Okto‘BAU’fest!

Part VI: German Inscriptions of Over the Rhine

‘Bau’ is the German word for building. So in honor of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati (September 20 – 21), Queen City Survey is looking at some Germanic influences on Cincinnati, its history, and its built environment in a week-long series we are calling Okto‘BAU’fest!

A walk around Over the Rhine reveals a lot of German inscriptions. You just have to look for them.

Nast Trinity Church (1880)
1310 Race Street
Architect: Samuel Hannaford

Inscription over the front door:
Erste Deutsche Bischofl Meth. Kirche, Gegrundet 1835
Translation:
First German Bishopric Methodist Church, Founded 1835

Inscription over side doors:
Erste Bauerrichtet 1842 & Neu Erbaut 1880

Translation:
First Built 1842 & Rebuilt 1880

German Mutual Insurance Company of Cincinnati (1870)
SWC Walnut and 13th Streets

Inscription:
Deutsche Gegenseitige Versicherungs-Gesellschaft von Cincinnati
Translation:
German Mutual Insurance Company of Cincinnati

Old St. Mary’s Church (1842)
123 13th Street
Architect: Franz Ignatz Erd

Inscription, first two lines:
St. Marien-Kirche
Erbaut von der deutschen Katholiken von Cincinnati

Translation:
St. Mary's Church
Erected by the German Catholics of Cincinnati

The next three lines all say the same thing but in German, Latin, and finally English.

Old St. Paul’s Church (1849)
SEC Spring and 12th Streets
Architect: Seneca Palmer

The first two lines are Latin then two lines of German . . .

Inscription:
Die Gnade unfers Herrn Jesu Christi sei mit euch!
Meine Liebe ist mit euch Allen in Christi Jesu, Amen

Translation:
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
My Love is with all in Christ Jesus, Amen

Then the Latin phrase meaning the Year of Our Lord, 1849. And finally, more German . . .

Inscription:
Restauriert Nach den Brande vom 19, August 1899

Translation:
Restored after the fire of August 19th, 1899

John Becker Wine Garden (c. 1874)
1816 Vine Street

Really just the German surname but it is the best German surname ever! John Becker operated his Wine Garden from 1874 to 1903.

Kolping Society House (1870)
1523 Republic Street
Architect: Sigmund Kutznitzky

Inscription:
Gott Segne das Ehrbare Handwerk

Translation:
God Blesses Respectable Handwork

The inscription was added after the Kolping Society purchased the property in 1930.

St. Paul’s Evangelical Church (1850)
SWC Race and 15th Streets

Inscription:

Deutsche Evangelische

St. Paulus Kirche

1850
Wahrheit, Tugend, Freiheit

Translation:
German Evangelical

St. Paul's Church

1850

Truth, Virtue, Freedom

Frederick Hecker Statue (1883)
Washington Park
Sculpter: Leopold Fettweis
Inscription:
Mit Wort und That fuer Volksfreiheit im alten und neuen Vaterlande
Translation:
With Word and Deed for the Freedom of the People in the Old and New Fatherlands

A number of churches proudly display their original German names.

St. John’s Unitarian Church (1867)
"Deutsche Protestantische St Johannes Kirche"
NWC Elm and 12th Streets
Architect: Sigmund Kutznitzky

German Baptist Church (1866)
"Baptisten Kirche"
SEC Walnut and Corwine Streets
Salem Church of Christ (1867)
"Deutsche Evangelisch Reformirte Salem's Kirche"
NWC Sycamore and Orchard Streets

German Evangelical Zions Church (1853)
"Deutsche Evangelische Zions Kirche"
NEC 15th and Republic Streets
(Republic Street was Bremen Street prior to 1919 and is also still visible on the Church.)
Editor’s Note: I’ve been preparing this post for a few weeks so all my photos are from before the wind storm of September 14, 2008, and the subsequent damage to a number of the buildings shown.

References:
Dr. Robert DiDonato, Chair of the Miami University Department of German, Russian, and East Asian Languages.
Wimberg, Robert J. Cincinnati: Over the Rhine. Ohio Book Store, Cincinnati, OH. 1987
University of Cincinnati, Department of German Studies Website

Next – Part VII: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati