High on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan sits a grand Georgian mansion that tells a story of Wisconsin’s industrial past. Built in 1912 by JP Reiss, an executive of the coal and shipping firm founded by his father, this home has witnessed a century of change in Sheboygan. Shipping of coal and other industrial fuels was a major industry on the Great Lakes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Reiss family owned a successful operation in Sheboygan and other port cities throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota.
Years after JP Reiss’s untimely death, the mansion passed to his children and ultimately became the home of another generation when JP Reiss II purchased his sisters’ shares and established a home for his own family. Under his wife’s direction, the mansion was updated and redecorated. This generation owned the home until the time of Reiss’ retirement and relocation in the late 1960’s. Ownership changed several times over the next 50 years and the mansion saw a period of decline followed by a complete restoration. The estate served as a bed and breakfast from the late 1980’s until its recent purchase by Christine and Roger Castino.
According to Mrs. Castino, Mr. Reiss spared no expense in creating a grand home for his family. The 10,000 square foot mansion features 11 fireplaces, nine bedrooms, and as many bathrooms. The third floor included a grand ballroom in addition to quarters for the servants who attended the family. “The finest materials were used in this home and most still remain,” said Ms. Castino. Expert craftsmen created custom ornamental plaster details for the barrel-vaulted dining room ceiling, stone and iron ornamentation for the exterior and mahogany woodwork throughout the house.
What twist of fate introduced them to this piece of history now called Castino Lakeview Mansion? “We came to Sheboygan to enjoy a quiet weekend at a bed and breakfast. Not only did we enjoy our stay immensely, we noticed the For Sale sign. After several cocktails, we were convinced that buying this was the right thing to do! The house called to us and the area evokes such a peaceful and less harried lifestyle. Of course, once the drinks and the spontaneous allure wore off we, crunched the numbers to see if this could work as a semi-retirement option. We confirmed that this would be a good fit for us as we approached empty nester status.”
Grand patios overlook the lawn and garden. The beach and lake beckon beyond. The lakeside veranda offers a spectacular view of the sunrise over Lake Michigan past the formal garden with perennials and fountains. It’s easy to imagine glittering, jazz age parties on this lawn as the sunset reflected over Lake Michigan.
The Castinos, owners of a Chicago-area home services firm, completed a renovation of the lower level to create a tavern and game room complete with a mahogany bar, pool and foosball tables and multiple flat screen TVs. The five second-floor bedrooms, named for the five Great Lakes, each include a private bath. The previous owners lived on the third floor with their four sons while running the bed and breakfast. The former ballroom and servants quarters of the third floor are now four additional bedrooms with space for families to gather, including a kitchenette area.
The mansion and grounds are now available for private rental. The beautifully appointed first-floor rooms with traditional furnishings, crystal chandeliers, and a grand piano are the perfect setting for an elegant party, wedding, family reunion, or another private event. The home accommodates as many as 25 overnight guests, including the carriage house apartment. The sweeping front lawn with its enviable view of the lake is the ideal spot for a tented outdoor reception for up to 100 guests.
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Steps away from the mansion across Lakeshore Avenue are Sheboygan’s public beach and the newly developed Sheboygan Harbor Center with a boardwalk area and yacht harbor. “It’s the most beautiful beach with eight volleyball courts. We feel like it’s our own private beach because it’s never crowded. At times we take our wood burning fire pit down to the beach to roast marshmallows for s’mores.” said Ms. Castino. All of downtown Sheboygan is nearby. “Our guests have access to four kayaks and ten bicycles. More are available for rental in town if needed.” The outdoor patios include a large gas grill for group barbecues and two outdoor propane fire tables. At the time of construction, the Castino Lakeview Mansion overlooked the coal shipping operation at the mouth of the Sheboygan River that provided the family’s fortune. Now The Blue Harbor Resort and Spa is located on the site of the former coal loading dock and the riverfront is a recreational attraction with shops and restaurants. The city of Sheboygan is a charming coastal town just a few miles away from the resort destination of Kohler with its five star American Club Resort and Spa along with two world class golf courses. “My husband, an avid golfer, is just drooling to get out on The Bull, Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits. Running the house will keep me plenty busy, but I might have to take up golf if I ever hope to see him again!”
To learn more about Castino Lakeview Mansion, visit CastinoLakeviewMansion.com.
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This article appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of Lakeshore Magazine. Subscribe HERE.
