William Orr House, Historic house in Center Township, LaPorte County, Indiana, United States
The William Orr House is a 2+1⁄2-story brick dwelling in Center Township, LaPorte County, Indiana, built in 1875. It combines Eastlake movement style with Italianate and Gothic Revival elements, and features a 3+1⁄2-story central tower with a mansard roof and a full-width front porch.
Built in 1875, the William Orr House is a 2+1⁄2-story brick dwelling in Center Township, LaPorte County, Indiana, combining Eastlake movement style with Italianate and Gothic Revival elements. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The property is also known as the Orr-Richter House.
The house is also known as the Orr-Richter House, linking it to two families who owned it. Its 1875 date places it in the decade when Eastlake decoration, with its incised and turned woodwork, was spreading through American domestic architecture. The 1984 listing in the National Register of Historic Places recognized the building's architectural value in LaPorte County.
The house sits on a rural property set back from main roads and is easy to locate by following West Small Road. Keep in mind this is a private residence, so viewing is best done from the road or from a distance.
The central tower rises noticeably higher than the main structure, creating an unusual silhouette that stands out in the flat countryside landscape. This bold design choice sets it apart from most other houses of that period in the county.
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