Ormsby-Stark House, near Woodstock

William and Lucia Ormsby built the original portion of the house on 192 acres in 1861. The frame house was considered “one of the most complete farm houses in Dorr Township”.

Philip and Elizabeth Starck purchased the house in 1946. They commissioned noted architect John Vincent Anderson to remodel and add to the original structure. After extensive remodeling, the house now possesses Victorian Italianate features. The result of remodeling was a 22 room, 6,500 square-foot home with details including marble-slabbed bathrooms and a white oak-paneled library, complete with a secret closet. The kitchen and large walk-in cooler are covered in white terra cotta tiles from the Terra Cotta Company of Crystal Lake.