Visitors driving through Pickaway Township, Ohio, often brake in shock at the local street signs. Intersections mark the way to Hitler Number 1 Road, Hitler Number 2 Road, and Huber-Hitler Road. A map reveals Hitler Pond, Hitler Park, and the Hitler-Ludwig Cemetery.
The municipal landmarks are named after a family of pioneer farmers who settled the Midwest long before an Austrian dictator took power. This is the true story of how a small American town came to be covered in the most infamous surname of the twentieth century.
The Original Settlers of Circleville
The story begins in 1799 when a family of farmers arrived in Ohio. George Hitler, born in 1763, traveled from Pennsylvania to settle the land. He had married a woman named Susannah Gay, and together they had four children. According to historical records from the Circleville Herald, these early settlers were outstanding citizens with pristine reputations in their agricultural community.
They established farms, roads, and infrastructure. George was born more than a century before Adolf Hitler. The dictator’s own father was born out of wedlock with the surname Hiedler, which was later altered, possibly due to a clerical spelling error. The Ohio family used the name long before the events of the twentieth century.
Introducing Dr. Gay Hitler
One of George and Susannah’s four children was a boy they named George Washington Hitler. Decades later, George Washington Hitler had a son of his own. Following a family practice of utilizing maternal maiden names, he named the boy Gay Hitler. In 1922, Gay Hitler completed his education and opened a dental practice in the community.
For years, the residents of Circleville received their dental care from Dr. Gay Hitler. It was a real name belonging to a real, highly regarded local professional.
Surviving the Second World War
When the Second World War erupted, the family faced immediate public scrutiny. As news of atrocities in Europe reached the United States, sharing a surname with a fascist leader caused severe problems. George Hitler Jr. reported that his parents endured a public siege during the 1940s.
The harassment reached a point where the family had to disconnect and change their telephone number to avoid constant phone calls. The local community in Circleville knew the difference between the European dictator and the Ohio farmers.
Unchanging Maps and Modern Documentaries
Today, local residents display complete nonchalance about their street signs. Jay White, a World War II veteran, openly advocated for keeping the road names exactly as they are. The unique situation eventually caught the attention of filmmaker Matt Ogens.
In 2014, he released a documentary titled “Meet the Hitlers” to explore how sharing the most infamous name in modern history impacts daily life. Through it all, Circleville has refused to alter its maps. The street signs remain standing today, exactly where they were placed decades ago.