By Randy McNutt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FAIRFIELD - The Victorian home of prominent Cincinnati brewer Conrad Windisch will be sold at auction at 11 a.m. today.

"The house was built in the 1880s by one of the top brewers," said auctioneer Brent Semple, who will sell the house through his Semple and Associates Auctioneers. "Conrad Windisch was a partner of Christian Moerlein in the famous Cincinnati Brewery, and later he founded the Windisch-Muhlhauser Lion Brewery, which later became the Burger Brewery Co."

It's one of the oldest homes in Fairfield, which became a city 48 years ago.

"Windisch also wanted to build there because he could have a large piece of property for his horses to graze," Semple said. "He used them to pull his beer wagons. He couldn't find enough open space left in Cincinnati."

The brick house, on five acres at 3710 Port Union Road, is in a developing area on the north side of Port Union between Ohio Bypass 4 and Seward Road.

Semple said the house features "countless feet of highly detailed woodwork, 12-foot ceilings, numerous 10-foot walnut doors, 50-plus windows, and seven original fireplaces."

"The place was beautiful," said Helen Wessel, who has helped in the restoration of Fairfield's historic Elisha Morgan Mansion in Gilbert Farms Park. "It is one of Fairfield's older homes. Everything in Fairfield is so young."

The property also includes a full basement with a brick floor and three rooms, five large bedrooms, two bathrooms, a country kitchen and a formal dining room, living room and parlor.

Semple said the house - two stories with an attic that could be finished - needs some repair.

"We've had quite a bit of interest in the place," Semple said. "It has a rich history."

E-mail rmcnutt@enquirer.com