Locations

In February of 1898, Louis Waldorf, wholesale liquor dealer, began construction of the large white frame house at 800 Monroe St. that is now Merritt Funeral Home. This type of building was from an era in American architectural history known as the Age of Innocence or Eclectic Period. The round towers, gables, dormer finials, tall narrow windows, and gingerbread wood trim represent this type of building style, when everything was put together to make up a design.

One of the outstanding interior features of this home are the walls of the dining room. These are canvas-covered and depict scenes of the Starved Rock area; they are the original paintings done in 1900, when the home was completetd. There are two ornately carved fireplaces of tile and wood, one gas and one woodburning. All woodwork inside the house is still orignal along with the stained glass windows and full length mirror.

In 1973 a 100 seat chapel, bathroom, office, casket selection room and 20 car parking lot was added to better serve families. The Merritt family has been in business in this home since 1938."