My German Roots in Cincinnati
It was 1882, Jacob Dietrich was a tailor working at the New York Steam Laundry near his residence on Back Street, just across from Washington Park. His wife, Katherine, was a seamstress for the same company and they had four children. They are my three-times great-grandparents and they originally were from Bavaria.
New York Steam Laundry & Dietrich Residence
The 19th century was a boom time in Cincinnati, including the founding of Procter and Gamble, AK Steel, and E. W. Scripps Company (newspaper), and the establishment of cultural institutions such as the symphony and art museum.
The area surrounding Cincinnati was favorable for growing corn which provided feed for the hogs. The first stockyards and slaughterhouses were built in 1810 along Central Parkway. The area became known as “Porkopolis.” Forty years later they were processing 400,000 animals annually.
By 1850, 30,000 German immigrants were living in Cincinnati. Even today 25% of the population claims German heritage. Like my ancestors, many immigrants settled in Over-The-Rhine (OTR) named for the river which bisects Germany.
Before 1870 it was the most crowded community in the United States. At a whopping 32,000 people in every square mile. At one point there were four newspapers printed in the German language. Also, there were 36 breweries in Cincinnati, fifteen of those breweries were located in OTR earning the neighborhood the title of “Beer Capital of the World”.
OTR is one of the largest preserved historic districts in the country, covering roughly 362.5 acres and containing over 1,100 historical buildings. The neighborhood has a variety of architectural styles common in the nineteenth and early twentieth-century; such as Greek Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne. You can still see cobblestones and red bricks in the streets and sidewalks.
The area’s main focus is Findlay Market, which was founded in 1855. The market was named for James Findlay, a veteran of the War of 1812, a mayor of Cincinnati, and a representative in Congress. He donated the land where the market stands but didn’t live to see its completion.
I imagined Katherine walking two blocks over and three blocks down to buy sausages (wursts) to cook for dinner. Anton Avril, an immigrant from Rhineland, started selling meat in Findlay Market from a wagon. In 1926, Avril purchased a building at 33 E. Court Street, not quite in OTR. The company was passed from father to son for four generations until Len Bleh, a long time employee, purchased the business creating the Avril-Bleh & Sons Meat Market. The legendary Zip’s Cafe still sells burgers made from Avril-Bleh meats.
The original market was a two blocks long iron structure that is now surrounded by streets of mostly 19th-century multi-colored buildings offering a variety of global cuisines — from French to Jamaican. The market itself is located in the middle of Elder Street. Findlay Street actually runs a block north of the market. On Elm Street, you can find another historical food shop, Ecklerlin Meats (since 1852). Until the 1930s only meat vendors were allowed to rent stalls in the market building.
Now you can find spices, cookies, flowers, and more. Clerks stack produce such as apples and peaches in a pyramid shape. You can smell bread baking a couple of clocks away as the market’s opening bell is rung. The historic bell was saved from the Pearl Street Market when it was razed in 1934.
Older gentlemen cluster on red steel chairs, sipping coffee and laughing, a morning ritual. A mother piles groceries in a stroller while her baby sleeps in a sling. Locals scamper in and out of their favorite shops as the neighborhood comes to life. I wonder how many people realize the history of this wonderful place. The abundance of murals gave a sense of times gone by.
For now, I follow the scent of bread baking. I discovered that there are three bakeries within the old building. Which to choose from?
If your family is from the Cincinnati area, they are likely buried in Spring Grove Cemetery. It’s the 3rd largest cemetery in the country. You can “locate a loved one” through their website.
Address: 4521 Spring Grove Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45232
Find A Grave is another resource to help you research your family tree.
Many of the 18-19th century grave markers are in German, such as my family’s.
Findlay Market: 1801 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. They list market hours and farmer’s market hours on their website.
Zip’s Cafe: 1036 Delta Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208. They are known for their burgers, so thick and not too greasy. The fries are unsalted so you can taste the potato. The place hasn’t changed much since its opening (1926), including the toy train which runs in a circle above the room.
