The German Baptist church was prevalent in Zimmerman and throughout the township dating back to 1805, the original ministers being Jacob Miller, Elder Sigler and Moses Shoup.   Once a year, their custom of ‘washing of feet’ would occur following communion.  One of the ministers would wash the feet of the brethren (the men), while the sisters would wash the feet of the ladies.  In slang, they were often referred to as ‘Dunkers’ or ‘Dunkards’ due to their tradition of full immersion during baptism, where members kneeled into the water and were dipped three times, face first.

German Baptists were opposed to war and would not bear arms, nor vote at political elections.  Disputes were settled in the church without appealing to the laws of the country.

Also in Zimmerman were a blacksmith shop and the Stewart Grocery, which would provide on credit or by barter.  During the Great Depression, Crawford Smith owned the store, then named Smith Grocery, he offered credit to accommodate customer’s needs regardless of ability to pay at that time.

The area most now consider the center of Beavercreek was long ago known as the settlement of Cimmermanville, then Zimmermanville, and later shortened to Zimmerman.  The first home built here was at the southeast corner of Dayton-Xenia and North Fairfield Roads for Jacob Zimmerman, for whom the village was named.  In this home was the first grocery.  He also kept a house for ‘the entertainment of travelers.’

This was the second-largest town in the township to Alpha.  Zimmerman School #12 sat just west of the intersection and was led by Professor Frank Zimmerman in the early days.  This was a rare two-room school with the older students in the Big Room and the younger in the Little Room.  Well behaved students would be awarded the honor of ringing the school bell for recess, while those not-so-fortunate would lug coal and clean the ash pan.

• North Fairfield Road North Fairfield Road
• Late 60's or early 70's Late 60's or early 70's
• Zimmerman School Zimmerman School
• Zimmerman in 1874 Zimmerman in 1874
•