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At one time everyone in Brunswick knew Carl Zimmerman. Carl was born in 1905 to immigrant parents who moved to Brunswick in the early 1900s. He was a 1924 graduate of Brunswick High School and became a business man, owning Brunswick Dairy, a home delivery milk business and Zimmerman's Store, a landmark general store that stood on the southeast corner of Center and Pearl roads until the widening of Route 303.

He was a volunteer fireman and fire chief of Brunswick Township and later, Brunswick Hills Township. Before reliable communications, the siren that called the volunteers was located atop the roof of his store. He helped establish radio communications throughout the Medina County Volunteer fire departments so they could communicate in time of need or disaster.

In addition to leading the effort for purchasing needed equipment, he took the lead in training the fire department in emergency medical procedures. He served the fire department into his late 70s going to elementary schools and teaching fire safety to children along with sharing stories of old-time Brunswick. When he died in May 1987, more than 25 fire engines representing neighboring departments joined the funeral procession.

He served as president of the Medina County, Ohio and National Fireman's associations; he served on the Brunswick school board for more than 10 years, much of it during the Depression. He was a longtime member of the Brunswick United Methodist Church and sat on its parish relations committee. He was a 50-year member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge and was a member of the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce.

He and his wife and partner, Josephine, were married 58 years. They raised and educated three children, all Brunswick graduates: Hugh, Elbridge and Molly. They all graduated from college and two have received master's degrees.