The W.H. Stark House
Last week’s trip was great. Even though we have been to Dayton many times, it was fun seeing some new things like the Deeds Carillon and the playground.
There are lots of trips I would love to take in the future. Visiting my sister-in-law’s family is one, and seeing my dad is another. My SIL lives near New Orleans, Louisiana and my dad is currently stationed in Wichita Falls, Texas. I could make a car trip out of it if gas prices were to come down or I won the lottery (don’t see either happening anytime soon).
If I did drive, I could make a stop in Orange, Texas to see the W.H. Stark House. This is a house dripping with history. Built in 1894 (100 years before I graduated from high school!) by local philanthropists William Henry Stark and Miriam Stark.
Just looking at the pictures of the three story Victorian house makes me want to step up on the porch and settle in on a swing or rocking chair. Apparently the house was vacant from 1936 until 1971. And it took ten years to renovate it back to the days when the Starks were living there. I can barely imagine the work it took to renovate it, since we are in year ten of our own home renovation (and our house is nothing like the Stark house). And while we do live in a historic neighborhood, our house isn’t on the National Register of Historical Places, but the Stark house is.
And taking home tours are kind of fun. I enjoyed visiting historical homes in Charleston, marveling at the items “original to the house” (and giggling at tour guides who used the phrase over and over again). I can only imagine what an interesting time I would have on a tour of the Stark house. The pictures on the virtual tour are beautiful. Imagine seeing the beautiful sitting room and the prayer bench. Or the violin used by Mr. Stark.
I think seeing this house is a must for my future travel list.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:37 am
The house feels like in fairy tale. : )