A network of public wells provided the water supply until a few generations ago – as in other cities as well – in St. Goar. In some places the water flowed from captured springs, in other places it had to be pumped by humans.
The Pumpengasse owes its name to a large pump that has stood in this location for generations. The water that could be drawn from here came from a source outside the city and was conveyed through a water pipeline built in 1709 to this location and to another gravity pump on the market square.
At the corner of Heerstraße, one of the best-preserved historic buildings stands: Heerstraße 101, the house built in 1675. Like many other historic buildings, its facade was plastered in the 19th century: The owners followed not only the zeitgeist, but by hiding the historic building they were able to reduce the cost of fire insurance. After a renovation in the 1930s, it now presents its original appearance again.
A sad scene in the history of St. Goar is the inconspicuous old house at Pumpengasse 114. The Jewish family Mayer, who ran a small butcher shop in this house, was vilified and driven out of existence in years of disputes with the authorities. In early 1942, the house was declared a „Jewish house,“ and the St. Goar Jews were brought together here before deportation.
