Landmark, accessible home in the heart of Belleville’s historic downtown

The house was featured in the Historic Home Tour 2022 and has a rich history. During restoration, we found a few artefacts from the 19th century that are exhibited (copies) in the home. One of those is a copy of Dr. Ferdinand Rubach's medical pamphlets.

The house features rounded Georgian windows and a Gothic revival pointed roof. The home was built in 1857 by Dr. Ferdinand Rubach shortly after his marriage to Sophie Maus.

Ferdinand was the son of and Wilhelmina Schenck, the youngest daughter of President Schenck of the Duchy of Nassau, Germany. They were a wealthy family and emigrated to St. Clair County in 1843 to farm. When moving to Belleville in 1849, Augustus Rubach purchased a mercantile establishment (now Circa boutique at the corner of Main and South Jackson Streets).

Ferdinand Rubach graduated from St. Louis Medical College and from the University of Würzburg, Germany. He also studied diseases of the eye in Berlin and was appointed United States Examining Surgeon in 1862.

Sometime between 1877 and 1884, 413 East Washington became a granny flat, when Wilhelmine Rubach moved into it as Ferdinand and his family moved into her old house at 411 East Washington.

One of Ferdinand and Sophie’s sons, Otto Rubach, became a well-known architect who designed the Belleville Library, the Bunsen School, and the Old Post Office in Belleville. He has also been inducted to the Belleville Walk of Fame.

The house had various owners until we bought it in 2020 and started restoring the home. Some of the work that is in progress are smaller cosmetic improvements that do not interfere with its functionality.