The materials used to build the Dole Mansion were locally made brick, native stone, and an abundance of dark walnut wood and oak, which was the best material found on the 1000 acres. When you look at the house today, you can see that the original structure has slightly altered since its original state. Most Victorian homes are typically heavily ornamented with expensive decorative features. The Dole Mansion is no exception. The interior restoration committee refurbished many of the rooms with mirrors and moldings to their original grandeur.

Crystal Lake’s pristine waters provided pure quality ice, prompting Charles S. Dole to run 12 commercial ice houses under the name of Crystal Ice Company. Cutting ice from the lake, he could ship it to the Chicago-based company Knickerbocker Ice and the Midwest. The ice trade helped the town become a leading commercial center for northern Illinois.

The sometimes eccentric philanthropist who led a lavish lifestyle pursued interests that engaged the entire community from a backyard horse track to a carpeted and covered walkway that ran from the train station to his front door. The Dole family left a lasting impression on the landscape of Crystal Lake.