Early Memories of Germantown, 1927 by Genevieve Mehre From whom I received a copy of this four page typed document I don't know, probably from my mother Anna (Siegl) Schulteis, or it could have been from Genevieve's son, Frederic. I believe though it was my mother. It is this document that the booklet Main Street South Germantown published by the Germantown Historical Society was based. Thank you Mrs. Mehre. Back in the early 1950s, I (Donald Joseph Schulteis) on a Boy Scout activity, actually talked to Mrs. Mehre in her house. Am placing the information here for there are a few tidbits which did not make it into the booklet. "On a beautiful sunny day in August, 1927, my husband (Fred Mehre) and I rode into Germantown to fulfill teaching positions in the Germantown State Graded School, left open by Principal Harry Snyder who was resigning to teach in the Hartford Schools the next year. Fred contracted to be Principal and teach the four upper grades. I, was contracted to teach the Primary grades, first, second, third and fourth. Fred was to be janitor inside and outside the new two room school. The old school was at the corner of Freistadt Road and Pilgrim Road. As we entered this German Community, of friendly people, we noticed the population was 363. Incorporated in 1927, Herbert Walterlin was President and Harry Snyder was Clerk. When Harry resigned Oliver Gehl became Village Clerk. That office Fred held over 25 years. In the distance ahead we saw the smoke stack on Gehl's Dairy Factory. It was a big thriving industry in Germantown. The beginning of this dairy factory was at the corner of South Main Street and Western Avenue, under the Management of John Gehl Sr. and his sons. This factory on Main Street has been expanded several times and still is a big business for Germantown. Their Milwaukee factory on Capital Drive has closed. Germantown was unincorporated until Attorney Leo O'Reilly saw the vision of incorporation and in 1927 it became a reality. When we proceeded to find a home it was impossible. There were no rentals or apartment building. Through the efforts of Louise Kraetsch we were able to buy a home near the school. Her neighbor was moving to Chicago and decided to sell his home; it is now the home of Harold and Edith Schaetzel. In September we moved into this home and lived there for ten years. Our neighbors were a family Practitioner Dr. Dehmel, whose office was in part of his basement of his home and a veterinarian, Dr. Hillenbrand, his office was in part of his house too. A dentist, Dr. Schlaefer had his office above his garage and back of his home, corner of Fond du Lac and Pilgrim Road. After he vacated, a Milwaukee dentist, Dr. Brenner, came out for part time dentistry. Across the street [from the school], Fond du Lac Avenue, was the Canning Factory. During the summer peas was a big operation in canning. It employed many of the home people. Up on the hill of Pilgrim Road was a big milk producer, Art Rintelman & Edna, in his farming and milk production from Guernsey Cows. He herded their cows at the lower end of Main Street to graze. Joe Schmitz, a Politician, and his wife Gladys located on the other side of the street vacated by the Swan family. Joe was a great asset to the development of the village of Germantown and he is still a proud inhabitant of this growing community. At one time, as an assemblyman he showed interest in our village and the state of Wisconsin. Coming down Fond du Lac Ave., Louis Kannenburg operated a garage, a small snack restaurant "The Greasy Spoon" served the residents for a while, Sherwin Paints moved in the building later on. On the corner of Fond du Lac Avenue and Main St. (now Gierach's Garage) there was a tavern and grocery store owned by Schwartz. He called it an emergency store. The bigger General Stores were at the lower end of town. Diefenbachs owned the house and blacksmith shop on the triangle (corner of Main and Fond du Lac Ave.). Blacksmiths were needed because horses were used instead of the expensive machinery that farmers now use. Farming was extensive in the areas all around Germantown. The next big business place was Siegl's Hotel, Bar, Dance [Hall] & Park (Jerry's Old Town). It was a famous place to eat, a speciality was Squab dinners. Many Milwaukee People patronized the Siegl's. Our first January in Germantown (1927) we were invited to the Fire Departments Annual Meeting and Banquet, an annual event and a gala event held in the Siegl's Hall. At that time John Schaetzel was Fire Chief. A small shed across from Gehl's factory housed the first fire engine. Now the Clinic on Church St. was the Fire House in 1927. A section of the building served the Village Officers. Raising money for the Fire Department was another summer event, a picnic in Siegl's Park. Fireman and their wives worked hard together to make this a success. Gehl's Milk Factory on Main St. was a big production employing many local people. Large milk trucks brought the milk to the factory from all the area around Germantown. Gehl's also had another factory in Milwaukee on Capital Drive. Across the railroad tracks and Gehl's was the Walterlin Bros. Meat Market. Fresh meats, lard etc. was available at all times. They had a small meat truck that they used to go out and sell in the country. On Fridays, a fish truck came into the Village from West Bend, I believe. A bakery truck also came into the Village. Going down Main St., near Gehl's Hattie Gems has a Boarding House (now owned by the Pritschards). This large house, in years back was a Cheese Factory - and in the years a Millennary Shop. I think it is one of the oldest houses in Germantown. On the corner next to it there had been a restaurant, sometime owned by Billy & Viola Smith. On the [NW] corner of Church St & Main there was a deserted Blacksmith shop operated by Schmelings and later used by Howard Reingruber for storage. Next to it was the Citizen's Bank. The President was Herb Setzer and the Cashier was Bernard Bellin. The bank closed by Bankruptcy. The State Bank was down further and managed by Emma Duerrwaechter. At the same time we came, Aug. 1927, a young couple Clarence and Clara Schramm came to Germantown. He was the Cashier at the State Bank opened on Mequon & Pilgrim Rd. It is now the Marine Bank West. In the old State Bank, formerly in years back, it was Diefenthaler's Saloon. The same building housed the General Store, the Hardware Store and Post Office. Laura Duerrwaechter was the Post Mistress. There was no mail delivery except rural. Across the street was an Implement and Machinery Store operated by Ben Duerrwaechter. In the rear [east] was the Feed Mill operated by Ray Hilgendorf. Farmers could bring their grains there to be ground. Frank Schwalbach owned the lumber yard and John Schetzel the Oil Company, close to the Railroad Station. Trains left at 9:00 A.M. and returned at 6:00 P.M. giving the Germantown people a day to shop in Milwaukee. The Schwalbach General Store, Saloon and Barbershop came next. Jake Habermacher operated the Saloon. There were living quarters above. Joe Habermacher came to live there in 1931 and started a small gas station with two pumps. Joe was also a mechanic. Later he and his wife, Mary, operated a restaurant, with good home cooked meals on Fond du Lac Ave. where Fritz Gierach has his Insurance Office. The Germantown Mutual Insurance Co. was across from the Schwalbach store, with Monroe Schwalbach at the head. The company began in a building, still standing, on the Holy Hill Rd. at the five corners in Dheinsville. There was one church, instituted by a need of religion by a few older inhabitants. It is now a Baptist Church on Church Street. A beautiful parsonage was built later, owned by the Mosell's now. Before this church was built they held their services in what was known at the Beaver Hall and now the Cabinet shop owned by Prosts. The Beaver Hall was built by an organization called Beavers. A ladies Card Club met once a month in the Beaver Hall. When I joined in 1928 the President was Mrs. John Schaetzel. The Beaver Club was active until about 1985. A flourishing summer business was at the Pickle Factory on Park Avenue near where the Town Bowl Apartments are. In the winter the empty lot was flooded for skating giving the young people enjoyment and winter fun. On the corner of Park Avenue and Main St. now the Tavern and Bowling Alley stood a popular place of business. The dance hall was used often for play productions, Christmas Programs and Graduation services. It is now a favorite eating place known as Reuters. Main St. in my early days here was a busy Street and business and industry both flourishing. When the new buildings began to pop up business on Main St. lost their business. Gehl's Dairy Factory has withheld other losses and keeps building on, showing their progress and gains."