Stickney, George, House
Also known as: House with round corners
Why it's listed
Northeast of Woodstock, Illinois, stands a two-story yellow brick house whose square plan has four rounded corners. George Stickney began building it in 1849 and finished it in 1856. Its Italianate styling is restrained but carefully handled, with brick pilasters, arched windows with wooden tracery, a leaded-glass fan over the door, and a porch with Doric columns and a balcony above. Inside, double parlors flank the entrance hall, and a ballroom spans the front of the second floor, with rounded corners continuing indoors. The house was listed chiefly for this unusual design, described as unmatched among Illinois buildings that combine rounded corners with Italianate detailing. Stickney, a New England immigrant, was the first white settler of Nunda Township in 1835. He and his wife Sylvia were Spiritualists who held seances, and local tradition says the corners were omitted so spirits would have nowhere to hide. After years of abandonment, the house has been restored for family living.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a highly unusual variation of the High Victorian Italianate style, and that its rounded corners are unique in American architecture. It also notes the house was built by George Stickney, a New England immigrant and the first white settler of Nunda Township. The Stickneys were Spiritualists, and the rounded corners are said to have denied hiding places to spirits.
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 79003115, listed May 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Woodstock at 1904 Cherry Valley Rd., Woodstock |
|---|---|
| County | McHenry County |
| Listed | May 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003115 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | George Stickney |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Italianate (unusual variation with rounded corners) |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition; it was abandoned for many years and deteriorated, but the current owners have maintained and restored it for living use. The ballroom has been divided to make two bedrooms. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.30077, -88.35252 (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 79003115.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5544858
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.