Christian Weinrich House

The Christian F. Weinrich House in Chester, Illinois, is a prime example of Folk Victorian architecture with Gothic Revival characteristics.  These elements can be seen in the gable front and wing, the steeply pitched roof, and the ornamental wood detailing in the gable ends and front porch.  The section of Opdyke Street where the house is located was known as “Legal Hill,” a prominent area of town where a number of attorneys resided around 1873 when Weinrich built the house. Weinrich was an immigrant from Germany who moved to the United States in 1851. He was in the military for a few years and worked as a blacksmith before eventually becoming the owner of a large hardware store in the business district of Chester 2 blocks from his home.

While privately owned, this house is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a popular destination in Chester as an example of Folk Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. If you find yourself walking around Chester, be sure to admire this gorgeous house!