RARE HISTORIC GALENA COUNTRY ESTATE ON NEARLY 25 SCENIC ACRES! Discover The Orchard House, a beautifully restored 1883 Italianate farmhouse offering timeless architectural charm, four distinctive porches, modern updates, and breathtaking Driftless Region views. Just 7 miles from downtown Galena! This extraordinary property features rolling meadows, wooded walking trails, a picturesque stream, private picnic areas, panoramic ridge views, and three versatile outbuildings, including a historic barn. Enjoy exceptional privacy, natural beauty, and endless possibilities for recreation, hobby farming, or a peaceful country retreat - all within minutes of Galena’s historic downtown. Rich in history and overflowing with character, this quintessential Galena farmette blends the romance and craftsmanship of a bygone era with the comfort, updates, and lifestyle amenities sought today. Surrounded by rolling countryside, manicured open meadows, mature trees, private wooded trails, streamside picnic areas, flowering landscape, and panoramic ridge views, the property offers a setting that feels both cinematic and deeply peaceful. Originally part of a historic fruit farm spanning many acres, the stately Italianate farmhouse stands proudly as a lasting tribute to Galena’s storied past. From the moment you arrive, the winding drive, lush grounds, and ornate architectural details create an unforgettable first impression. Multiple revitalized porches and balconies invite quiet mornings with coffee, evenings under the stars, and sweeping views of the surrounding countryside in every season. Inside, the home exudes warmth, charm, and sophistication with beautifully preserved historic details, soaring windows, rich hardwood floors, intricate millwork, and light-filled living spaces throughout. The spacious country kitchen is designed for gathering and entertaining with adjoining butler’s pantry and prep area, while formal dining and parlor spaces offer timeless elegance accented by a decorative fireplace, built-ins, and period character. A light and bright living room with access to cozy fenced yard space and paver sitting area, and inviting screened porch beautifully blur the line between indoors and out. The upper level features spacious bedrooms filled with natural light, one of which features private balcony access and another with balcony access just off the hall, both balconies overlooking the pristine acreage, wooded ridgelines, and rolling hills beyond. Extensive recent improvements include interior paint (2022), exterior paint (2023), upgraded living room windows and doors (2022), remaining first floor window upgrades (2023), new living room flooring (2025), updated main level bath flooring (2023), redesigned front walkway (2025), improved parking and side walkway (2023), new water softener (2022), and more. High-speed fiber internet access provides modern convenience while preserving the tranquility of country living. Beyond the home, the acreage unfolds into a truly magical landscape featuring private trails winding through forest and meadow, peaceful streamside retreat areas ideal for campfires and gatherings, a large historic barn, metal pole shed with overhead door, charming rustic shed building with two distinct sides, mostly new windows, and a partial loft all sitting ready for creative repurposing, and abundant room for recreation, hobbies, events, gardening, or simply enjoying the incredible beauty surrounding you. A truly one-of-a-kind estate offers an unmatched opportunity to own a piece of Galena history while embracing a refined and restorative country lifestyle in a location that cannot be beat!
Single-familyProperty Type
1883Year Built
24.84 acresLot Size
$307Price/Sq.Ft.
Listed by DAMON HEIM• COLDWELL BANKER NETWORK REALTY
Historic Galena, Illinois never ceases to provide interesting stories and viewpoints from a time period when horse-drawn buggies, lead-mining, and railways were the way of life. This Italianate-styled frame house and farmette were once the center of nearly 300 acres of fruit trees, home to a self-made former supervisor of the town of Rice and his family, and a lasting representation of the early days of Galena. When entering this historic home from the side entrance, you will be welcomed into the family kitchen large enough to host a casual gathering of friends and family without the need for Sunday dress. From the kitchen, you have entry to a butler's pantry and additional prep area, a full bathroom, a bright, glass-enclosed "den in the garden," and the main hallway with an inviting and open oak staircase. Down the hall and toward the front of the house sits a formal parlor with recently built-in bookcases and historic center chandelier. Just across the hall is a large dining room for formal entertaining or for reminiscing over a meal of days gone by. Through the original front doors (and 19th century turnkey doorbell) is a screened-in porch (added in 2019) on which you can sip your morning coffee, share a glass of tea, or toast the sunset. Climbing the narrow, yet open, oak staircase brings you to a large open room perfect as an additional large bedroom suite or upstairs parlor with additional access to the kitchen down a smaller, less ornate set of stairs. Just down the hall you will find an additional full bathroom with an attached small bedroom and larger bedroom just across the hall. With over 24 acres, seven of which are currently agricultural, a deep-well drilled in 2012, a 15' x 30' metal pole barn built in 2011, a new high efficiency furnace, two new sump pumps, and a host of other improvements made since 2004, this beautiful historic homesite could be your own escape into a time before (with modern conveniences)! Downtown Galena, where nearly 85% of the buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, is found seven miles down Blackjack Rd, formerly the main thoroughfare from Chicago to this bustling mining town. The Goldmoor Inn and Chestnut Mountain, with its ski slopes, alpine slide, hiking, and more are just over a mile away! Even the ever-popular and always-busy General Golf Course, Galena Territory, and Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa are a mere 20 minutes away! Find yourself in the Driftless Region, where time stands still; make this historic property a part of YOUR history today!
NWIAR #202104332
Jan 14, 2022
Sold
$375,000
$148/sq ft
Jul 25, 2021
Listed
$399,900
$158/sq ft
+53
Get into your new farmhouse for only $399,900!!! Historic Galena, Illinois never ceases to provide interesting stories and viewpoints from a time period when horse-drawn buggies, lead-mining, and railways were the way of life. This Italianate-styled frame house and farmette were once the center of nearly 300 acres of fruit trees, home to a self-made former supervisor of the town of Rice and his family, and a lasting representation of the early days of Galena. When entering this historic home from the side entrance, you will be welcomed into the family kitchen large enough to host a casual gathering of friends and family without the need for Sunday dress. From the kitchen, you have entry to a butler?s pantry and additional prep area, a full bathroom, a bright, glass-enclosed ?den in the garden, ? and the main hallway with an inviting and open oak staircase. Down the hall and toward the front of the house sits a formal parlor with recently built-in bookcases and historic center chandelier. Just across the hall is a large dining room for formal entertaining or for reminiscing over a meal of days gone by. Through the original front doors (and 19th century turnkey doorbell) is a screened-in porch (added in 2019) on which you can sip your morning coffee, share a glass of tea, or toast the sunset. Climbing the narrow, yet open, oak staircase brings you to a large open room perfect as an additional large bedroom suite or upstairs parlor with additional access to the kitchen down a smaller, less ornate set of stairs. Just down the hall you will find an additional full bathroom with an attached small bedroom and larger bedroom just across the hall. With over 24 acres, seven of which are currently agricultural, a deep-well drilled in 2012, a 15? x 30? metal pole barn built in 2011, a new high efficiency furnace, two new sump pumps, and a host of other improvements made since 2004, this beautiful historic homesite could be your own escape into a time before (with modern conveniences)! Downtown Galena, where nearly 85% of the buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, is found seven miles down Blackjack Rd, formerly the main thoroughfare from Chicago to this bustling mining town. The Goldmoor Inn and Chestnut Mountain, with its ski slopes, alpine slide, hiking, and more are just over a mile away! Even the ever-popular and always-busy General Golf Course, Galena Territory, and Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa are a mere 20 minutes away! Find yourself in the Driftless Region, where time stands still; make this historic property a part of YOUR history today! Home inspection verified normal radon, septic, well, and water testing samples.
As the MLS and public records start to fill up, we'll list the details here.
Public record
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Single Family Residential
County
Jo Daviess County
APN
14000131000000
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Last updated by owner on Jul 27, 2021.
Climate risks
1/10 Flood Factor
Minimal risk of a flood reaching the building in the next 30 years
1/10 Fire Factor
Unlikely to be in a wildfire in next 30 years
2/10 Heat Factor
7 days above 100° expected this year, 15 days in 30 years
2/10 Wind Factor
Minor risk of severe winds over next 30 years
2/10 Air Factor
2 unhealthy days expected this year, 2 days in 30 years
Provided by First Street
Historical weather
Galena, IL • 61036
Average low and high temperatures (°F)
27
11
35
18
53
32
61
42
71
49
81
61
84
66
79
61
77
54
65
46
48
33
32
19
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Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sun exposure
87/ 100
Very good sunlight
Sunscore
There appears to be minimal shading by surrounding buildings, terrain, and vegetation.
9.6 hrs
5.4 hrs
JuneDecember
Provided by Shadowmap
Redfin Estimate for 2562 S Blackjack Rd
$752,515
$24K under list price of $777K
Nearby comparable homes
The Redfin Estimate uses 6 recent nearby sales, priced between $365K to $630K.