- Baltimore. Octagon house. Built in 1885.
Located at 1808 Sulgrave Avenue.
Left click on the images below for larger versions.
Sources: "More About Octagons," Carl Schmidt. Steve Walker, who grew up in the house.
Ellen Puerzer. Lis Nilson, Maryland Historical Society.
Entered: October, 2002
Updated: October, 2008
Updated: July, 2010
Updated: October, 2013
Updated: December, 2013
Updated: September, 2014
Updated: July, 2019
- Baltimore. Octagon academy. Located on Smith Avenue.
It apparently never was a single family dwelling.
Baltimore. 1855 The Mt. Washington Octagon, one of Baltimore's last remaining examples of the style, was built under the direction of the Reverend Elias Heiner of the German Reformed Church and was used until 1861 as the
Mt. Washington Female Academy. After the Civil War the college failed and the building was bought by the Sisters of Mercy, who opened Mount St. Agnes College. In 1971, Mt. St. Agnes merged with Loyola College and moved from the
Mt. Washington site. U.S.F. & G. recently purchased this property and has upgraded the campus, including restoration of the Octagon.
Left click on the images below for larger versions.
The photograph in the top row, left, is contemporary, and shows the
results of a restoration effort. The other photos are undated.
They show various modifications made to the structure over the years.
Sources: Steve Walker. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: October, 2008
Updated September, 2009
Updated: March, 2010
Updated: October, 2013
- Baltimore. Octagon house. Built in 1875.
Located at 5924 Smith Avenue. Now a duplex. Many additions.
This octagon is currently a duplex with grout walls and a 2-story porch on opposite sides of the front entrance. The area is known as Dixon Hill and was known as Mount Washington until 1919 when Baltimore annexed it.
Left click on the images below for larger versions.
Sources: Steve Walker. Ellen Puerzer. Lombardi survey.
Entered: October, 2008
Updated: July, 2010
Updated: October, 2013
Updated: September, 2017
- Baltimore. Octagon house. Built in 1860.
Located at 1808 Thornbury Drive, a.k.a. 5925 Smith Avenue. Now a duplex. Many additions.
This 3-story octagon house is a twin structurally to the previous entry built the same year before Thornbury RD was even named. It whad become a duplex before current owners converted it back to single family. The enclosed front rectangular entry is Greek Revival with Palladian windows. It extends along the front of the house and rises up 3 stories, where there is a balcony. Like the previous home, it has additions that disguise the octagonal shape. D A 1948 article mentions the 2 homes and suggests to Peter Sauerwein built them. Need further verification.
Left click on the images below for larger versions.
Sources: Ellen Puerzer. Lombardi survey.
Entered: July, 2010
Updated: July, 2013
Updated: October, 2013
Updated: July, 2019
- Baltimore. Octagon lighthouse building. Sevenfoot Knoll.
Built in 1855. Moved from original location to the Baltimore Harbor.
Single story. Cupola containing the light. Screwpile construction.
Left click on the images below for larger versions.
Source: Ron Livingston
Entered: March, 2002
- Glyndon. a.k.a. Reistertown. Octagon house.
Woodburn house. Built in 1849-1850.
An 1858 deed shows the house was owned by Ann W. Johnson.
and Elenor Brewster, Walker family descendents. In 1924 the farm and house were
sold to Herman J. Hughes, whose family still owned it in 1976.
Located at 3915 Piney Grove Road, west of Butler Road.
Two and one-half story, with a basement set in to
ground and opening at grade. Restored in 1946.
Left click on the images below for larger versions.
Sources: "More About Octagons," Carl Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer. Cynthia Mann, Historical
Society of Baltimore County. Michael Stevens, Baltimore County Public Library.
Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: October, 2002
Updated: May, 2009
Updated: July, 2010
Updated: December, 2012
- Lutherville. Octagon house. Built in 1856 by Rev. William
Heilig, and extensively modified in 1875, including the addition of a Mansard roof.
Located at 1708 Kurtz Avenue.
Reverend William Heilig, reportedly based his octagonal home on plans he found illustrated in an 1855 Godey's Lady's Book. The first and second stories of the concrete house were originally encompassed by verandahs. Heilig was a northern sympathizer during the Civil War and when Gilmore's raiders demanded money from the townspeople he was one of those who refused. They retaliated by driving his cattle into the swamp. In 1875 the new owner "modernized" the home (could have been Wm. Heilly who is shown on later maps as owner.) with a third story and mansard roof and cupola. The mansard roof had windows on all 8 sides and the cupola was windowed as well. Both main stories still had covered verandahs encircling the entire house. Owned by Wm H Heilly in 1898 - 1915.
In 1946, Elisabeth Packard bought the property with her brother William. She was the Walters Art Museum conservator. The house had fallen into disrepair and the cupola, mansard roof and porches were deemed unsalvageable. Miss Packard removed the porches and removed and redesigned the French Empire roof. It became a 2-story home with a regular pitched roof. In the 1950's it had a modest wooden porch with a gallery on the front wall. Today it is painted red.
Left click on the images below for larger versions.
The top left photo was probably takne in the 1950s. Photos showing the Mansard roof are
said to be pre-1947, when the house was altered. The other photos are circa 1976.
Below are some current interior photos.
Left click on the images below for larger versions.
Sources: N. Stickles, "More About Octagons," Carl F. Schmidt, R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: May, 2002
Updated: February, 2005
Updated: April, 2009
Updated: July, 2010
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: June, 2015
Updated: March, 2017
- North of Towson Octagon house, on the historic Hampton Plantation.
Built prior to 1865.
Originally a two story slave house. There are plans to rebuilt the house on the historic
grounds. Board and battan siding with mullioned windown, one per side. Similar to a
house that stands in Kent, NY.
Left click on the images below for larger versions.
Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered February, 2013.
