The 1845 Orson Starr House of Royal Oak, Michigan

I passed by the Starr House hundreds of times growing up. On Mother's Day I finally took a tour!  It is the oldest existent house in Royal Oak, Michigan and is located at 3123 North Main Street.

The Orson Starr family came from New York State in 1831 and built this house in 1845. The Starr family made bells: cow bells, goat bells, bells of all sizes and each was marked with a star. Family occupied the house until the 1960s.

In 1985 the house was designated a historic district and in 1999 it was one of five Michigan sites included in "Save America's Treasures." The house is nicely preserved, undergoing continual restorations, and is nicely furnished with donations.

The black walnut dining table was made for the Asher Bull Parker family in 1839 from a local tree.

The main floor bedroom has an impressive bedroom set. It didn't fit into the house so the very top was removed!(My Grandmother Emma Becker Gochenour told me a story of having the same issue after a move and dealing with the bed the same way!)

 A 1915 (according to the sign) potted tulip appliqué quilt is on the bed.

 A silk pieced quilt is displayed in the bedroom on a chair.

 It was made about 1890 by Mary E Ferguson Briggs, great-granddaughter of the Orson Starr family.

Beautiful white dresses with fancy work.

In the closet I saw this swimsuit!

A third bedroom has a faded Wedding Ring quilt said to date from 1940 and was purchased at Detroit's flagship department store J. L. Hudson--or it may have been made by a Parker family member.

Other dresses on display include this purple dress with lappets

 and this dark 1890s wedding dress.

A sheer beaded blouse from the 1920s is also on display.

A WWI souvenir from France silk and lace trimmed handkerchief.

There are antique dolls throughout the bedrooms including this one with a painted face.

And a metal crib has a Depression era star quilt.

A Bicentennial era needlework celebrates Michigan's heritage: A Native American is overlaid on the state, surrounded by the flags that have flown over this land.