The house at 360 S 3rd Street has a history in Independence that goes back almost 100 years. Built by local banker Ira Mix in 1923 after his marriage to Marie Powell, the house has since changed hands over the years and now finds itself in possession of local home improvement aficionado Paul Reiter. Paul bought the home almost 20 years ago and let it lay dormant as he worked on developing other projects throughout Independence, such as the Pink House Cafe. Once Paul discovered it was time to settle down, he finally decided to remaster the house he now calls his “retirement home.”
Restoring a house while maintaining its historic character can be a tricky act to pull off. That’s why Paul sought the advice of the Historic Preservation Committee, where he was able to bring forth his project and gather guidance on how to complete his home improvement.
“I try as much as I can….and kept it as much as possible as the original house as we could,” said Paul.
While he enjoys our city’s scenic riverfront pathways and recent mixed-use developments, Paul’s true devotion came through when asked why he continues to choose Independence.
“My family is here. I wouldn’t go no place else.”
At the City Council meeting of October 25, 2022, Mayor John McArdle presented the Independence Historic Preservation Commission Cairns-Weaver Award to Paul for his efforts in restoring his home.
