There's a nice starter house on the market in Akron for a mere $8.65 million.

A price tag fitting for a starter for, say, the Los Angeles Lakers.

The asking price could be a record breaker for a private home in the Rubber City. And the estate's history goes all the way back to one of the families that earned the city that moniker.

The stately home on Twin Oaks Road is a golf ball's throw away from Portage Country Club and covers more than 3 acres.

The neo-classical French chateau dates to 1926 when Harvey S. Firestone Jr., son of the founder of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., and his wife, Elizabeth, first called it home. The family commissioned Boston architect Charles R. Greco to design it.

The home was across the street from Harbel Manor, which was built in 1913 by Firestone's father, Harvey Sr., and mother, Idabelle. That 55-room mansion was razed in 1959 after Idabelle Firestone's death, replaced by the Georgetown condominiums.

Little is known about the interior since Samuel and Judith DiPaola purchased the 13,927-square-foot residence that has seven bedrooms and eight baths. Listing agent Ross Lauria of Sotheby's International Realty said his clients are very private individuals and have declined comment on the sale of the home.

The couple bought the home and the 1.9 acres it sat on for $885,000 in 1992, according to county records. They then purchased an adjoining 1.5 acres in 2011 for $250,000 and demolished the home that was on the property.

But Sotheby's description of the property does offer some insight of what lies beyond the metal gate.

The home has a "generous entrance hall" and a "dramatic staircase" with "ornamental wrought iron." This leads to the first-floor rooms "all in the manner of Louis XVI in the style of Versailles."

"There are exquisite antique marble fireplaces with delicately detailed gilded overmantel mirrors, and richly embellished crown mouldings and architraves," according to the property's description.

The original estate was 1.9 acres but the acquisition of the neighboring property expanded the footprint to 3.29 acres.

The main estate includes a carriage house with a squash court and second-floor guest quarters. The grounds have nine separate gardens with three fountains and a 1-acre private arboretum with large pond and waterfall.

It comes completely furnished and includes some of the artwork that adorns the walls.

The Summit County Fiscal Office reports the property has a tax valuation of $955,080, with annual property taxes totaling $26,180.74.

Jack LaMonica, chief of staff of the fiscal office, said there have been some sales of Akron homes and adjoining property for as much as $3.3 million in recent memory, but not one for $8.5 million.

Craig Webb, whose fixer-upper Medina home pales in comparison, can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.