who brought their heritage and lifestyle from the old country. During World War One, and Two, anti-German sentiment sent the area into economic despair. Prohibition brought German Village breweries to a standstill, and this added to the gradual decay of the area.
By 1960 the entire area was a vast slum, and in that year a non-profit organization was formed -The German Village Society- "whose members have dedicated themselves to the preservation and restoration of the property in the German Village Area and to the retention of its charm and unique old world atmosphere." City council declared the area an historic area, and created the German Village Commission to oversee architectural restoration.
The result is the German Village of today- the largest privately funded restored historical area in the United States. The real estate of the area is now among the most valuable in the city of Columbus. There are about 3500 residents and, of which about 1100 have been restored.
Restoration is continuing and property value in the area continues to rise under the shadows of downtown Columbus' growing skyline. Here in such close proximity is a perfect example of how the old can be preserved while progress continues on the new.
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From Schmidt's Sausage Haus web site:
Born just north of Frankfurt Germany, patriarch J. Fred Schmidt journeyed to America and settled in south Columbus in the early 1880's. Opening the J. Fred Schmidt Meat Packing House in 1886 in the heart of German Village, Schmidt's became Central Ohio's most well known name in meats and is to this day sold in leading grocery stores around the country.
Besides running a thriving packing house business through the great depression, J. Fred's son George L. Schmidt, was a huge sports enthusiast. In 1938, he became the majority stockholder of one of Columbus's first professional football teams, the Columbus Bullies.
Schmidt's first venture into the restaurant / concession business was in the 1920's, when George L. Schmidt opened a stand at the Ohio State Fair. Today, the Schmidt's food booth is the second oldest food concessionaire at the state fair and is still amongst the most popular.
J. Fred's grandson, George F. Schmidt, opened the company's first restaurant in July of 1967 just around the corner from his grandfathers' meat packing plant in German Village. Using meat recipes from the packing days and dessert recipes from the German ladies hired to run the kitchen, Schmidt's Sausage Haus became an instant success. Schmidt's is still a landmark eatery in Central Ohio.
Today, the family tradition of day-to-day operations of this uniquely diverse hospitality company is carried out by the fourth generation of the Schmidt family. The Schmidt name is recognized throughout central Ohio and the nation as a leader in quality specialty restaurants, catering and unequaled banquet facilities as well as retail sales and fair and festival food services.
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