Old Germantown: History, Homes and the Depot District

Most of Germantown was built out in the last fifty or sixty years, which makes the few blocks around the train depot feel different from the rest of the city. Old Germantown is the original town, and it still reads that way: a small depot beside an active rail line, churches that predate the Civil War, narrow streets, and houses that sit closer to the road than anything in the newer subdivisions of 38138 and 38139. If you are curious about this part of Germantown, whether as a place to live or simply a place to spend a Saturday morning, here is what is there and what to know.

Where Old Germantown Is

According to the Germantown history site maintained by local historians, the original town was one square mile and stayed that size until the 1950s. The Old Germantown District is defined from the depot outward: boundary markers were placed a half mile in each direction from the original town center. The city today covers about 19 square miles, so the old town is a small piece of a much larger map.

The streets you will hear mentioned most are West Street, where the depot stands at 2260 West Street; Germantown Road South, which was once called Bridge Street; Old Poplar Pike; Poplar Pike; and Arthur Road. The town itself dates to the 1830s. Lots were laid out in 1834, the name Germantown was adopted in 1836, and the town incorporated in 1841.

The Landmarks You Can Walk To

The depot is the center of it all. Rail reached Germantown in 1852 on the Memphis and Charleston line. The earlier depot burned in 1947, and the building standing today went up shortly afterward on the same foundation. It stopped serving as a rail stop in 1968 and now houses a small museum. The City of Germantown lists a free depot open house on its calendar and has held a Santa visit there in December, so it is worth checking the city calendar for current dates.

A short distance away, Germantown Presbyterian Church traces its congregation to 1838 and its building to 1851. Local historians describe it as the oldest public building in Germantown. Germantown Baptist Church also has roots in the 1830s, on land along what is now Germantown Road.

Oaklawn Garden, at 7831 Old Poplar Pike, is a 20-acre property built around an 1854 homestead. It became known for daffodils planted beginning in the 1920s, and it holds a collection of outdoor artifacts that includes an old boxcar and a caboose. It is free and open to the public and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.

Fort Germantown, at 3085 Honey Tree Drive off Poplar Pike, is a park of just under five acres on the site of an earthen redoubt built by Union troops in 1863 to guard the railroad. Interpretive signs and two reproduction howitzers explain what stood there.

And then there is lunch. The Germantown Commissary at 2290 South Germantown Road began as a general store and has operated as a barbecue restaurant since 1981.

What Homes Are Like in Old Germantown

The housing here is a mix, and that is part of its character. A handful of homes date to the 1800s. The Shepherd-Arthur House on Old Poplar Pike was built in 1849, and the city's Historic Preservation Committee has placed plaques on more than 50 Germantown homes built before 1900. Around them you will find houses from several later decades, along with newer homes designed to fit the setting.

Because the mix is so varied, it helps to look at each property on its own terms. Age, foundation type, past renovations and lot shape can differ a great deal from one address to the next, even on the same street. A thorough inspection and a look at the permit history are time well spent on any older home.

The OG District Design Rules

This is the part worth understanding before you buy or plan a project. Old Germantown has its own zoning designation, known as the OG District, along with a design review manual and a streetscape plan. Under the city's design review manual, work in the district such as new construction, exterior alteration, moving or demolishing a structure, or a change in use goes before the Design Review Commission.

The guidelines describe the look the city wants to keep: pitched roofs with gable ends, covered entrances and porches, horizontal wood siding, multi-paned windows, parking and garages placed to the side or rear, and informal landscaping with native plants. None of that is a reason to avoid the area. It simply means a new porch, an addition or a rebuild takes an extra step, and it is far easier to plan for that at the start than to learn about it midway. The city's planning office can confirm exactly what applies to a specific address.

Everyday Practicalities

The City of Germantown provides water and sewer service, and its monthly bill also covers solid waste. Electricity and natural gas come from MLGW. Homeowners here pay both City of Germantown and Shelby County property taxes.

For public schools, Germantown addresses are served by the Germantown Municipal School District, and Houston High School serves all Germantown residents. Elementary and middle school assignments depend on the address, and the district asks residents to confirm zoning directly with its office rather than rely on a map.

Municipal Park at 1900 South Germantown Road has 17 acres with a pavilion, sand volleyball and an inclusive playground. The Germantown Greenway along the Wolf River has more than 10 paved miles open, and the Germantown Performing Arts Center on Exeter Road added The Grove, its outdoor lawn venue, in 2020.

If Old Germantown has caught your interest, or you own a home there and are wondering what your options look like, I am always glad to talk it through. No pressure and no timeline, just a conversation whenever it would be useful.

Kelly Day, SRES, SRS, AHWD, PSA, RENE
Multi Million Dollar Club
Broker Lic # 365811
simpliHOM
901-289-9227
855-856-9466
[email protected]
https://memphishouselistings.com