Count's House

Count's House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The north facade of the Count's House.
Location	3803 Waukegan,McHenry, Illinois
Coordinates	42°20′36″N88°16′18″W
Built	c. 1860
Architectural style	Greek Revival
NRHP referenceNo.	82002587
Added to NRHP	June 3, 1982

TheCount's Houseis a historicGreek Revivalhome inMcHenry, Illinois.It is one of McHenry's oldest and most notable landmarks, as well as one of the finest preserved examples ofGreek Revivalarchitecture inMcHenry County.It is the only building in the city ofMcHenrylisted on theNational Register of Historic Places.

History

The south facade of the Count's House.

Although the exact date of construction and original owner of the Count's House are unknown, the building is believed to have been built prior to theCivil War.The plaque on the exterior denotes the house as having been completed circa 1860. The house has had a number private owners throughout its history, the most notable beingCount Oskar Bopp von Oberstadt,an Austrian count for whom the house is named.For its architectural significance, the Count's House was added to theNational Register of Historic Placeson June 3, 1982.A wrought iron fence was constructed around the entire perimeter of the property under new ownership in 2005.

Architecture

The Count's House is particularly distinct for its two faces, a very unusual feature for aGreek Revival.The north facade, facing Waukegan Road, consists of a portico with full two-story columns of theDoric order.The south facade, facing Main Street, consists of two-storyloggiawith an upper balcony and several intricatemouldings.The six-over-six windows,balustrades,columns, door surrounds, and nearly all of the exterior moldings appear to be original. The house's exterior walls consist of double-wythe brick, with double-hung windows over six and a half feet in height. The only known significant modifications to the house have been additions to its wing, the replacement of the column pedestals with brick, and the replacement of the original cedar shake with asphalt shingles. Aside from these discrepancies, an old postcard published inHistoric Homes of McHenry Countyreveals that the house remains much as it appeared in the early 1900s, if not earlier.

Gallery

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  The north facade circa early 1900s
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  The south facade circa early 1900s
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  Count Bopp von Oberstadt

References

• Northwest Herald Staff.Historic Homes of McHenry County.Northwest Herald: 2005.ISBN0-9773629-0-6