Hermann Hill Three Mile Walk
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Stop at the corner of E. 4th Street.
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On the northeast corner of the intersection is the home of the
Gasconade County Historical Society Archives and Records Center.
The facility is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
and Saturday. See signs for hours.
The imposing structure across the street is the German School.
The lots on which it stands were set aside in 1839 for school
lots. The building was erected in 1871. Up to that time, German-
and English-speaking schools were separate. When classes began
in the German School, both languages were taught. Classes were
held in the school until 1954. On the last day of the school
year, the children would walk from here to the city park
(traveling the route that you are about to take) for their May
Picnic, where they played games and were served knackwurst and
pink lemonade. This annual event was the forerunner of Hermann's
popular Maifest, which began in 1952, and is always held the
third weekend in May. In 1955, the German School was deeded to
Historic Hermann. The organization maintains a museum that is
filled with local treasures. The museum is open Tuesday through
Sunday from April through October.
The clock tower on top of the school is not original to the
building, but has been a Hermann landmark since 1890. Mrs.
Christina Graf, widow of the publisher of the local newspaper
who succeeded her husband as editor of the paper, was the
driving force in obtaining the clock and tower. History shows
that people would gather on the benches surrounding the school
for their daily get-togethers. Apparently they didn't carry
watches because someone was always in the newspaper office (Graf
Printing) across the street asking, “Was is die Uhr?” The
disruption caused Mrs. Graf to approach the town fathers, who
agreed to erect the tower and clock. Funds for the project were
received from benefit shows and private donations. The clock
continues to keep time thanks to the efforts of a group of
locals who take turns winding it. The inner workings of the
clock can be viewed from the second floor of the German School.
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History of Hermann - How Hermann Got Its Name
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