Germantown in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Germantown Brewery District

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, December 26, 2020

1. Germantown Brewery District

Inscription. Germantown was home to many 19th-cen. European immigrants who brought their trade skills to Nashville, including brewing. By 1865 Germantown was home to 4 breweries: North Nashville Brewery (C. Kreig); Rock City Brewery (F. Kuhn); Cumberland Brewery (J. Ritter); and Coty Brewery (F. Leitenberger). By the 1870s all of these breweries had closed due to the success of J. Stiefel's S. Nashville Brewing Co. and shipments from Midwestern breweries via iced rail cars and riverboats.

Erected 2018 by The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, donated by the Mertie Family. (Marker Number 179.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee, The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 36° 10.516′ N, 86° 47.275′ W. Marker is in Germantown, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is at the intersection of 5th Avenue North and Madison Street, on the right when traveling north on 5th

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Avenue North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1120 5th Ave N, Nashville TN 37208, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in Greater Nashville.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Tennessee State Capitol Building (a few steps from this marker); Great French Lick (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ratterman Row (about 500 feet away); Germantown Historic District (about 700 feet away); Neuhoff House (about 700 feet away); The Tennessee Civilian Conservation Corps (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mary Catherine Schweiss Strobel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Johnson County (approx. 0.2 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Tracing Nashville’s German Brewing Heritage.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, December 26, 2020

2. Germantown Brewery District

Most of us know that unsettled conditions in Europe in the early 19th century caused many Europeans to immigrate to the United States. We also know that many of these immigrants brought their trade skills to help shape the framework of our country. One of these trades was the art of brewing. Many German immigrants settled in cities such as Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and St. Louis, which later became famous for their brewing history.

What most people do not know, including many Nashvillians, is that Music City had its share of German immigrants as well. By the 1840s, Nashville was booming and conditions were prime to support industry. This was very attractive to the Germans who did not want to settle in the frontier. These Germans formed a tightknit community in North Nashville, which later became known as Germantown.

(Submitted on April 11, 2022, by Scott Mertie of Nashville, Tennessee.)

2. Germantown Brewery District historical marker destroyed in Nashville tornado. Sadly, the Germantown Brewery District historical marker commissioned by Scott Mertie, co-founder of Nashville Brewing Company, was destroyed in the tornado

Germantown Brewery District Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Scott Mertie

3. Germantown Brewery District Marker

The Germantown Brewery District marker after being destroyed by the March 3 tornado that hit Nashville. The historical marker has been replaced.

that hit Nashville in March 2020.
Ed. Note: It has been replaced. (Submitted on April 11, 2022, by Scott Mertie of Nashville, Tennessee.)

3. Brewed in Dixie.

Brewed in Dixie is devoted to Nashville's brewing history by sponsoring beer and brewery related historical markers, beer style and brewery historical lectures, and actively participating in various breweriana collectible organizations.

(Submitted on July 11, 2022, by Scott Mertie of Nashville, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 5, 2021

4. Germantown Brewery District Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2020, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 831 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 26, 2020, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 3. submitted on April 11, 2022, by Scott Mertie of Nashville, Tennessee. 4. submitted on June 5, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.