Germania-Weilmachtsklange

"Germania-Weilmachtsklange" - Germania Publishing Company - Milwaukee

The Germania Publishing Company was started by George Brumder (May 24, 1839 - May 9, 1910). George and his wife, Henrietta Brandhorst, opened a small book store in 1864. In addition to the bookstore they also published a small weekly magazine, Der Familienfreund.

During this time Milwaukee’s large German population supported a strong and vibrant German language press. The height of German language publications was from the period of 1890 to World War I. In the 1870s, a group of German newspaper publishers were struggling financially so they reached out to George Brumder for assistance. The businesses were reorganized and the Germania Publishing Company was officially formed, George Brumder took the helm as the president.

Under Brumder’s leadership the newspapers and publishing house grew, he had a three story building constructed on the corner of Plankinton and Kilbourn Ave in 1896, with a fourth story added in 1886 (building was torn down).

In 1896/1897 Brumder constructed a new headquarters, the Germania, which is located on North Plankinton Avenue, North 2nd Street and West Wells Street. The building still stands today.