About this home

Perched above Lake Vermilion in Danville, Illinois, this handsome 1925 Tudor Revival feels like a home discovered rather than simply listed. Set on just over an acre, the 3,498-square-foot residence pairs its storybook exterior with richly preserved interiors, including arched openings, stained glass, hardwood floors, detailed woodwork, and a welcoming living room centered around a fireplace.

With four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, two half baths, and lake access included, the house offers far more than period charm. A heated sunroom, formal dining room, intimate breakfast nook, wine cellar, greenhouse, and peaceful views across the water make it a rare example of a historic home that still feels comfortable, distinctive, and wonderfully livable today.

history

Built in 1925, this Tudor Revival home belongs to an important period in Danville’s development. During the early decades of the twentieth century, the city was thriving as a center for coal mining, manufacturing, and rail transportation. Danville’s population nearly doubled between 1900 and 1920, and the prosperity of those years encouraged the construction of substantial residences beyond the older downtown neighborhoods. This house, with its generous scale and carefully crafted interiors, reflects the confidence and refinement of that era

Its construction year is particularly significant because Lake Vermilion was also created in 1925, when a dam was completed across the North Fork of the Vermilion River. The new reservoir was intended to provide a reliable water supply while also creating opportunities for recreation. Although available records do not reveal whether the house was completed before or after the lake began filling, its elevated position above the water connects it directly to this major transformation of the local landscape.

The identity of the original owner and architect does not appear in the publicly available property records, so it would be misleading to attach an unverified name to the house. What the building itself reveals, however, is a home created for gracious living. Its formal dining room, butler’s pantry, breakfast nook, wood-paneled den, wine cellar, greenhouse, and finely finished upper floors suggest a residence planned with both entertaining and everyday family life in mind.

Much of that original character survived into the twenty-first century. An earlier listing documented the home’s stained glass, arched openings, picture-rail molding, hardwood floors, built-in cabinetry, and detailed woodwork. The property was offered for sale in 2019 and sold in September 2020 for $247,500. Its survival, with so many distinctive elements still visible, makes it more than a stylish old house—it remains a remarkably complete record of Danville’s prosperous 1920s and the earliest years of life beside Lake Vermilion.

Architecture & Design

The house is a richly detailed example of Tudor Revival architecture, a style that was especially fashionable in America during the 1920s. Its asymmetrical form, steeply pitched gables, brick-and-stucco exterior, arched openings, and prominent chimney give it the romantic character of an old English country house. Copper roof accents, copper gutters and conductor heads, a rooftop weather vane, and an unusually shaped front door add another layer of craftsmanship rarely found in modern construction.

Inside, the design is equally expressive. Hardwood floors run through many of the principal rooms, accompanied by stained glass, arched door trim, picture-rail molding, and substantial original woodwork. The living room is arranged around a fireplace, while the adjoining den features built-in cabinetry and views toward Lake Vermilion. A formal dining room, butler’s pantry, breakfast nook, and narrow galley kitchen reflect the more carefully divided household plans of the 1920s.

The upper levels contain four bedrooms, including a private third-floor bedroom with its own bathroom and nearby attic space. A heated sunroom or greenhouse brings light and greenery into the house throughout the year, while the wine cellar gives the lower level an unexpected touch of old-world character. Despite later updates, the home’s strongest impression still comes from its original materials and the thoughtful craftsmanship visible from room to room.

Location & Lifestyle

Set on approximately 1.09 acres, the property occupies an elevated position overlooking Lake Vermilion on Danville’s north side. The generous grounds, mature landscaping, greenhouse, and large rear patio create a quieter atmosphere than one might expect from a home still located within the city.

Lake Vermilion covers roughly 1,000 acres and is used for fishing, boating, water-skiing, wildlife watching, and other outdoor recreation. Downtown Danville’s restaurants, shops, museums, and historic attractions remain within easy reach, while Champaign-Urbana lies roughly 35 miles to the west.

One detail should be made clear for prospective buyers: the current 2026 listing describes the property as offering a lake view rather than direct waterfront ownership. The seller is willing to sell or lease water access separately, allowing a future owner to choose whether to add boating and lake access to the experience.

Editor’s Note

What makes this home memorable is not simply its age, but how much of its original personality remains intact. The copper accents, stained glass, arched woodwork, greenhouse, and lake-facing rooms give it a character that cannot be recreated through renovation alone. Some buyers may want to modernize parts of the house, yet its real value lies in preserving the craftsmanship and slightly romantic spirit that have survived here for more than a century. For anyone drawn to distinctive architecture, generous grounds, and a peaceful setting above the water, this 1925 Tudor Revival is an exceptionally rare find.