STARKS HISTORICAL SOCIETY

STARKS, LA

USA - Louisiana - Welcome Center Credit: Alexander Hatley

Starks Historical Society is a non-profit organization located in Starks, Louisiana. Founded in 1984, the society is dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history and heritage of the town and the surrounding area.

The society maintains a museum that houses a collection of artifacts, photographs, and documents that reflect the area's history, including exhibits on the town's early settlers, the timber industry, and the local schools and churches. The museum also features a research library with books, maps, and other resources for those interested in delving deeper into the history of the region.

In addition to the museum and library, Starks Historical Society also hosts regular events and programs, such as guest speakers, historical reenactments, and community festivals. The society also works to promote historic preservation efforts in the area and to foster a sense of community pride and awareness of the town's unique heritage.

Membership in the Starks Historical Society is open to anyone interested in supporting the organization's mission and goals. The society is run by a dedicated group of volunteers, and donations and grants are always welcome to help fund its ongoing operations and programs.

STARKS HISTORICAL SOCIETY is a Historical Societies, Historic Preservation in STARKS LA. US MID #8402200302

The museum is classed as HSC (Historical Societies, Historic Preservation). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Southeastern (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia).

Texas Travel Information Center Viewed from the Texas Travel Information Center &amp; rest stop on Interstate 10 westbound, just over the border from Louisiana.

See More: <a href="https://www.howderfamily.com/blog/?p=31341" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Southern Road Trip</a>

W.H. Stark House - Orange, TX <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._H._Stark_House" rel="noreferrer nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._H._Stark_House</a>

The W.H. Stark House is a fully restored, 14,000-square-foot Victorian home located on the corner between Green Avenue and Sixth Street in Orange, TX.

The W.H. Stark House was home to William Henry and Miriam Lutcher Stark, who spent a lifetime collecting rare and unique decorative objects. Miriam Melissa Lutcher moved to Orange with her parents, Henry Jacob Lutcher and Frances Ann Lutcher, in the late 1870s. Henry Jacob Lutcher was co-owner of the Lutcher and Moore Lumber Company. He and his wife Frances began a philanthropic dynasty that continues to benefit the Orange community today.

In 1881 Miriam M. Lutcher married William Henry Stark, who made his fortune in banking, oil, rice, insurance, and the regional timber industry. They moved into their home in 1894 and occupied it until 1936. They were passionate collectors. Their son H.J. Lutcher Stark grew up influenced by their lifetime dedication to philanthropy and the arts.

When the Stark family moved into their new home, W.H. Stark was forty-three, Miriam was thirty-five, and their son Lutcher was seven. They were the only family to inhabit the house. When W.H. and Miriam Stark died in 1936, Lutcher Stark closed the house. It was vacant until 1970 when restoration began. Restoration to the era of 1894 continued for ten years, and the house was opened as a house museum for public tours on February 10, 1981.

Construction on The W.H. Stark House began on June 29, 1893, with completion in 1894. The house is classified in the Queen Anne architectural style, which is characterized by long sloping roofs, second floor balconies, Jacobean chimneys, wide verandas, and octagonal or round towers.

Interior ceilings are 12 feet high on the first floor, 11 feet high on the second floor, and 10 ½ feet high on the third floor. Exterior walls are ten inches thick, with two layers of diagonal storm sheeting. Interior double walls are sixteen inches thick. The floor plan is duplicated on two of the three stories, and includes a concrete basement, which is unique in Southeast Texas.

Cypress was chosen as the basic material because of the damp conditions in the area. Longleaf yellow pine was used for the intricate design work. Turned pieces were formed on a foot-operated machine lathe, and each board had to be cut and measured for a precise fit. All framework was selected from the Lutcher and Moore Lumber Mills.

The 14,000-square-foot home today is furnished much as it was in the 1920s, with fifteen rooms and three stories of original family furniture, carpets, silver, antique porcelains, and American Brilliant Period cut glass. The ceiling in the Music Room is oil painted on canvas by artist E. Theo Behr; it features an allegorical scene with cherubs. The house also holds many unique objects, including a one-of-a-kind sterling silver Gorham Manufacturing Company tea service in the Louis XVI style, a rare copy of the Napoleon death mask, and decorative silver and china.

The W.H. Stark House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark by the Texas Historical Commission.

The W.H. Stark House is owned and operated by the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, a private, non-profit foundation established in 1961 in Orange, Texas. It aims to improve the quality of life in Southeast Texas by encouraging, promoting, and assisting education, the arts, and health and human services. It carries out its mission through the Stark Museum of Art, The W.H. Stark House, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, and Lutcher Theater. These programs offer the community a rich resource for study and enjoyment of arts, history, nature and culture.

Contact STARKS HISTORICAL SOCIETY

STARKS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PO BOX 219
STARKS
LA
70661

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STARKS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Information

MID #	8402200302
Name	STARKS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Alternate Name
Classification	Historical Societies, Historic Preservation, , Southeastern
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)	721240880
NTEECC
Tax period of the latest return filed (YYYYMM)
INCOME	0
REVENUE	0
LAT/LONG	30.337382, -93.669972
CODES	FIPS State Code: 22 FIPS County Code: 019 US Census Tract: 003600 US Census Block: 1045