Schwartz Castle is a historic house located at 492 S. Third Street in the German Village neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, United States. It is a contributing property to the city-listed and National Register-listed German Village historic district.
Description
The building is an elaborate brick house, named for its "castle-like" architectural details, including a prominent windowed turret. It was built around 1880 for Frederich Wilhelm Schwartz, a German immigrant born in Niagara Falls, New York in 1836. Schwartz was a successful businessman who owned an apothecary shop at East Main and North Fourth Streets in Columbus. As a proponent of the 19th-century sanitary movement, Schwartz had the house fitted with easy-to-clean surfaces such as tile walls and iron stairways, and a turret was built atop the building where he would sunbathe daily.
History
After Schwartz's death, the house sat vacant for three years. In 1917, it became the Columbus Maternity Hospital, the only major public use of the building. Following the hospital's closure, the building fell into disrepair. In the mid-1950s, it operated as a rooming house and drew attention for two murders that occurred there. By the 1960s, the house was condemned and faced demolition.
In 1973, partners Bob Echele and Bob Gease purchased the house, gutting the interior and adding a fourth floor behind the turret. They installed a movie theater, ballroom, and private elevator. In 2003, realtor Mike Ferris purchased the property and renovated the interior again. After a period of bank ownership in 2010, the property returned to private ownership in 2011.
Present Day
As of the most recent available information, Schwartz Castle operates as a vacation rental property, offering accommodations for large groups, including wedding parties. It features seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, and amenities such as air conditioning, a kitchen, and washing facilities. The property is located within walking distance of downtown Columbus and numerous restaurants and attractions in German Village, including Schiller Park and the Book Loft.
