Frederick and Anna Reber reached Santa Clara in November 1861 and, alongside others of their faith, carved out a life in a barren, sandy valley far different from their native Switzerland. They persevered and established a good life, reflected in their fine home on the main street of the small town. Built in 1870, the house was one of only a few two-storied homes along the street and stands as an example of Greek Revival, double-cell architecture, with a low-pitched gabled roof, a two-part cornice line, and an entry porch with prominent squared Doric columns. Classified within the Classical style, the home sheltered many Reber family members over the years, while a steady succession of renters brought many additional residents. During the first half of the twentieth century, many newly married Santa Clara couples spent their first years there, and during World War Two families lived there while waiting for loved ones to return, giving the house an unusually broad place in local human history.