SAVE HISTORIC PROPERTIES

Historic Florissant is a non-profit 501 c 3 working to preserve and protect historic properties. We have no dues paying members nor do we have paid employees. We are all volunteers and rely on the community to support our efforts. 

To date we have saved 13 historic properties from the bulldozer. Currently, we are restoring the 1870 Reeb House which was damaged by fire and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The back portion of the house was burned and needs to be rebuilt. The restoration has been a community effort with local businesses providing in-kind labor and materials.  Skilled volunteers and those who simply want to help have pitched in. The Mid America Sisterhood of Carpenters and Missouri Women in Trades have been extremely productive. We are in need of funds to provide materials for electrical wiring, insulation, dry wall, siding, paint, etc. The majority of funds raised will support this restoration.

Historic Florissant, Inc. owns the Gittemeier House and Museum; a City of Florissant Landmark and contributing property to the local Historic District.  A research center is used to archive all things historic related to Florissant and the house museum illustrates how life was in the 1860s.  Visitors are given guided tours and learn about local history.  Visitors to the research center are provided help with genealogy and finding important historic documents, maps, newspaper articles, and much more. 

The Gittemeier House is a 3 story brick farmhouse built by Franz Gittemeier who earned enough gold dust in California to return to farm in Florissant.  He started with 50 acres of land and died holding 570 acres to be distributed among his 10 children.  Many who continue to live in Florissant are related to Franz Gittemeier, so this ancestral home provides a great sense of pride to our community. 

In 1989, Shell Oil purchased the Gittemeier house and planned to demolish it to make way for a corner gas station. Historic Florissant, Inc. stepped in to save the property and Shell made alternative plans for its gas station. By 1990, we have fully restored the exterior of the building and today one will find a well maintained historic property.  Maintaining the home is expensive.  It needs tuckpointing and a new air conditioner for the 2nd floor. A portion of funds raised will help with this maintenance.