1882 – Freeport, IL

Sold / Archive From 2020

Added to OHD on 11/2/20 - Last OHD Update: 7/25/22

717 W Stephenson St, Freeport, IL 61032

7 Bed
3 full, 2 half Bath
2571 Sq Ft
0.3 Ac.

Located on the corner lot of Stephenson St & West Ave (Rt 26), lies this historic, seven bedroom, three story home, with GORGEOUS woodwork throughout; tandem six stall Coach House & extra Lot, are an added bonus! 1st Floor: Wedding cake plaster design on ceiling, stained glass window in dining room. Two leaded, crystal jeweled entrance doors. Three walk-in pantries! Built-in shelves - Library room. Two fireplaces, with beautifully carved mantels & tiles; one operational, one not. Lovely oak & cherry woodwork - handsome pocket doors, throughout. Lengthy, swinging door(s) between kitchen & dining room, Rolled & layered, ornate wallpaper of trees & scenes, dating back to late 1800's! 2nd Floor: Master bedroom - connected full bath & porch, three windows with leaded crystal, & working fireplace. Office Area provides window seat, wonderfully carved fireplace. One separate, full bath. 3rd Floor: Three bedrooms, one living room, one full bath & one half bath (both in non-working condition). Updates: Furnace 2004, Water Heater 2010, ($50k) Roof 2011 Extra Lot (leveled & seeded) Tax ID #18-14-31-155-002 Entrance Chandelier & interior hanging (unattached), rectangular glass windows do NOT stay. Home to be sold "as-is", yet must be viewed, to appreciate its true beauty & all of her superlative, unmatched trademarks - let the photos speak for themselves, here, folks! Possibility for multiple, single residential bedrooms. Must be pre-approved, BEFORE showings!

Listed With

Julie Willson, Bussian Realtors :: (815) 235-6106 / (815) 690-2792

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EileenM | 281 comments

3 years ago

The exterior photos don’t do justice to the home’s interior. Absolutely gorgeous.

Carebear | 1755 comments

Supporter

Reply to EileenM | 281 comments

2 years ago

Yeah, I’m not crazy about the exterior. It sure hides a treasure inside!

AVoeg | 99 comments

I am so glad this house made it on OHD! I have personally been in this home and it is beautiful and well cared for. The exterior was always a bit of a mystery to me. Sort of a hodgepodge of styles and materials. Anyone have any insight on that?

This house is located in a declining city that has a lot of crime, and is located right on the border of a beautiful, historic neighborhood and the beginning of a rough part of town. I hope someone who will care for this beauty purchases it!

Rosewater | 8689 comments

Reply to AVoeg | 99 comments

Great house, AV. There is definitely a lot going on there on the exterior; and all of it is top, top, quality work; which has stood the test of time admirably. Whoever had it built wanted the very best, on that scale, and plenty of it! 🙂 The granite block is a little shocking at first in combination with the golden brick; but once I discerned that it was indeed stone and not a concrete block facsimile, the look really grew on me. Also interesting and luxe are the many various decorative panels in (probably) wood and terracotta. Very nice. Stylistically; the place is equally multi-varied. My favorite bit is the Shingle style gable on the neighbor side with the rad balcony / porch, (Love those!); as well as it’s accompanying, substantial, brackets the way round. It must have been a show stopper in town, there on the corner of the thoroughfare, when it was built; and that was without question pleasing to the owner. 🙂

There is MUCH to this great house to lament not seeing…..

Reply to Rosewater | 8689 comments

Upon reading the article, it sounds like the stone on the exterior is actually Wisconsin limestone painted white! I can only imagine how beautiful this place would look after power washing and a fresh paint job.

Don Carleton | 466 comments

In terms of the building’s exterior, I’d say it’s pretty much standard Queen Anne in terms of the “mix and match” of claddings and ornamentation. But perhaps the fact that we’ve got a “mix and match” of masonry surfaces as opposed to the more usual wood it all seem a bit more eccentric?

OnBeingMom | 1 comments

I had friends who lived next door about 15 years ago! My mom grew up in Freeport,when it was prosperous. It has sadly been in decline for about 20 years or so. BUT, drive just west on Stephenson St. and you’ll see beautiful old architecture! And will then end up at Krape Park, which is such a huge gem for the city. And the community college (Highland CC) is excellent! The city has great potential to come back, just needs industry. 😀

| 21 comments

Yes, AV! I do hope that the buyer cares for this stunner with love. I found it interesting (and a bit amusing) that the street view shows the local police parked behind the house and walking up the street. There’s a badly twisted road sign, but it doesn’t appear that it was just done and the reason for the police visit. When I read your comment of the house being on a border between historic and declining neighborhoods, it brought more question to my mind and worry that the house will find itself in poor surroundings no matter the love and care the new owners bring to it. The street view is encouraging, though, as other houses surrounding are well loved and maintained.

Bethany | 3712 comments

Reply to | 21 comments

I find street views fascinating! Somehow they make me imagine what’s going on in them much more than a purposefully taken photograph.

JimH | 8100 comments

Moderator

Amazing house known as The Castle to locals, it was built for merchant Cyrenus Henry Seeley (1857-1928) and his wife Elta Mayer. I have to wonder if the 1880’s house was updated with the stone and some new interior bits after the original owner sold it in 1899. A couple of articles about it:
https://www.journalstandard.com/news/20190823/from-old-pine-rocker–freeports-castle-features-exquisite-craftsmanship
https://www.journalstandard.com/news/20190906/from-old-pine-rocker-more-history-from-freeports-castle

prettypaddle | 226 comments

Reply to JimH | 8100 comments

I agree — the rear porches and upper story appear classic Queen Anne but the stone portion appears much more Romanesque. To my eye they don’t look like they were originally designed to go together. Also, since the carriage house was added by the second owners, it does seem likely they would have wanted to make their mark on the house too.

Either way, it is a stunning and super well preserved home! Also, did you see the part that there was once a swimming pool in the basement?

Mansion Grade | 115 comments

What a good looking,quality house!! All kinds of interesting, grand details in a manageable size house for most people.Some light restoration work and more period colors will enhance this fine home even more! Hope it finds a respectable person!

Jacob | 140 comments

A lot to enjoy with this one, but for me the cherry on top was seeing that great bathroom sink!

KarenZ | 1256 comments

Reply to Jacob | 140 comments

I agree! My mouth dropped with that one! I hope the other fixtures are equally stunning!

Yeah – more pix! Had my toes crossed for carriage house and attic pix. Oh well. My toes get charlie horsed from that continual denial. 😉

Sharon | 1033 comments

Hey Jay. Remember discussing the faded crest image in the Massachusetts log home and a previous mystery home? I think maybe I know what was there. Considering the rustic nature, check this out.

content://media/external/downloads/2828

https://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/exmoor_red_deer_antlers/as186a607

https://www.oldhousedreams.com/2020/10/23/shingle-in-south-egremont-ma/

Reply to Sharon | 1033 comments

Replied in thread. Thanks’ Sharon. 🙂
https://www.oldhousedreams.com/2020/10/23/shingle-in-south-egremont-ma/

WishingAnDreaming | 157 comments

I LOVE all the different looks on the exterior. It’s what caught my attention to begin with.

LadyTexas | 195 comments

Reminds me of the Molly Brown House in Denver,co. Complete with lions.

beahiver | 18 comments

Stunning. Heck, I’d live in the lovely garage.

Reply to beahiver | 18 comments

I bet you could put a small one bedroom, or studio apartment in the garage upstairs. Or, and office.

JDmiddleson | 4773 comments

My brain is nearly on overload as I take in all the amazing details this home has! I love the exterior and all the details you notice when you slow down and look at it carefully. How about that great detail in the front gable? And then there is that great marble sin and mirror! And how about that vintage wallpaper in the dining room? There are so many incredible details on this home.

Linda | 617 comments

Love Love all that wood and the bathroom sink?? If only I was a bit younger, this would be a fun house with not a ton of work to be done.

Scott Cunningham | 432 comments

This house is an absolute gem! A lot of house for the money.

mimi | 51 comments

Beautiful interior.

ctmedd | 860 comments

So beautiful inside! I hope that the exterior is lovingly restored and the interior is preserved by the new owner. It’s so sad that so many of these lovely old beauties are in declining neighborhoods. It’s an ebb and flow. The neighborhood may well come back, but by then this beauty may be too far gone. sigh. I’ve seen it in my home town.

The exterior, to me, looks dingy-like another poster, I wonder what a good power wash and paint would o to perk it up. What colors should be used-I’m not good at picking colors! I’ve lived in my house 4 years now, and still can’t decide on a backsplash for my kitchen!
I love those front doors, the wood, the 1st floor ceiling, the bedroom sizes-they look nice and big! The only thing I’d change, is the kitchen. I like lot of counter space on both sides of the stove, so, perhaps a reconfiguration, to get rid of that little butt out, that the stove is on the end of. Maybe make that a pantry.
I feel so sorry for owners of wonderfully kept up houses like this. It takes a lot of money, to either save and restore them, to to keep them looking as good as they have been. And to be able to ask only $149,000 for it? Sad. In any other neighborhood, or city, the owners could ask what its worth, which is a lot more.

NightOwlRN | 33 comments

Oh be still my beating heart! I’m in love. What magnificent detail and fabulous woodwork – that is thankfully not painted over! Swoon…

Squirrely | 60 comments

The ornamental plaster!!! Oh my goodness, there’s so much going on here that’s amazing, but the plaster is gorgeous. Subtle, but very there, just adding the little touch that only beautiful plaster ornamentation can give!

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