Count's House
Why it's listed
Known locally as the Count's House, this brick residence on Waukegan Road in McHenry, Illinois, dates to about 1860. It is a two-story Greek Revival building with a full basement on a fieldstone foundation, brick corner pilasters, an end-gable pediment on Doric columns, and a full entablature. A brick summer kitchen is attached on the east. Around 1874 the south facade was reworked as a second main front in Gothic Revival style, with drip moldings, brackets and a second-story porch. The land was first held by George Gage, later a state senator; Mary Melindy likely built the house after buying the lot in 1859. The nickname comes from Count Oscar Bopp Von Oberstadt, who emigrated from Germany in 1916, bought the house in 1920 and lived there until 1927. Despite changes to the summer kitchen, the house retains a high degree of integrity and is the only Greek Revival structure in McHenry in the state historic structures survey.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent, highly intact mid-nineteenth century example of Greek Revival architecture. Its second major facade, added about 1874 with Gothic Revival ornament, further enhances its significance. It is also the only Greek Revival structure in McHenry included in the Illinois Historic Structures Survey.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002587, listed June 3, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3803 Waukegan, McHenry |
|---|---|
| County | McHenry County |
| Listed | June 3, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002587 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, with Gothic Revival south facade |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; the form lists its condition as original site and notes 20th-century modifications to the summer kitchen. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34348, -88.27149 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002587.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5176630
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.