John M. Clark, writing for German Village Stories Behind the Brick, called the house potentially "the most unusual" in the neighborhood.

Schwartz was a successful business owner who operated an apothecary at East Main and North Fourth streets.

Schwartz was a part of the sanitary movement in the 19th century, and thus had his house affixed with easy-to-clean surfaces, including tile walls and iron stairways, and had a turret built atop the building.

Although Schwartz lived in the house with his sister until his death, rumors spread of him becoming unhinged after a fiancée broke off their engagement, and that he died alone with his body undiscovered for weeks.

After Schwartz's death, his friend George Karb (long-time mayor of Columbus) served as the executor of his estate.