Royal Oak’s oldest standing home, the 178-year-old Orson Starr House, isn’t just a historical landmark with a Michitan State Historical Marker standing in front of it – The house is rumored to be one of Metro Detroit’s most haunted locations.
Built in 1845 by early settlers Orson and Rhoda Starr, who initially ran a cowbell manufacturing business before pivoting to brick and tile, the house became a significant part of Royal Oak’s history. Orson Starr himself was a prominent community figure. The house later became city property and is on the National Register of Historic Places; the Starr family bible is still used for official swearings-in.
Despite their success and influence, the Starr family also experienced profound loss. Orson and Rhoda had ten children, but sadly, only five survived to adulthood. In a particularly tragic turn, three of their children passed away within a single week, the cause of their deaths remaining unrecorded.
It’s perhaps these echoes of the past that contribute to the numerous reports of paranormal activity associated with the property. Some believe that Orson Starr himself still resides within its walls, occasionally accompanied by the spectral presence of his German Shepard. With multiple generations of Starrs passing away in the house and a brief period in the 1900s when it served as a funeral parlor, it’s no wonder whispers of other unseen residents persist. Haunted or not, it is a historic part of Royal Oak and it is wonderful it is being preserved to tell the Starr family’s story.
P.S. This time of year my photos end up looking a little gloomy with brown grass and bare trees but I still like to get out and explore to find interesting places and stories to post.
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