Reitz Home Museum

Today, the Reitz Home is noted as one of the country's finest examples of Second Empire architecture. Authentic period furniture, much of it original, is arranged as if the family is about to return. Silk damask-covered walls soar to decorative hand-painted ceilings and delicately molded plaster friezes. French gilt chandeliers shine down on one of the home's most beautiful features: the intricately patterned hand-laid wood parquet floors. The home has tile and marble fireplaces, walnut wainscoting in Moorish design, and glowing stained glass window panels. Christine, the last member of the Reitz family, died in 1931. Two heirs, John Fendrich and Laura Fendrich McCarthy, took over the estate to assure that the house was preserved. In 1934, they donated the home to the Daughters of Isabella, a Catholic women's organization. The Daughters of Isabella used the home as a community center and rented out the bedrooms to businesswomen working in the downtown area.