The Schendel House is one of Columbus's finest Queen Anne Style houses. Reinhard Schendel (1832-1899) came to the United States from his native Prussia in 1861 and soon thereafter moved to Columbus and began a successful career as a dealer in lumber and lumber products. In 1867, Reinhard married another German immigrant, Amelia Luepke (1843-1924).

At first, the Schendel family lived in a house that stood on the corner next to the current house. As Schendel became more successful, he gradually acquired the entire south corner of the block. In 1894, work began on the Queen Anne style house that would be the family home until Amelia Schendel's death in 1924. Queen Anne style houses are notable for their exuberance and for their eclectic mix of design details such as corner towers, steeply pitched roofs, wraparound porches, and cutaway bay windows, all of which are present here. Because Schendel was a lumber dealer it is not surprising that his house was something of a showcase for wood; this can be seen most clearly in the gable ends that crown the house. For instance, the one on the left side of the house that faces Mills St. is covered in wood shingles that form stars of different sizes surrounding a full moon, while the gable end that faces Ludington St. is covered in shingles that represent the four suites of a deck of cards: clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. Card suites are also used in the gable end on the right-hand side of the house, as are courses of coved, octagonal, fish scale, and dart-shaped shingles.

The Schendel House houses private apartments that are not open to the public. Please respect the rights and privacy of the residents.