Back in the 1800's, the Schumacher family settled into town and began operating a dairy business with their main farm building situated where the Sycamore Condos currently stand. It was a very industrialized town with manufacturing companies and businesses as the prominent tenants of the area. One of the most popular industries in Columbus at the time was the buggy business, as the Buggy Works was formerly known as the largest producer of carriages and buggies within the U.S (Source). Therefore, businesses in close proximity to the Buggy Works supplied leather hitches or tanned products since they were in high demand. Breweries were also booming at the time as many of the larger ones lined Front Street, which today we know as The Brewery District. Neighborhood children were sent to "Chase the Knickel", running to the back door of the breweries where they would buy a portion of the cold-brew, poured into their small bucket they brought along with them as they stood outside, since they were not permitted inside due to their age. Two of the largest breweries were Hoster Brewery, a micro-brewery and restaurant today, and the Gambrels Brewery which is owned by a "top historian", "Brew Master David Foster", who revitalized the building to be a microbrewery (Source).
Along with surviving off of the funds from their dairy products, the Schumacher's traded meats, such as beef and pork, which were manufactured and delivered from the slaughter yard that stood at the corner of Lathrop and Kossuth. Conveniently, the large butcher shop was across the street where meat was cut and sausage was hand-crafted. Many people know the iconic restaurant that replaced the butcher shop, it became "the home of the original Schmidt's restaurant, whom were well-known in Columbus (Source). Schumacher Place was not highly residential due to the odor that was emitted by the slaughterhouse, it was not until early this century that homes began popping up in the area.
A common ground for many of the locals was the "Recy", a baseball field that was home to the Columbus Generals, a professional baseball team; but, doubled as a play-field for the children in the area. "There are stories of their play being halted during a 'cattle drive' down Kossuth because of an errant pig or hog getting loose and running around the outfield," (Source). As many of the streets in Schumacher place have been named after well-known families, they also have received their names due to their unique features, for example the road lined with a plethora of sycamore trees is known as Sycamore Street. The charming paved brick streets replaced the dirt roads around the same time that houses were being built, while sidewalks were installed in the 1900's.
For those of you who have dreamed of making your home in German Village to be a part of the lively and rich community that has developed there, but have not found a home within your price range, Schumacher Place makes the lifestyle available to many more people. Mark Ferenchik from the Columbus Dispatch wrote, "Schumacher Place might resemble the village to the west, but there are differences. For example, houses cost less, and there are no tough restrictions on what color you paint them or what kind of windows you can put in," in his article from 2012, Schumacher Place residents enjoy German Village lifestyle. Homes in Schumacher Place have an average listing price of $190,960 whereas German Village's average listing price is $616,142, a very obvious and steep difference. Based on 5 sales in 2015, the median sales price for Schumacher Place is $137,500; when compared to the same period from last year it shows a decrease of 36.9%. (Source) Although, the market has been on the slower side in through the beginning of the year, it is now on the rise and is starting to pick up with the turn of the weather. This active community draws a variety of people to its center, as it is an attractive place for people of all age, whether you are looking for a place to grow your family or a humble abode to settle yourself into, as it is a very family-friendly location that also has a great night-life culture due to it's close proximity to popular restaurants and bars. 
Local eateries that bring people to the area from all over Columbus include: Skillet, known for it's unbeatable brunch, Plank's Cafe and Pizzeria which was just featured in Columbus Underground's article on hidden restaurant gems, Thurman's Cafe (check out my restaurant review: click here ) and more. Sharing many of its local attractions with German Village, this article German Village; One of a Kind Historic District can give you more about the local events worth attending along with more restaurants and attractions.Overall, Schumacher Place has it all. I think it hits the nail on the head for being the best of both worlds, as it retains the charm and authenticity of German Village character along with having its own individualistic qualities, but at a much more reasonable price range for many home-buyers looking to partake in the close-knit community. There is so much that this area has to offer, from naturally beautiful parks to accessibility to a multitude of venues, that it is hard to find a reason why you wouldn't consider this community as the next place you would call "home".
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