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Nassau County.

Hicksville. Octagon house. Burned down in 1940. Located on Stewart Avene.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: September, 2011.
Oyster Bay. Octagon hotel. Built in 1865. Called the Nassau house. Located at 67 Main St (at Springs Street) Before 1941 it was 114 West Main Street. As of year 2015 it has been severely altered during its existence has undergone a modified restoration

James Manilaws built the grand 3-story octagon house and rented it to Luther Jackson. It was run as a hotel and popular summer tourist spot for years. For a while it was known as the Nassau House. A 3-story porch had thin square posts and Victorian fretwork. The clapboard structure was decorated with brackets and a scalloped wooden cornice. A tall cupola crowned the building with 3 round chimneys in the cupola roof. A wing on the left and also a right side addition increased the size of the hotel to accommodate more guests. Teddy Roosevelt is said to have used it for his staff when he was N.Y. governor.

In 1889, Mary Lavelle, proprietor, put in steam heat and a year later, an electric plant. Telephone service was added around 1900. The hotel went out of business in the early 20th century. By 1922, the building housed a Ford dealership, which remodeled the entire first floor. Later it served as a gas station. By this time all trim was gone, and the cupola and porch were history.

In year 2005 a kitchen-bathroom remodeling business was using the first floor. The second and third floors, and the cupola, are said to be in mostly original condition. In 2010 it underwent restoration and a cupola and porch have been rebuilt. It is once again sided with clapboard.

Left click on the image below for a larger version.

At left, 2014.

Apparently the hotel proprietress in 1889, Mary Lavelle, had steam heat added, and put in an early electric plant a year later. Telephone service was added in around 1900.

Starting in about 1919 the first floor was remodeled, and used as a Ford showroom. In year 2005 a kitchen-bathroom remodeling business in using the first floor. The second and third floors, and the cupola, are said to be in mostly original condition, save that plastic siding now covers the outside walls.

GPS coordinates: 40.872081, -73.533292

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

July 8, 1902
October 8, 1936
1873

1906

The photograph at the left, top row, above is from about 1910. The one at the left, center row, is perhaps from 1985 to 1990 - perhaps the age of the trucks can be identified. Clearly the house is in the context of a thriving neighborhood, although it has been severely modified. The one at the right, center row, is undated, but contemporary. The house appears to be in a derelict area, and its condition might be no better than the buildings around it. There might have been a fire, or the area might have suffered economic decline. This is the fate of many old octagon houses today. Finding themselves in declining neighborhoods, they are often cut up in to apartments, and then run in to the ground, after which they are razed, or used for fire practice.

The photo in the second from bottom row, right, dated March, 2010, shows that the hotel is being rebuilt. The photo in the bottom row, right, shows the house before aluminum siding was put on, circa 1930.

Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer. Dana Laird supplies the photo of the boarded up structure.
Entered: September, 2002
Updated: April, 2003
Updated: July, 2005
Updated: July, 2009
Updated September, 2009
Updated November, 2009
Updated: July, 2010
Updated: April, 2012
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: May, 2013
Updated: March, 2015
Updated: January, 2016
Oyster Bay. Built in 1936 as a country estate. Now gone.

GPS coordinates: 40.847799, -73.556111

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: February, 2013

New York County

Manhattan. Irregular octagon house. Built in 1765 as a summer home for Roger Morris, a loyalist who returned to England in 1775. Remodeled in 1810. Located in Washington Heights, Manhattan, at Edgecombe Ave. at 161st St.

Left click on the image below for a larger version.

Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: December, 2012
New York Octagon house. A 1913 glass negative photo shows the Dr Sweetser (Sweetzer?) brick house on W 187th between Fort Washington & Northern Ave in rural NY city. It was built in 1860.He died in 1875 leaving a widow, Anna Haven Sweetser. It still stood in 1921.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1913

1913

Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: January, 2016.

Niagara County

Niagara Falls. The Niagara octagon house. Built in 1865. The house is mentioned in the August 9, 1927, newspaper piece, in the first full paragraph of the second column. It's shown on a 1908 map of Niagara Falls, off Bellevue Avenue, near the water's edge, with a pink roof. As the newspaper piece suggests, the house was probably demolished some time shortly after August, 1927. Located at Whirlpool and Belleview Streets. Said to be a three story, red brick building. Sitting on a cement platform, a roof covered porch went around the house. Mansard roof.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1914

1914

The photograph in the bottom row, right, is the only photograph of the house that has turned up so far. It was taken in 1869. While it looks like a barn, it was a house. The person in the photos is a Prof. Jenkins.

Sources: Ellen Puerzer. Maureen Fennie, Niagara Falls Public Library.
Updated August, 2009
Updated December, 2009
Updated: May, 2013
Updated: July, 2013
Updated: March, 2017
Ransomville. Octagon house. Possibly round. A round house was built here in 1875. Now gone it stood on Youngstown Road, between Wilson and Burt.

Source: R. Kline.
Entered: September, 2002
Updated: December, 2013

Oneida County

Barneveld. Town of Trenton. Octagon house. Built in 1852. Located at 107 Vanderkamp Avenue. The house built by Jacob Wicks is an unusual octagon in the sense that the first floor entry is recessed. Wood horizontal clapboards cover the 8 sides, each wall 13 feet wide. There's a 5-sided porch, and the roof is crowned with a cupola. Under the cornice are paired and sawed brackets, 2 per side. Owned by Mrs H M B Wolcott in 1907 (not shown octagon on map).The Haskells lived there in 1919. For sale in 2009, the ad advertised its high ceilings, 2 stairways (probably one for the servants), pantry, and plank floors.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1874
1907

The photograph in the top row, left, above, is perhaps from the 1950s. The photograph to the right, same row, was taken in 2005.

Sources: "The Octagon House: A Home for All," Orson S. Fowler. Dover Books reprint, 1973. Page 147, "The Octagon Fad," Carl F. Schmidt. Karen May. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: July, 2001.
Updated: May, 2005.
Updated: September, 2011
Updated: November, 2011
Updated: April, 2016
Deansboro. Town of Kirkland. Octagon house. According to Marshall NY town historian Dorothy McConnell: House built in 1860s by Harvey Curtis. Later owners include Morris Miller, Austin Kendall, Samuel Allen . Other owners include: the Trittons, and Christlers; then Hubert Bishopps (1909) —some thought he built it but it was built yrs. earlier. ) Cerri, Albert Lucas and the Zimmer families followed. An 1884 news clipping from the Brookfield Courier mentions Orrin Blowers moving into B F Miller's octagon house; apparently this Deansboro house.

The house, a frame structure on a grout foundation remained in the Bishopps family and they were honored for having a centennial farm in 2009. They credit their ancestor with erecting the octagon but it apparently predates his ownership by several decades. Hubert's son William inherited after Hubert's death and ran the farm for many years. He died in 1986. A 1940s owner rented it as apartments from 1940 to 1951. Renter Althea Lint recalls not much upkeep was done and it was drafty; she resided there until 1966. then it was sold to Louis and Eileen Cleri. Tim Chiquoine the next owner sold it in 1986 to Thomas Campbell. The porch extends across 3 sides of the 2-story house and the fascia is decorated with sawn ornamentation. The cupola trim matches it. Entrance to the two front parlors is through separate doors. It currently is in remarkable original condition on the exterior.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Shown as a duplex.

1907

Sources: R. Kline, Karen May. Roberta Walsh. Peg Ross. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: September, 2002
Updated: May, 2005
Updated: July, 2011
Updated: November, 2011
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: September, 2014
Updated: September, 2018
Hawkinsville. Octagon house. Built in the 1840s. Located at 3040 North Edmonds Road. The house appears to have been extensively updated on the outside. But for the foundation, there's now little to indicate the house is old.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer. Peg Ross supplies the street photos.
Entered: August, 2002
Updated: March, 2010
Updated: October, 2011
Updated: January, 2013
Utica. Octagon house. Perhaps built in 1850 - 1860. The location needs verification. The general area is known to.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: Roberta Walsh. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: April, 2005
Updated: June, 2011
Updated: May, 2013

Onondaga County

Baldwinsville. The Lee Fletcher octagon house. Located at 17 North Street, at the corner of West Genesee and North Streets. A former owner says the house was originally a true octagon.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer. Steve MacMahon.
Entered: September, 2002.
Updated September, 2009
Updated: April, 2010
Updated: October, 2019
Camillus. Octagon house. The Isaiah Wilcox house. Built in 1856. 5420 West Genesee Street. Two story. Cupola. Thick walls made of cobblestones and concrete. Circular staircase from the basement to the cupola. Open to public as museum. Listed, National Register. Brief article and photo..

The images below show the house over the years. In year 2011 the house is a museum. It appearly to be in as good condition in 2008 as it was in about 1940, and has been restored to that time.

Left click on the image below for a larger version.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

June 7, 1966
March 15, 1979
c1940

December 17, 1986
April, 1982
June 8, 1989

c1903
June 28, 1959
August 11, 1994

Top row, right, 1975. Bottom row, left, 1980. Top row, left, after restoration.

Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: April, 2010.
Updated: November, 2011
Updated: March, 2013
Updated: October, 2014
Updated: March, 2016
Updated: January, 2020
Hamlet of Cedarvale. Octagon schoolhouse. Built in 1870. Located one mile south of the village in a place called "Mudville," at approximately 3668 Cedervale Road. Cedarvale is a hamlet on the west town line of Onondaga. Now used as a farm building.

GPS coordinates: 42.949069, -76.234882

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Photo taken in 1913.
Circa 1950s

Sources: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer. More About Octagons" Carl Schmidt, Joy Long, who owns another former octagon school in the area.
Entered: August, 2002
Updated: April, 2010
Updated: October, 2012
Updated: December, 2012
Updated: January, 2015
Lafayette. The District 12 Octagonal Schoolhouse also called the Scammell School was originally located closer to where Route 11 converges with North Rd. (now 1971 North Rd) in Onondaga County. It was Numbered District 12( see 1874 map) until 1885. # 11 from 1885-1891 and #4 after 1893. It was built in 1856 by Fayette Amidon, who is credited with building several of the state's octagon schoolhouses. In the late 1800's, Henry Scammell moved the building to its present location. Porter Amidon purchased it at a 1939 auction and it was converted to a residence. It once had a tall cupola with tall windows and an addition in the back. Currently this residence is completely sided with wood shingles, painted red, and the cupola is gone though the flat roof section can be seen where it once stood. The current structure as it looks in 2010 bears almost no resemblance to the schoolhouse it once was. Possibly the roof was raised for a second story.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources "More About Octagons" Carl Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer. "Crossroads town: a photo-biography of the town of Lafayette," by Roy J. Dodge.
Entered: October, 2002.
Updated: May, 2010
Updated: June, 2010
Updated: April, 2012
Updated: August, 2015
Lysander. Octagon house. The Teall-Ekross house. Existed already in 1851. Tax assessor information says built in 1835. Located at 9393 Plainville Road. Beautifully preserved.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer. Bonnie Kisselstein, Baldwinsville Public Library, local history and town of Lysander historian. Scans by Steve McMahon, historian and columnist for CNYlink.com. From a 1975 book, "Onondaga Landmarks: a Survey fo Architectural and Historic Sties in Syracuse and Onondaga County." Permission to use photos: Steve Butler: Cultural Resources Council of Syracuse and Onondaga County.
Entered: September, 2002
Updated: April, 2010
Marcellus. Octagon schoolhouse. Built in 1865. Located at 2869 Seal Road, about two miles south of town. One story, The cupola mainly provides ventilation. Located two miles south of town at Seal and Slatehille roads. A one room schoolhouse as late as 1948, it is now a residence.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

The photograph on the bottom row, center, is from the November 16, 1952, Syracuse Post Standard. The photo on the bottom, right, is circa 1975.

Sources: Dale Travis, "More About Octagons," Carl F. Schmidt, and Joy Long, the owner in 2006. Ellen Puerzer. Steve MacMahon. A 1952 edition of a Fulton, NY, newspaper.
Entered: August, 2002
Updated: June, 2006
Updated: June, 2009
Updated January, 2010
Updated: April, 2010
Updated: November, 2014
East of Marcellus. Octagon school. Known as District 9. Located between Cards Corners and Marcellus, on the Seneca Turnpike. Built in 1867 to replace a log schoolhouse.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

The postcard photograph at the right, above, is circa 1900.

Sources: Dave Porter. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: January, 2007.
Updated January, 2010
Updated: April, 2010
Updated: September, 2011
Updated: May, 2014
Otisco. Octagon schoolhouse. Built in 1841. Located on the corner of Octagon Road and Route 80. Classes were held until 1939/40. Beatrice Nolan was the last teacher. Became a private residence in 1947.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: Dale Travis. Elle Puerzer. Eleanor L. Preston - Tully Area Historical Society. Steve MacMahon.
Entered: August, 2002
Updated: May, 2009
Updated: March, 2010
Updated: April, 2010
Updated: April, 2012
Plainville. Sometimes confused with Lysander, the house is actually in Plaineville. Octagon house. The Schenck-Reed house. Built about 1860.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1874

1955

Shown in the bottom row, left, the house received viny siding some time after the 1975 photo in the bottom row, right. The inside has been gutted and modernized. So in most respects this is a new house today.

Source: "More About Octagons" Carl Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer. The January 17, 2001,edition of The Baldwinsville, NY, Messenger. Scans by Steve McMahon, historian and columnist for CNYlink.com. From a 1975 book, "Onondaga Landmarks: a Survey fo Architectural and Historic Sties in Syracuse and Onondaga County." Permission to use photos: Steve Butler: Cultural Resources Council of Syracuse and Onondaga County. Dale Travis.
Entered: October, 2002.
Updated September, 2009
Updated October, 2009
Updated: January, 2015
Updated: July, 2017
South of Skaneateles. Octagon schoolhouse. Built in 1859, by Quakers, as a girls dormitory. Now a dwelling. Located on the corner of West Lake and Benson streets. Brick construction. Four gables. Was known as "The Bee Hive."

Contemporary photograph.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

November 16, 1952.
October 14, 1989.
September 3, 2003.

In the middle, above, is a HABS photo, taken in 1936. The photograph on the left was taken in about 1959.

Sources: Dale Travis. A photograph comes from Carl Schmidt's second book of octagon houses, issued in about 1959. Ellen Puerzer. HABS.
Entered: August, 2002
Updated: March, 2004
Updated: November, 2007
Updated: May, 2009
Updated: September, 2011
Updated: April, 2012
Updated: October, 2012
Updated: June, 2013
Updated: April, 2014
Updated: August, 2015
South Onondaga. Septagon house. Built around 1850 by either Rufus or Tobias Gilbert. Acquired by Jared Parsons Jr. in the 1860s. A son, Jared Ives Parsons eventually was given the house and land. In the early 1900s the house was obtained by a Mr. Chase, and then by Mr. and Mrs Ray Tanner, who lived in the house until 1952. It has been owned by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Burt since 1952. An unusual example of a irregular seven sided house. Five sides are one size, and two another. Often mistakenly called an octagon house. However, it is believably an altered 8-side house. Sides 1 and 7 were elongated at some point to meet, eliminating side 8.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: "More About Octagons" Carl Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer. Steve MacMahon. Steve Butler. South Onondaga paper, "Weekly Press Observer," September 8, 1976.
Entered: October, 2002.
Updated February, 2010
Updated: April, 2010
Updated: April, 2012
Updated: May, 2013
Syracuse. Octagon house. Built about 1870, perhaps by W. Douglas, who owned the house in 1874. Located at 707 Oakwood Avenue. One story, wood. Each side is ten feet long.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1910

Sources: "The Octagon House: A Home for All," Orson S. Fowler. Dover Books reprint, 1973. Page 58. Ellen Puerzer. Barbara Sheibel, Librarian, Local History/Genealogy, Onondaga Public Library.
Entered: July, 2001.
Updated: April, 2010
Updated: March, 2017
Syracuse. Octagon house. The Pierce-McAuliffe Built in 1854. Located at 514 Bear Street.Two story. No cupola.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

The newspaper piece, bottom row, right, is from 1946.

The photograph at the left, above, might have been taken in the 1950s.

Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: September, 2002
Updated January, 2010
Updated: June, 2011
Village of Tully.

Left click on the image below for a larger version.

Tully then and now.

The Tully octagon possibly built by Fred Tallman was clapboard-clad and had a flat tin roof. Reports it was built by Andrew Lasda a blacksmith are wrong. He purchased from Dr D. M. Dennington in 1922. (see article.) Lasda was known for traveling with his tools as well as nice gardens around his home. At some period following storm damage, the roof was made pitched.

Built on a knoll, it had steps leading to a side entrance. The 3-walled porch was off-center as well. The paired windows, 2 per side, had 8 paned glass. The last owner had it razed a few years ago. A newspaper article fuses the 2 Tully houses (school and house) via a photo of the asphalt sided house identifying it as the Tallman house where Lasda resided. Still stood in 1952. It was never a school, as suggested by information below.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1922

Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer. Eleanor L. Preston - Tully Area Historical Society. Steve MacMahon.
Entered: April, 2010
Updated: April, 2012
Updated: June, 2016

Ontario County

Canandaigua. Octagon House. Built in 1860. 116 Gorham Street. Two story, cupola. Recently remodeled. Had been a multiple family dwelling. Once owned by NY State Senator John Raines. Raines was born May 6, 1840, in Canandaigua, and died December 16, 1909. Served in the Civil War.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1859

1904

Sources: E.H.Rodney. Jean Heffernan. Aurina. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: June, 2001.
Updated: December, 2001.
Updated September, 2009
Updated: September, 2011
Updated: October, 2013
Updated: December, 2013
Updated: April, 2015

Geneva. Octagon house. Built in 1853. Located at 760 Castle St.

Nehemiah Denton was the builder of this octagon for the Moore family. The 2-story house could be easily considered 3 because the basement level is above ground. A steep flight of iron steps leads to the ornately decorated verandah that encircles the house on both stories. The posts and railings are delicately wrought ironwork. Each side of the house is 17 feet long with paired corbels, 2 per side. The cupola follows the same design.

The interior entrance hall leads to the staircase, which extends from basement to cupola. The hall has parlors on each side, one with black marble fireplaces. In 1872, Moore’s sister married Nehemiah Denton and they moved into the house—they were both deaf.. When Mrs Denton died her daughter Helena and William Smith resided there. Mrs Denton’s sister Miss Laura Youngs inherited the house via Denton's will after her passing—she’d been caring for Mrs Denton. Miss Youngs brought a lawsuit to evict the Smiths. She won and resided there until her death. Another Denton daughter Mrs. Louise A Gormley then became owner. In 1920 Dr. & Mrs Fred A. Smith bought the home from the Gorely family and their daughter Jesse Peck owned it in the 1950s. Mr and Mrs Abraham George owned it in 1965 when it went up for sale at $35,000. Current owners have done a remarkable job in preserving this treasure.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

May, 1976	May 5, 1939

2001	2001	May 23, 1959.
January 27, 1909.	June 29, 1910.	September 16, 1971
June 29, 1912	March 27, 1874	Garage
1904	May 1, 1955	June 9, 1965
1893

Sources: Jean Heffernan. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: December, 2001.
Updated: April, 2009.
Updated: September, 2011
Updated: September, 2012
Updated: May, 2013
Updated: August, 2013
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: October, 2015
Updated: January, 2016
Updated: August, 2016
Updated: September, 2016

Naples. Octagon House. West and Lyons Street. West & 34 Lyons St. Ontario County Built: pre 1904. It isn't known who built this octagon home possibly P J Lyons who owned the land and house in 1904. (He already owned the land in 1874) It’s a simple frame house, the sides each measuring 12 feet long. The pitched roof has a cap protruding which suggests it may have had a cupola. The current porch is not original. It shows on an 1904 map at this location. Records indicate that the house is listed as 34 Lyon St., Naples. ( old records mistakenly show it built in 1924—its already extant in 1904 see map.) It is owned by Troy Smith and Sandra Cusson. They purchased the property 8/30/2000 from John Jr. & Nichole Neufeld . The Neufelds' purchased the property 4/29/97 from Debra German-Connors.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1874
1904

Sources: Julia Dyke. Ellen Puerzer. E. H. Rodney. "The Octagon House: A Home for All," Orson S. Fowler. Dover Books reprint, 1973. Page 139. Photo.
Entered: May, 2002.
Updated: June, 2009.
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: May, 2015
Updated: November, 2021

Orange County.

Middletown. In 1857 John W. Hasbrouck and his wife Lydia constructed their octagon house on what was then Division St at Prospect. (Now roughly 220 Linden St.) By 1903 Division became Linden. Old birdseye maps show it prior to addition. It was a brick 8-sided structure with bay windows and a porch around 3 portions. Another multi-sided brick addition was added to the home at some point. ( see 1903 map image when it was apparently known as Cedarhurst and owned by Lydia.)The home seemed almost gothic styling. The roof center of both structures held octagonal chimneys. In 1919, it was razed to build the Memorial School. Lydia, shown below, was active in social issues of particular concern to women.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1874
1875
1887

1903
1910

Lydia Hasbrouck, shown above, born December 20, 1827, near Bellvale, and died in August, 1910.

Sources: Ellen Puerzer. brief description and photo.
Entered: June, 2001.
Updated: March, 2009.
Updated: December, 2010
Updated: March, 2012
Updated: July, 2013
Updated: April, 2015
Updated: March, 2017
Monroe. Octagon carriage house. Totally remodeled.
Source: "More About Octagons" Carl Schmidt.
Entered: October, 2002.
Port Jervis. Octagon house. Located on Sun Tan Lake.
Source: Dale Travis.
Entered: August, 2002
Walden. Octagon house. 8 Maple St. Orange County construction dates conflict - one source has 1840's and another 1860's.

Each wall of this grout octagon is 16.2 feet wide. Constructed by Alexander Kidd in the 1840's it has been rental property for over 40 years,.

The Octagon shape, basement and upper floor is somewhat intact. It has Italianate brackets on both the cornice and the Victorian style front entry porch. It was converted into 2-family apartments already by the 1950's and has several back additions including a stairway from the second floor.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1894

The different angle to the sun might or might not explain the color differences.

Sources: Dale Travis. Jim Augustine. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002
Updated: November 26, 2006
Updated: January, 2011
Updated: December, 2014
Updated: September, 2018

Orleans County.

Kent. Octagon house. The Hobbes-Warren house. Built in 1860. Located on 1403 Bills Road, north of town. Altered.

GPS coordinates: 43.347504 -78.149231

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

July 13, 1954

The photograph above, left, might have been taken in the 1950s.

Sources: Dale Travis. "More About Octagons" Carl F. Schmidt. Peter Calvert supplied a current photograph. Don Felice. R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: January, 2004.
Updated: October, 2011
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: March, 2014
Lyndonville. The hexagon house built by Godfrey Tarbox, an astronomer, is Greek Revival with corner pilasters. The 1.5 story house has small frieze windows and a flat roof. 1876 map shows him as owner. Located at 11886 E. Lakeshore Drive.

An old sketch shows it with a cupola, which has been long gone. 3 of the first floor rooms were hexagon shaped and there were a lot of small cupboards. There is an inside staircase at center of house. Little is known about the family other than Godfrey’s son Judson inherited the house in 1884. In 1913 it was owned by H. Bandemer (see map). After 1940, 2 porches and a summer kitchen were added. In 1952 the Baun (?Baum )family bought the home and still owned it in 1981. At that time it had 3 hexagonal rooms. They removed many of the cupboards and remodeled the first floor. It then had only one hexagon room left. Today the house is vinyl sided, and all of the Greek Revival details have been lost.

GPS coordinates: 43.369928 -78.352137

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

2011
December 12, 1985

1869
1875
1913

Sources: M. Culver; The Octagon Fad (showing floor plan), pp. 76-77, 194. Peter Calvert provided a photograph.Ellen Puerzer. Dale Travis. Scott Goetze, Town of Yates Historian.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: January, 2004
Updated: April, 2009.
Updated: April, 2010
Updated: January, 2012
Updated: May, 2013
Updated: December, 2013
Updated: October, 2015

Oswego County.

Constantia. Located at 1474 George Street. Built in 1870 ( assessor says 1848). A man named Mr. Daffler built this octagonal home. In 1900, Mrs. LaMountain, a milliner, lived there. Later owners added a wing and entrance porch. Its on a lakefront lot. Originally clapboard sided, asphalt replaced that in the 1950s and now it’s vinyl. The windows are larger on the first floor than the second. A later porch, peak roofed, and one story with benches built in the side balustrade fronts the home now. Each side is 13 feet 5 inches long and its known as the Moore house.

GPS coordinates: 43.247297, -76.006741

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

The photo on the left, above, was probably taken in the 1950s.

Sources: Dale Travis; "More About Octagons" Carl F. Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated February, 2010
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: July, 2013
Updated: November, 2013
Updated: September, 2017
Oswego. Octagon house. Built about 1844. Located at 373 7th Street between Church Street and Lawrence Street. An 1859 newspaper mentioned this house was known as the Mud House (apparently grout) to neighbors and the home of a Mr. Richards.It was 2 stories with a cupola and full porch and stood high on a hill. In 1860 the name Garrit Smith is associated with it and then Richard Wychoft. An 8-sided barn stood on the grounds at the same time. The interior had a winding staircase that rose to the cupola. There were 3 stories including the attic where dances often were held. It had a wide projecting cornice. Note octagonal out building. 1880 map left. An early tenant was Jacob Post, pastor of the German Lutheran Church. In the 1870s Captain Calvin Houghton occupied the place. Later St. Paul's parish acquired the property as a home for nuns. The city bought it and used it for a kindergarten for a time and there was a half hearted attempt to preserve it as a landmark. In 1916 it was razed to increase the grounds of the neighboring Oak Hill School.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

April 23, 1931
December 5, 1906
May 14, 1941

April 14, 1916.
1867
1880

1907

The image above, left, which gives the general idea of what the house looked like, is from the Oswego Palladium Times, November 20, 1913. The right had image mentions a church being built near the house.

Sources: Ellen Puerzer. Syracuse Herald October 1, 1916.
Entered: August, 2009.
Updated: March, 2011
Updated: October, 2012
Updated: January, 2015
Updated: January, 2020
Updated: October, 2020
Richland. Octagon house. Originally built some time in 1886 or before on the shores of Stewart Lake, a man made lake that is little more than a pond today, to serve as the offices of the Trout Brook Farm. It was purchased from the estate and moved to its current location on Stewart Street in 1906, and is now a residence.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

The photograph on the left, above, was taken around 1975. That on the right in 1886. The center photograph was taken in 2010.

Sources: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer. Shawn Doyle, Historian of the Town of Richland. Shawn Doyle, Pulaski, NY, supplies the contemporary photograph as wells as the 1886 photograph..
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated October, 2009
Updated: May, 2010
Updated: September, 2010
Suttons Corners. The District 3 Schoolhouse is east of Fulton on Route 49 and 15 Grout Schoolhouse Rd. It was erected in 1866. It has grout walls, each 12 feet wide, dressed stone sills and lintels, and an open belfry which once held the school-bell. This Oswego County structure is currently used as a residence and has a square addition has been added to the front. The address is in Fulton today.

GPS coordinates: 43.325367 -76.289115

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

c1950

Sources: Dale Travis; "More About Octagons" Carl F. Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: September, 2015

Otsego County.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Oneonta. Octagon house. Built in 1868 or 1870, for Steven Bull, brother of professor Nathaniel Bull. Three story, Located at 16 Grand Street. Mansard roof. Converted to four apartments in the 1920s, thereby destroying the interior. A segment of an 1884 map of Oneonta shows the building at the center of the image.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

2013
2013

2013
2013
1903

1868 - shows no octagon.
c1975
c1916

Photograph.

Aerial view,

The owners as of 2003 were in the process of restoring the structure to a one family home. As of November, 2008, the house is for sale. Apparently it was sold in 2011. The house appears to be in rough shape on the outside. The status of any renovation activities as of 2011 are not known.

As of summer, 2013, the house appears to be undergoing significat renovation work. The details of what is behind the effort should prove interesting.

Sources: R. Kline. Dave Fineout, the owner as of 2003. Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer. Julie L. Carney.
Entered: June, 2001.
Updated: August, 2002.
Updated: November, 2002.
Updated: March, 2003.
Updated: November, 2008.
Updated: September, 2011
Updated: December, 2011
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: June, 2015
Updated: July, 2015
Updated: July, 2017
Updated: October, 2020
Oneonta. Octagon house. An octagon house stood on east side of town on East End Ave, a mile from city end until a March 1938 fire 'consumed' it. It was 6 rooms and owned by Matthew C. Nolda. (Earlier owner was John Nolda according to City Directories.) Loss was estimated at $5,000. The Noldas were at 495 Main Street. Neighbors at the time. Reported in Binghamton Press Mar 4, 1938. The Noldas continued to reside at 25 East End Ave (having rebuilt a house?) He was a builder/contractor until his 1961 death. Its an area of older homes. Map shows East End Ave today.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

March 4, 1938
March 4, 1938
March 4, 1938

March 4, 1938
March 11, 1938
December 4, 1961

Sources: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: September, 2011.
Updated: March, 2014
Updated: April, 2014
Updated: April, 2015
Portlandville. a.k.a. Maryland. Octagon house. Built in 1847. Located on the east side of the Susquehanna River, on Highway 35, about one and a half miles northeast of town. Each side is 12 feet long.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1868

The photos above, top rown, middle and right, are circa 1947. The photos in the bottom row are circa 2010.

Sources: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer. Sarah Wilcox, NYSHA Research Libarary. Stacy Huber supplied the 2010 photographs.
Entered: September, 2002.
Updated November, 2009
Updated: March, 2011
Updated: March, 2015
Updated: October, 2015
Unadilla. Octagon house. Built in the late 1850s by local shoemaker Selek Fancher. Located at 21 Watson Street, next to a Baptist church. Two story. Cupola. Additions on two side. A segment of an 1887 map of Unadilla shows the building at the center of the image. The house appears to be in excellent condition.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1868
1910

Sources: R. Kline. Dale Travis. Peter Mogavero, who supplied the photograph. Sandy Goodspeed. Peg Ross.
Entered: July, 2002.
Updated: September, 2003.
Updated: April, 2010
Updated: October, 2011
Updated: March, 2015
Updated: September, 2020

Putnam County

Kent A 1939 photo of an octagon has surfaced. It stood on Route 52. In 1933 operated as a business by Joseph "Sonny" Soncarato and later by the Gasperinoa. It was a known as the Octagon Tavern/Dining room. It appears far too elaborate to not have been built as a residence.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1939
August, 1938 Putnam
County Courier

Sources: Ellen Puerzer. The photos were taken by Willie Crew, of the NY State Liquor Authority.
Entered: November, 2015.
Updated: January, 2016
Updated: August, 2016

Queens County.

Forest Hills. Octagon house.
Source: Dale Travis.
Entered: August, 2002.

Rensselaer County.

Hoosick Falls. Octagon house. The Estabrook-Dodge house. Built 1853. Located at 8 River Street. Ezra Estabrook and his two sons constructed this grout exterior octagon house. He used Rosendale cement to create his grout, the hardest available in N.Y. State. The roof has a wood balustrade and a similar balustrade once topped the cupola. The 4-sided front porch is Victorian style with scrolled brackets. There are 4 interior rooms on the first floor, 12 by 14 foot size. Ezra lived here until his death in 1909 and his granddaughter, born in the octagon house, lived there until she died in the 1940s when it sold out of the family. Currently the cupola has been truncated and all decoration is gone. Dormers have been built on 4 alternate sides of the roof. A slant-roof cellar entrance is gone. It was owned by The Dodges and and then a Mr Driscoll. In 2010, Octagon Realty Co occupies it.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

September 11, 1965.

1964
1889

1876
1884

Contemporary photograph.

An 1889 birds eye map image.

Sources: Brief description and "More About Octagons," Carl F. Schmidt. Dale Travis supplies contemporary photographs.
Entered: June, 2001.
Updated: February, 2003.
Updated: November, 2005.
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: August, 2014
Updated: July, 2018

Richmond County (Staten Island)

Tottenville. Octagon house. 1856 Beach St. Later named Page st. In 1865, William Page (1811-1866), a prominent American artist purchased land in Tottenville, and built a three-story octagonal house shortly thereafter on the west side of a private road that would later become Page Avenue. It was a tall structure of clapboards with a short addition at the left wall. The small porch had a slanted overhanging roof. The simple molded cornice had a corbel at each of the eight corners. The house was demolished sometime in the late 1920's, probably to make way for a major arterial road that was constructed in 1928. Octagon Home overlooked the Staten Island Sound. A studio formed an important feature of the residence. For many years Page lived there, on Beach Street, as it was then called, although it has now been named in his honor, Page Avenue. A grove of trees marks the site where the foundation stones of the house are still visible.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

c1920
c1920

1874
1907

Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer. Collection of the Staten Island Historical Society.
Entered: June, 2001.
Updated: May, 2009.
Updated August, 2009
Updated: October, 2011
Updated: December, 2014
Updated: March, 2016
Updated: September, 2016

St. Lawrence County

Brasher Falls. Dr. Nathan and Mrs. Elmira Buck, Vermont natives, built this house and resided here until 1867. The 11-room house is stone with a flat roof and a tall cupola. The front of the house has doors with sidelights on both stories. The 7-foot tall windows apparently once led out to that 2-story verandah that has been gone for almost 100 years. The interior stairway extends from the basement to the cupola. In 1867 Dr Buck sold the house to William Spaulding and there have been many owners over the next 100 years. John Stevens purchased the house next then Mr and Mrs Hiram Curtis. Joseph Lacomb and his twin sons resided here next followed by Mrs Lillian Sprague and son Donald. Leslye Baxter bought it in 1942. He lowered the ceilings and removed the remainder of the front porch. In 1950 the front entrance was a 3-sided, bracketed enclosed porch. From 1961 to 1975 the home stood abandoned and vandals & nature took their toll. That is when Carlton Stickley bought it and began restoration. It was added to the Historic Register in 1982.

GPS coordinates: 44.80736 -74.775034

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

		June 17, 1936
November 22, 1948	August 10, 1950	Februrary 6, 1950
December 20, 1950	July 20, 1976	October 10, 1976 - part 1
October 10, 1976 - part 2	September 11, 1979
September 30, 1980	August 24, 1982
		1980
1936	1950	1980
	1976

The image above, left, is undated. The house is octagon in shape, not hexagon as the image suggests.

Contemporary photograph.

Sources: R. Kline. Dale Travis and Ellen Puerzer provide the photographs. Syracuse Herald Journal, September 17, 1950.
Entered: April, 2002.
Updated: March, 2004
Updated: March, 2009
Updated: April, 2010
Updated: March, 2011
Updated: December, 2012
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: May, 2014
Updated: August, 2016
Updated: March, 2017
Updated: January, 2020

Depeyster Octagon house. Built in 1896. Now the town hall. 4671 County Road 10. Three houses south of Plympton Road.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: December, 2019.

Saratoga County

Crescent. Octagon house. Located at 66 Church Hill Road. Two story. The house originally had a cupola, but now has gables on the roof on four sides.

George Harris, who grew up in the house, relates the following:

"A rephotographed picture I took of a photo of my dad's octagon house in Crescent (New York,Saratoga County). The original photo was believed to have been taken, based on research by my dad, in the late 1870s. Not to many years later, gable roofs were added and the cupola removed. The house, built in 1853, originally overlooked the Erie Canal crossing the Mohawk River on the Crescent Aqueduct . The build date is based on half-dimes dated 1853 that were found inside the walls during renovation work. When the Barge Canal was built in the early 1900's, replacing the Erie Canal, the new dams elevated the river pool so that the house is now surrounded on two sides by the river. The road that used to service the front of the house in the 1800's is now underwater and a new road was built behind the house, Church Hill Road. The floor plan is quite well laid out. The original front of the house used the two corners for double door entrances and for spiral stairways to the second floor. There is a central fireplace with hearths on two opposing main floor rooms. The original kitchen was in the basement with a dumb waiter that serviced the dining room. The house is quite large with sixteen foot sides. My mom and dad lived there over fifty years and I grew up in the house with my sister. I'm also including for your information, a picture of the Crescent Aqueduct taken sometime before 1915. Church Hill can be seen in the background, The octagon house was further to the right (east) just out of the picture as the hill went back down to the water."

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Both photographs above were likely taken in the early to mid 1870s. Not so long after the photographs were taken, the roof was converted to gables, and the cupola was removed. The house is located on Church Hill, shown in the background, but is just off the right side of the photograph, which shows the view the house had. Later, the aqueduct, which carried a canal across the Mohawk river, was demolished, and a dam built about a mile downstream. The river area rose about ten feet after the dam was constructed.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

The roof has been converted to the use gables. and the cupola removed, so it can only be said that the photographs above were taken in the mid 1870s or later. The photographs show the south side of the house, and was taken from a spot that would later be under water.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

c1975

Sketch showing the relationship of the aqueduct, the approximate spot where the photograph above was taken from, and the location of the octagon house, not shown, but just to the right of the photograph.

Sources: R. Kline. George Harris, who provides detailed information, the photographs, and the sketch. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: September, 2002.
Updated: August, 2003.
Updated: January, 2004.
Updated: May, 2012
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: July, 2017
Gansevoort. Hexagon house. Built in 1853. Located at 644 Clark Road. A garage was added in 1950, and a canopy/slab in 1940. Each side is 18 feet 8 inches long.

GPS coordinates: 43.222376, -73.610732

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

The photograph at the left, above, might have been taken in the 1950s.

Sources: Dale Travis, and "More About Octagons," Carl F. Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: July, 2010
Updated: March, 2011
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: May, 2013
Round Lake. a.k.a. Malta. Octagon house. Built in 1885. Located at 19 Andrews Street.

GPS coordinates: 42.934525, -73.794466

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

October 22, 1966

Sources: Dale Travis and Susan Germain, who supplied the photograph. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: August, 2007.
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: May, 2013
Schuylerville. Octagon house. Located at 9 Burgoyne Street. Built in 1861. Two story. Porch on three sides.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

c1975
c1912

The roof, someone geodesic in shape in year 2010, was apparently a peaked roof with a chimney in the center according to an 1889 birds eye map.

Source: R. Kline.Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: September, 2002.
Updated: April, 2009.
Updated February, 2010
Updated: December, 2010
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: December, 2014
Updated: July, 2015
Updated: July, 2017
Updated: October, 2020
Stillwater. Octagon house. Built in 1858 by Theodore Baker, whose other accomplishments include 19 sons. The house has a slightly unusual roof line. Located at 657 Hudson Avenue. A segment of an 1889 map of Stillwater shows the building at the center of the image.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

,
1939 , ,
October 22, 1966

, ,

Both photos were taken in 1938 or 1939 by Croswell Bowen, and contributed by his daughter, Lucey Bowen.

Photograph, perhaps taken in the 1950s.

Contemporary photograph

A newspaper piece about the Stillwater octagon house shows a lot of detail about the efforts of the current owners to restore the house, which is apparently already in very good condition.

Sources: Wayne & Brita Donovan, the current owners; "More About Octagons," Carl F. Schmidt.Lucey Bowen.
Entered: December, 2002.
Updated: December, 2006.
Updated: April, 2009.
Updated: May, 2013
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: December, 2013
Stillwater. Octagon house. Existed as of at least 1889. Strange architecture. A single story octagon house, with a rectangular second story. Located at about 17 Main Street, now 575 Hudson Avenue, as well as routes 4 and 32. A segment of an 1889 map of Stillwater shows the building at the center of the image.

Gone as of October, 2019.

GPS coordinates: 42.934774, -73.662554

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: R. Kline and Susan Germain, who supplied the photograph. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: December, 2002.
Updated: August, 2007.
Updated February, 2010
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: October, 2019

Schenectady County

Delanson-Duanesburg. Octagon house. Built circa 1855. Located at 868 Main Street, just north of the village line. Nathan Jenkins’ son had this home built by master carpenter Boss Jones on land Nathan owned. It is one of two eight-sided homes in this area. Each angle of the clapboard-clad house has a 2-story pilaster. The roof is capped with a chimney and there’s a 2-course entablature beneath the cornice. A flat area on the roof hints at a cupola or widow’s walk but this is speculation. There were several other owners until the Breckenridge family purchased it. They operated a farm there from 1920 until 1960. It was sold to the Holtbys in 1960 who lived there until 1977. Charles Wilber, grandson of the Breckenridges, purchased it from them in 1977 and restored the home. There is a long right side extension. It was for sale in 2015 for $359.000 on Old House Dreams website.

GPS coordinates: 42.74257, -74.187562.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1899
August 27, 2003 - part 1
August 27, 2003 - part 2

1905

The person in the right hand photograph is Alexander Delos Jones.

Sources: "The Octagon House: A Home for All," Orson S. Fowler. Dover Books reprint, 1973. Page 179. Ellen Puerzer. Howard C. Ohlhous.
Entered: July, 2001.
Updated: May, 2009.
Updated: October, 2011
Updated: May, 2013
Updated: September, 2015
Updated: January, 2017
Delanson-Duanesburg. Schute octagon house. Built circa 1855 by Alexander Delos "Boss" Jones. A one story porch was added in 1906, but is gone in year 2011. One had a widow's walk. Two story. Wood exterior. From the angle of the photograph Located on McGuire School Road. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Location: 42.773881, -74.221069.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

It appears the porch in the earlier photo was lost over the years.

Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer. Howard C. Ohlhous.
Entered: April, 2002.
Updated: July, 2007.
Updated: May, 2009.
Updated: December, 2010
Updated: March, 2011
Updated: October, 2011
Schenectady Octagon house. Built in the 1850s or before.
The Sigma Phi Fraternity house of Union College purchased this octagonal house for their use in the 1850s.(It's previous use is unknown)
It stood at 7 Yates St in Schnectady NY and was used until 1906. (Replaced with a newer building) It's nickname was Old Pepperbox. Also called the "Old Lyceum". It was the first chapter house this fraternity ever had. It appears to be grout with a castle-like turret.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered January, 2012.

Schoharie County

Middleburgh. Octagon house. Built in 1853 by the brothers John Calvin and Henry Mattice. Originally the home was a duplex, built for the use of the two brothers. Two stories, with a cupola. It is located at 3924 Route 30, near the base of Vroman's Nose, a local landmark.
Jeni Friedland supplied the following document:

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

The following photographs show the context of the house, and some contemporary interior scenes.

Context:

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Interior scenes:

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: Emily Plishner; Jeni Friedland; Dale Travis; "More About Octagons," Carl F. Schmidt.
Entered: March, 2002.
Updated: March, 2003.
Updated: March, 2004.
Updated: April, 2006.
Updated: December, 2006.
Updated: May, 2013
Richmondville. Octagon house. Built in the 1850s by Peter Boughton and his brother. Located on River Street. Two story. Each side is 8 feet 10 inches.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Before replacement vinyl in 2009
c1952

The photograph at left, above, was probably taken in the 1950s. The right was taken in 2009.

Source: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer. Joan Sondergaard, Richmondville Historical Society Curator.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: June, 2009.
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: May, 2014
Schoharie. Octagon house. The Schwartz-Westfall house. Built in 1854. Located on Grand Street. The house suffered severe water damage in 2011 in the wake of hurricane Irene.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Original porch.
August 13, 1951.

2014

The photograph on the left, above, was probably taken in the 1950s. The one on the right was taken in the summer of 1989.

Sources: R. Kline, "More About Octagons," Carl F. Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer. Howard C. Ohlhouse, the owner as of 2011.
Entered: September, 2002.
Updated: June, 2009.
Updated: October, 2011
Updated: May, 2013
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: April, 2014
Updated: December, 2014

Schuyler County.

Hector. An octagonal schoolhouse stands on a hilltop overlooking the east side of Seneca Lake in Hector. It was 1½ miles from the village of Hector in Schuyler County. It closed in 1953 with only 10 students attending.. It has been moved from the other side of the road. (pic in 1953 newspaper) Its on 5785 Round Schoolhouse Rd at Ball Diamond Rd. 42.513697,-76.848719 According to G.L. Mickel in 1956, a past trustee, the teacher used to stand in the center surrounded by the students Larger windows and the small entrance way were added in 1929. It was a true octagon with wing added later.(Possibly during 1970s residential renovation.) Called the "Round Schoolhouse." Mickel believes it was built between 1818-20, around the same time as their church. After serving as a residence with 739 sq. ft. it is now a rental cottage owned by Scott Adrian overlooking the lake.

GPS coordinates: 42.513697 -76.848719

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

2013

August 5, 1956

Source: Dale Travis.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: January, 2014
Updated: August, 2015
Updated: January, 2016
Updated: February, 2016

Steuben County.

Hammondsport. Octagon house. The Younglove house. Built in 1859 by Timothy Younglove. 8329 Pleasant Valley Road, NY, 14840. Stucco walls, 20 feet long, are 18 inches thick. A porch was added later. Two stories, cupola. Leonard Paul Wood Jr. was the last descendant to own the Younglove homestead, and sold it in 1965, at which time the house was already in need of repair. An octagon barn and smokehouse are now gone. In year 2012 it is the Black Sheep Inn B&B.

GPS coordinates: 42.404937, -77.24335

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Circa 1920.
2012 - B&B

As can be seen in the contemporary photographs below, the house had been badly neglected.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Front and left side.
Right side.
Aerial photo - circa 2006.

August 14, 1954
August 5, 1956

1873
1960

As of 2007 the house has apparently been rennovated, and converted to The Blacksheep B&B.

Bed and breakfast.

The B&B website has a large number of photographs of the inside and outside of the house as well as a nice historical summary.

As of October, 2019, the house is up for sale. Below are some interior photos of the house.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: R. Kline. Peter Calvert supplied contemporary photographs. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: June, 2001.
Updated: June, 2003.
Updated: January, 2004.
Updated: August, 2007.
Updated: April, 2009.
Updated: October, 2012
Updated: April, 2014
Updated: August, 2015
Updated: February, 2016
Updated: March, 2016
Updated: December, 2018
Updated: October, 2019
Prattsburgh. Octagon house. Built in 1852. Located at 10350 State Route 53, earlier named Bath Road.. Henry Hopkins, mill owner, built the 2-story octagon house here with 17 foot-wide walls. A porch ran across four of the front sides. Vertical boards covered the exterior with a large cupola on the flat roof. Until a1955 a fire destroyed the top floor (the 2nd floor and cupola were rebuilt). Mrs Mary Neff resided here with her nephew and sister for 40 yrs on what was called the Bath Rd. Her husband died in 1936.The shutters and porch are gone and the walls are vinyl sided. Current owners are Julie and Kirk Dyke.(The Hopkins-Neff house.)

GPS coordinates: 42.503328 -77.285343

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

June 17, 1954
July 28, 1956

Satellite
1955

The photograph at the left, above, shows the house originally had a porch extending around at least four sides.

Photograph,

Sources: Kirk and Julie Dyke, the current owners. Peter Calvert supplied the photograph. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: May, 2002.
Updated: January, 2004.
Updated: June, 2009.
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: May, 2015
Updated: January, 2016
Updated: July, 2017

Suffolk County

Box Hill. Long island 20 harbor Rd. was built in 1895 by by Stanford White as the country home of Standford’s widowed sister-in-law, Kate A. Smith Wetherill. White’s own home was beside it. See old Map. Both houses overlook Stony Brook Harbor. Also octagonal pump house.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1902

Sources: R. Kline, Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: April, 2002.
Updated: April, 2009.
Updated: March, 2020
Brentwood. Octagon house. This modified octagon is known as the William Upham Dame House and was built in what once was the small village called Modern Times in 1869. The address is 1769 Brentwood Rd. Suffolk County. Dame, a carpenter and pioneer of the village, built it with a large ballroom on the second floor that was used for dances and meetings, and was known as Archimedean Hall. In 1888 the streets were called 3rd Ave & 5th St. Circa 1930-40s it was purchased by Nellie and Anthony Wychunas who resided there for several decades. Currently vinyl sided with an enclosed front porch, it is owned by The Sisters of St Joseph who purchased it from Wychunas in 1964-65. They added a back addition. Info Cathy Schmidt. May be original porch in 1920s photo as 2nd floor has French doors— which have since been altered to smaller windows.

GPS coordinates: 40.776449 -73.24574

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

May 17, 1977
June 14, 1979

2013
2013
2013

1990
1873
1888

Source: E. Puerzer.
Entered: September, 2009.
Updated December, 2009
Updated: March, 2010
Updated: November, 2012
Updated: May, 2013
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: December, 2013
Updated: February, 2015
Updated: April, 2015
Updated: February, 2019
Brentwood.

Left click on the image below for a larger version.

Built at 3rd Ave and 4th
Moved in 1907 to 2nd st between 4th and 5th.
Moved in 1989 to 52 –3rd Ave.

Modern Times School (District 12) was a carpenter gothic structure built in 1857 by the residents of Modern Times village, a free love society that lasted for 15 yrs. It stood at 3rd ave and 4th st. and was used until 1907. (This area was rechristened Brentwood in 1864).

The exterior and cupola was board and batten vertical siding. The cupola sat atop a one story 8 sided building with a large gabled entry on front wall. This was later removed. By 1907 The house featured a rectangular canopy at the entrance and one segment of the roof was gabled—probably the former front entry. The entire building cost $700 to build and was used for 50 years as the only school in the village. In 1906-7 it was moved to 2nd st between 4th and 5th.to make room for a new schoolhouse. It became a residence about that time and remained as one until the 1970s. Its been known as the Oliveri House. It was also the home to the Peck Family at one time. It moved again in 1989 to Brentwood School District’s Anthony F. Felicio Administration Center –52 –3rd Ave. Restoration began in October, 2016.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

October 24, 2016
October 24, 2016

October 24, 2016

Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: June, 2001.
Updated September, 2009
Updated: September, 2011
Updated: November, 2012
Updated: May, 2013
Updated: December, 2013
Updated: September, 2015
Updated: December, 2016
Deer Park. Octagon house. Now gone. This octagon house was 2 stories and located on the west side of Deer Park Avenue, just north of the railroad tracks. In 1853, the house was owned by Gideon Seaman who used this home as the local post office. He presumably built it.

It was opposite the Charles Conklin home. Gideon's son Thomas Seaman brought his young bride to the Deer Park octagon house. She made a vow never to step outside her yard and she kept it."

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1897

1897

Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer. Deer Park Public Library. Photograph from Verne Dyson's book "Deer Park" - Wyandanch History 1957.
Entered: September, 2002.
Updated: September, 2011
Updated: May, 2012
Updated: December, 2013
Updated: August, 2014
Updated: April, 2015
Updated: August, 2016
Huntington. Octagon house. Built in 1859. Located at 41 Prime Avenue.
A person familiar with the house provides the following:
" The Prime Octagon House was constructed circa 1859. It is Huntington's only example of the octagon style of architecture. The architect and builder are unknown. The house reflects the innovative architectural concepts of Orson S. Fowler, the designer and promoter of the octagon style. It is a two story structure with stucco walls and a nearly flat hipped roof. The building is distinguished by a projecting denticulated cornice with brackets and a square cupola with ventilator panels. The paired six over six double hung sash windows have heavily molded surrounds and bracket supported window sills.
The house is loosely patterned after the plans of the John J. Brown house in Willamsburgh, New York. The projecting bracketed cornice and paired windows with bracket supported sills were copied from the Brown house plans.
The original wrap around porch was removed in the mid-twentieth century and replaced with a smaller gable roof entrance porch with square columns. The interior of the house is relatively unaltered and retains its wall and ceiling finishes, trim, flooring and overall plan. The first floor was built with Rosedale cement and gravel dug from the cellar. The second floor is composed of brick with stucco coating. The exterior walls are 18 inches thick. The general condition of the house is excellent.
The house is historically associated with Ezra C. Prime, the prosperous local thimble manufacturer. Born in Huntington, Prime worked in the silver business in New York City and opened his own factory producing thimbles. Prior to his factory being opened, all thimbles sold in the United States were imported from Europe. By 1859, Prime had the octagon house built, although it is not known whether it was for his own use or that of an employee. By 1860 he had opened Prime Avenue from Main Street to Mill Lane and owned land on both sides. He proceeded to build a dam on his property and used the water power to operate his factory. Prime's business flourished until the 1880's. Today, Heckscher Park occupies the site of Prime's thimble factory and the Octagon House remains as one of two unaltered structures associated with Huntington's nineteenth century industrial development and the locally prominent Prime family."

GPS coordinates: 40.874807, -73.422399

The newspaper piece in the center, first row, points out that the house was in fact significantly remodeled in 1945, and if it is "unaltered," that would be only some of the outside features. For the time being, no older photographs of the house are available.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

2012
2012

Sources: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer. Dana Laird supplies the photograph. Sue Runkowski, the current owner.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: April, 2003.
Updated: July, 2003.
Updated: March, 2009.
Updated November, 2009
Updated: September, 2011
Updated: December, 2012
Huntington. The house above and the one below shown on a 1930 Sanborn map.

1930
1930

Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2016
Huntington. Octagon house. Built in 1855. Located at Prime Avenue and Lake Place. Ezra Prime is responsible for another octagon house a few doors down from the first one. On the corner of Lake and Prime, he built a 3-story house with a verandah across the 3 front walls. It was demolished in the 1930s. 1873 shows Prime home and the 2nd octagon. The news clipping erred on street name.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1938.

The piece above, left, is from the June 4, 1900 edition of The Eagle, mentions the rental of the house.

Source: "More About Octagons" Carl Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: October, 2002.
Updated September, 2009
Updated: January, 2016
Updated: August, 2016
Huntington/Halesite A hamlet of Huntington. Henry G Scudder (1818-1886) owned a large octagon house with views of the Sound and massive land when he died. It was apparently family land before he settled there (around 1874) so the octagon house may have been there already. In 1911 several capitalists were interested in it for a golf course. Part of the Great Neck Plateau. The 2 story home with its verandahs was thought to have made a great Golf House. No research has turned up what happened to the home.Source: The Long Islander 2 July 1909

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1909 - shows land holdings.
1873

Sources: Ellen Puerzer. The Long Islander - July 2, 1909
Entered: March, 2014.
Updated: January, 2016
Mattituck. Octagon house. Built 1854. Located at 12261 Main Road. Andrew Gildersleeve, a master carpenter, built the octagon on the Main and Love Lane intersection.It had a cupola and full basement. He also built several churches in town. He sold it in 1856 to John C. Wells who converted it into a store. The sawn brackets on the cornice and cupola suggest Italianate styling. It has vertical boards on the exterior and clapboards on the cupola. 1873 Beers map shows it as post office.

After falling into disrepair, some civic-minded people purchased it in 1975. They planned to preserve and save this historic structure and by the 1980s had restored it. During its life it has been a post office, library, dental office and other businesses. Additions have been added to 2 of its back walls. In 1976 it was placed on the Historic Register.

Left click on the image below for a larger version.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1873

April 17, 1975

Sources: brief mention. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: June, 2001.
Updated: April, 2009.
Updated: September, 2012
Updated: January, 2014
Updated: September, 2014
Updated: March, 2015
Updated: January, 2016
Northport. Irregular octagon house. Built in 1899 or before. Razed in 1939.
On a street that overlooked the harbor on BayView ave between James and Statons Sts., this. 2-story hexagon has unequal sides, the front wall narrower than the rest.
It may have been built by Milton Smith, or he was a very early owner. When he sold it to the Snyders in 1904, it is said he owned and sold it 3 times during the past 40 yrs. In 1867 Brooklyn lawyer V L Stanton purchased it as a summer home until around 1903.
In 1913, when 1st photo photo was taken, Mrs. Lulu Snyder was living there & did some remodeling on it. By the mid 1930s she was renting the octagon home out. She resided there on and off for yrs, (she wintered in Florida) and died in 1939. She was a society fixture in the area and her activities covered freqnetly in the local newspaper “The Long Islander”. The brick house was simply styled with vents at the frieze and a bracketed eave with a cupola on the roof. The entrance was a deck with a railing around it and the front door had sidelights and transom. When it was abandoned, it had a reputation as being a haunted house. It was purchased in July 1939 by a Mr. Loit and he was responsible for razing it in November 1939.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1913
1900

1900
1917

1899
1909

1909

The photograph above, left, first row, is from the March, 1913, issue of Country Life in America. The house was remodeled in the early 20th century by a Mrs. J. S. Snyder. The middle image, top row, above, is from the September 8, 1900, issue of The Brooklyn Eagle.

Sources: "More About Octagons" Carl Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: October, 2002.
Updated: July, 2009.
Updated September, 2009
Updated: November, 2014
Updated: January, 2015
Updated: February, 2015
Updated: April, 2015
Updated: January, 2016
Updated: June, 2016
Updated: October, 2020
Patchogue, LI. Octagon house.

Left click on the image below for a larger version.

Located at 59 (Maple Ave. at Oak) This 8-sided house was built on Ocean Avenue then later moved to its present location. The front and back walls are wider than the others. It once had a cupola and 2 story porch that is gone. In 1880 it was owned by Mr. Fishel and in 1958 his grandson Henry P. Fishel.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated August, 2009
Updated: December, 2013
Updated: February, 2014
Sag Harbor. Octagon house. Springhouse.
Source: Roberta Walsh.
Entered: April, 2005.
Stony Brook. Apparently once called Smithtown. Long Island. Also known as the Berehyl House. Built in 1860s by Silas or George Davis. Formerly a barn. Converted to a house in 1938, and restored in 1973. Built in to a hill to keep cattle warm. Held two cows in the basement, and carriages on the second floor.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: Ellen Puerzer. Carl Schmidt, "More About Octagons." Frank Fumelli - Three Village Patch.
Entered: October, 2002.
Updated: July, 2008
Updated: May, 2012
Westhampton Beach. Octagon house. Built in 1890. Architect was Sanford White. Located at 37 Beach Lane. Owned by the Burcher family in the 1940s and 1950s, and then by William Burcher, a son. As of August, 2009, the house appears to be partially squared.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated August, 2009
Updated: December, 2012
Yaphank. Octagon schoolhouse. Built in 1864. Grout exterior. Small flat brackets decorated the cornice. Located on the north side of Main Street. Remodeled in 1926, painted green, with double doors added to the front, and used as a firehouse. In 1951 the land was sold again, and the octagon razed. Use of the octagon shape for the schoolhouse was suggested by William J. Weeks.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

May 20, 1927.

After 1927.
1873
1873

May 20, 1927
August 20, 1937
Long Island Advance - 1975

1888

Photograph.

Sources: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: March, 2004.
Updated: May, 2009.
Updated: September, 2011
Updated: December, 2012
Updated: February, 2014
Updated: July, 2015
Updated: August, 2015
Updated: January, 2016
Updated: September, 2016
Yaphank. Yaphank was formerly one of many Millvill's in NY, which necessitated the name change. Octagon house. Built in 1848 by William J. Weeks built the house and lived there with his wife Mary and their 12 children. Located on what is today East Main Street. Weeks also suggests that the town octagon school used that shape. Burned in the 1950s. Three story. An octagonal foundation still exists, as shown at the GPS coordinates and satellite photo below.

GPS coordinates: 40.836789, -72.910458

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

2012 satellite view.
Foundation, on E. Main.

W. J. Weeks at 70

1923

The exterior photographs above were taken in 1895. It's possible the interior Photograph was taken at the same time. Note that the third story is very different in appearance from the rest of the house. Perhaps it was added later.

Top right, the parlor. Bottom left, breakfast room. Bottom, second from left, sitting room. Bottom, second from right, sitting room, looking towards the parlor. Bottom right, William J. Weeks, who lived in the house with his wife Mary and their 12 children.

Sources: Ellen Puerzer. Karen Mouzakes, Yaphank Historical Society. R. Kline.
Entered: May, 2009.
Updated: December, 2012
Updated: December, 2013
Updated: February, 2014
Updated: August, 2016

Tioga County

Newark Valley. Octagon carriage barn.
Source: "More About Octagons" Carl Schmidt.
Entered: October, 2002.
Waverly . Octagon house. Built in 1853 at 208 Chemung Street. Thomas J. Brooks is shown on a map as owning the octagon house. So he probably built it. A Beers 1869 map shows a 2-story house with back porch.

Data shows that in 1858, Amelia J. and Henry S. Foster sold it to Edwin Mills. On March 16, 1875 the octagonal house was sold by Edwin & Libbie Mills to John S. Conkling.

It was recorded in 1877 that "John and Adeline Conkling sold to Samuel W. Slaughter, an octagon house and lot immediately to the east, for $2,600.00". He moved it in 1879. Sometime after that it became a 2-family.

In 1881 Dr. M. B. Weaver had his practice here. By 1905 Gabe and Mabel Evans resided in one half . Their son Henry 13, was badly burned in the backyard in 1909 and it wasn't thought he would live but he did. His skin grafts and survival made medical history. That's probably him in photo before fire. Thomas & Millie Brown resided in 2nd part of the octagon home. in 1905. The 1920 Census shows Evans still residing there and the Spears family. In 1931 the Evans moved out of the octagon house and resided on Chemung St. After 1931 there is no listing for the octagon house. By 1940's, 7 Athens is an empty lot -- just a hole where foundation was (see photo) so it was razed sometime between '31 and '41. Photo with Evans family circa 1905 shows family in front of octagon house; possibly now with 2 entrances.

Continuing with the chronology:

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Evans family, 1906.
1853
1888

1893
1898
1927

1871
1867
1874

1874
1879
1928

1941
1888

1893
1898

The 1906 photograph in the top row, left, shows the Evans family sitting in front of the house.

The progression of maps show that the house was moved from Chemung, around the corner, to Athens Street. The house was razed in about 1949.

Sources: Ellen Puerzer. Amy Zehr.
Entered: April, 2010.
Updated: April, 2012
Updated: January, 2014
Updated: July, 2014
Updated: July, 2017
Updated: August, 2018

Tompkins County

Dryden. Near Ithaca. Octagon schoolhouse. District School No.5 was also known as Eight Square School. Local carpenter Henry Balcom built it in 1827 at 1756 Hansaw Rd. The cost of the Tompkins County School was $550.00 (when the town was Dryden.) It predates the Fowler book and was erected when octagonal schools were attributed to Quaker philosophy. It was used as a school until 1941 then as a community center. It is brick with one window per side. Above the windows are palladium style transoms. In 1955 The DeWitt Historical Society took possession. It's the only remaining brick schoolhouse in the state. The History Center of Tomkins County holds classes for today's school children here, recreating schooldays of 1892. Each side is 12 feet 6 inches.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

The photograph at the right, above, was probably taken in the 1950s.

Sources: Dale Travis; "More About Octagons" Carl F. Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: March, 2010
Updated: February, 2014

Ulster County

Kingston. Octagon house. The Robert G. Boonsteel house, named after the owner, who was an ice dealer, and died in 1869. Built in 1855, of local brick and bluestone, in the Italianate style. Located at 693 Broadway - the street was called Union Avenue when the house was built. Now a display room for an electrical appliance dealer.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1938 or 1939

c1975

c1887 - still a dwelling.
c1899 - still a dwelling.

Sources: Dale Travis. Sheryl Chisamore. Lucey Bowen. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: September, 2005.
Updated: April, 2009.
Updated September, 2009
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: November, 2013
Updated: December, 2013
Updated: July, 2017
Updated: August, 2018
Marlboro. Octagon House. General Gerard DuBois's name has been associated with building this octagon house. Hudson Dubois owned the land at the time the house was built. The bracketed frieze is indicative of the Italianate style. A Mr. Sarles purchased it in 1872 ( and it remained in his family throughout 1980s.) He added a slate mansard roof with windows on 4 of the 8 portions. A two and a half story house, it has a wood clapboard exterior on a masonry foundation. The porch is of a later era than the house. There is a square addition in the back and a hexagon addition off that. The Elizondo Clouse family is the current owner.

The owners provide the following:

As Orson S. Fowler said "Every living thing must have its habitation." Carmen & Terry have found their perfect 21^st Century habitation to be in a 19^th Century Octagon House. This home was built for General DuBois in the mid 19^th Century, approximately 1850-1855. It is located in Marlboro, New York about 70 miles north of New York City and on the opposite side of the Hudson River from Fowler's home town of Fishkill. Orson Fowler, who made the architectural style of the octagon house famous in the middle to the 19^th Century, described the perfect home as one that combines most instrumentalities for safety, enjoyment, and comfort.

The DuBois/Sarles Octagon House, which was built around the 1850's by an unknown architect, stands proudly on three acres of mature landscaping at the end of the Village. It is a practical home full of all the amenities and practical facilities for the entire family of the 19^th Century coupled with all the conveniences of modern times plus the benefits of functionality. This home has been built for the conveniences of both sexes. It has a solid practical foundation built out of bricks, cement, and stone while its interior design was arranged to facilitate the purposes of the different rooms. All the rooms in the house are easily accessible from each to all, connected by doors, stairs and entry ways. All the rooms in our home are conveniently located to each other, facilitating a smooth navigation throughout the house, encouraging family interactions and making housework less strenuous.

Terry & Carmen's Octagon House, listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the DuBois/Sarles Octagon House was given national historical acknowledgment in November 12, 2002.

This home has served as a perfect private heaven for only three families: the DuBois Family, Sarles Family, and Elizondo/Clouse Family and stands as a successful realization of the dream of having the perfect habitation.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1875
1881
1986

Sources: Carmen Elizondo/Clouse and Terry Clouse, the owners. Edmond Spaeth.
Entered: June, 2001.
Updated: October, 2003.
Updated: April, 2010
Updated: December, 2013
Updated: April, 2015
Updated: September, 2015
Saugerties. Octagon house. Built in 1845. Located at 41 Russell Street. Two story.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1875
March 4, 1944

Source: Dale Travis.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: September, 2006.
Updated: April, 2009.
Updated: April, 2012
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: April, 2015
Updated: February, 2016

Washington County

Greenwich Creek Octagon house. An 1856 paper NY Tribune, advertises a two story octagon in Washington County for sale here near the depot . It had full veranda, a cupola and walls measured 50 by 50.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: March, 2014.
Hudson Falls/Kingsbury Octagon house. Built in the 1850's. Razed in the 1940s. Not much is known about the history of this octagon house. It was 2 stories, cement clad with a cupola . Reportedly built for Mrs. Goodson. It was demolished in the 1940's by a Matthews family. It was located on modern State Route 196, just east of State Rt. 32. Rt. 196 is also called Lower Maple Street and Rt. 32 is also called Burgoyne Ave. The cornice had 4 brackets per side that matched those on the cupola. By the time it was abandoned in the 1940s, it had an addition on the side and the cupola was boarded up. The verandah was long gone, only a shadow remained on the grout walls indicating it fully encircled the first floor of the house. It was razed in that decade. Often called the Kingsbury Round House. (circa 1888 Photo shows it in its glory)

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer. Photos were taken in 1938 or 1939 by Croswell Bowen, and contributed by his daughter, Lucey Bowen.
Entered: September, 2002.
Updated: April, 2009.
Updated: January, 2014
Updated: September, 2016
North Argyle Octagon house. Now gone. Its been reported the octagon house in North Argyle -- a small hamlet in Washington County was built by David M. Harsha . Harsha Family history records it as built by David Harsha's grandparents the Millimans. The David M. Harsha Family resided there in the mid 1860's. Siblings were: David, Ralph, Myron, Lawrence, Edna and Georgiana according to their sister Ruth Harsha Kellner b. 1908.

David continued to farm the land with his father until their mother died in 1923.. The 4 rooms: Kitchen, living room, parlor and bedroom opened into each other. A central stairway went up to the attic. Though it existed through the 1930's, its listed as demolished in Schmidt's 2nd book (1978). A man named D. M. Harsha resided in North Argyle on what is now Hwy 44 where it meets 40; in 1866 and shows up on map but not as octagonal. (which often happened.) Its alongside Moses Kill Creek. This David M Harsha (1807-1885) is buried in North Argyle cemetery. The 2-story house appeared to be built with cement blocks had a full verandah and a cupola. Photo from "Agyle my Argyle" book.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Source: R. Kline. Sandy McReynolds, historian. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: September, 2002.
Updated: April, 2015
Updated: September, 2016

Wayne County

Village of Alloway, A former blacksmith shop still stands just south of Lyons in Wayne County. Its on Alloway Rd and Water St. 3 miles from village of Lyons NY.

Built by Alfred Hale in 1832 it is a 2-story cobblestone construction. In 1904 property owned by C. Tenscher as well as surrounding property to the south.

It was later owed by Cleve Friend,(Cleveland Frind.) who was a working blacksmith for many years. He bought the blacksmith shop, and the cobblestone house across the street, in 1918. . The blacksmith shop closed in 1936. The building was then used as a machine shop until around 1960. In 2002 it was sold to Mary LaGasse Tatum.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Circa 1904.

1904

The center photograph, above is from "More About Octagons," and possibly taken in the 1950s.

Photograph.

Sources: Jean Heffernan, Canandaigua, NY, provided the newspaper clipping from which this information was taken. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: September, 2001.
Updated November, 2009
Updated: October, 2012
Updated: September, 2015
Updated: September, 2015
Clyde. Octagon house. The Bissell-Gillette house. Built in 1856. Located at 251 Glasgow Street. As of April, 2012, the house is in the process of being refurbished "from ground up."

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1904

The middle and left photos, top row, are dated 1928. The woman is Grace Gilette. Douglas and Grace Gillette owned the house for many years - at least 1928 to 1955. The photograph at the right, top row, is c1955.

Sources: "More About Octagons," Carl Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer. Theodore La Mere, the current owner.
Entered: September, 2002.
Updated: April, 2010
Updated: April, 2012
Updated: December, 2012
Updated: December, 2013
Updated: August, 2014
Updated: February, 2016
Lyons Octagon school. Built in 1830 or 1832, according to Mrs. DeWitt Parshall’s memoirs. This building stood on a hill northeast of the Williams residence, and the school there was conducted as a private one where many young people of the wealthy families were prepared for college. The structure, as the name indicates, was eight-sided in form, surmounted by cupola, and was approached over a gravel walk crossing the terrace, on the summit of which the building stood. The entrance was through a vestibule in a projection of the building. The octagonal form was retained on the inside. The teacher occupied a raised dais in the centre of the room, surrounded by two rows of seats for the classes. Midway between the floor and the ceiling was a balcony. On the balcony and on the floor there was a curtained recess for each of the eight sides of the room - sixteen in all - which was a study room set apart for a pupil. Sixteen pupils could thus be accommodated, one in each booth. When we consider that this was an expensive school, we can see that ample accommodation was afforded for the usual attendance. There was a bell suspended in the cupola.. The building was burned about the year 1838.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: Ellen Puerzer. Info dated 1909, from Vol. 67, Miscellaneous Collected Records of the D.A.R., 1934.
Entered October, 2012.
Updated: March, 2014
Sodus Point. Octagon cottage. Built in 1900, by Seymour Scott, of Lyons. Stone masonry first story, followed by two wood stories. Each story is graduated, like a windmill.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

The postcard, above right, is circa 1908.

Sources: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated February, 2010
Williamson. Octagon House. Built in 1864. Possibly before. As early as 1850. Located at 3628 Ridge Road West. Originally cobblestone, later covered with stucco, although when this was done is not known. A great deal of detailed information has been provided about this house by Jean Heffernan, as well as about a blacksmith shop in the village of Alloway. This is one of only a few examples floor plans available on this site at this time. Hopefully more will become available later, together with interior photographs. Many details are available in the histories included here.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Contemporary real estate ad. Year 2000.

Sources: Steve Wray and Jean Heffernan. Anne and John L'Hommedieu, the owners as of 2011. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: June and September, 2001.
Updated: July, 2011
Updated: August, 2012
Updated: January, 2013

Westchester County

Banksville. a.k.a. North Castle. Octagon house. Located at 47 Round House Road. Built between 1850- 1859. Status: extant but remuddled beyond recognition.

Country doctor Ralph B. Griswold brought his bride to the octagon house in the small community of North Castle in 1859. It was built between 1850-59. He purchased from Harvey Palmer for $800. Iy isn’t clear if Palmer built it.

It is almost three and a half stories with half the basement below grade. Erected with clapboard siding, it's currently covered with vinyl, and has a cupola. There are small square windows under the eaves and an original verandah running across the basement and first floor levels.

When Dr Griswold purchased a larger home, he sold the octagon to Mrs. Lizzie Crispo. She used it for 1 year as a summer residence then in 1891 sold it to Methodist Church for a parsonage. Unfortunately it has now been sided. In 2017 for sale but the entire interior has been gutted. In year 2017 the house was foreclosed on. Realtor photos show that it has had been gutted. Much of the historical value of the house has now been lost.

GPS coordinates: 41.146323 -73.641486

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

In year 2017 the house was foreclosed on. Realtor photos show it has had been gutted. Whether the implication is that a new owner would now have to finish off the house is unclear. Most of the historical value of the house has now been lost.

2019
2019

Sources: Dale Travis. James Buick. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: March, 2008.
Updated: September, 2011
Updated: January, 2013
Updated: March, 2015
Updated: May, 2017
Updated: January, 2020

Irvington. Octagon house. Built in 1860 by banker and broker Paul J. Armour. Said to be perhaps the most lavish from the 1850-1860 period. In 1872, Joseph Stiner, wealthy tea merchant, substantially remodeled and enlarged the house. It was sold by Mr Stiner in 1882 to George & Susan H Dibble who used it as a year round residence. She died in 1897 and George remarried. His daughter Mabel sold it to widow, Delia Stone Clarke in 1902. Upon her death she bequeathed the octagon to stepdaughter, Jessie Clark who owned it until her 1933 death. Her nieces, who inherited, sold it to Dr Erwin Brand, a biochemistry professor for $15,000. In 1940 the octagon house was auctioned off and became property of the NY lien corporation. In 1941 John P Cunningham, a Riverdale NY artist took over ownership. They rented it to Aleko E Lilias in 1945. In 1946 Cunningham sold the home to Carl Carmer. It became National Trust property in the 1970s and they sold it to architect Joseph Pell Lombardi who undertook a complete restoration of the house and grounds. Available for group tours by appointment.

Left click on the image below for a larger version.

Left click on any item below for a much larger version

20 - Dance room

A 2007 history.

July 22, 1959

August 13, 1960

1872

Dance Room

1868

1881

Sources: Dale Travis. Suzanne Wray. HABS project. Ellen Puerzer. The Herald Statesman, Yonkers, NY, September 30, 1965.
Entered: August, 2002
Updated: June, 2009.
Updated November, 2009
Updated: October, 2012
Updated: December, 2012
Upd ted: May, 2013
Updated: December, 2013
Updated: December, 2014
Updated: July, 2015
Updated: March, 2016
Updated: January, 2017

Peekskill. Octagon library. Built 1880. Razed sometime in the 1960s. Located at 532 Smith Street. Was orginally used as a horse stable by the Sherwood Stage service. In 1887 the upper floor was converted to Peekskill's first public library. It was moved in the 1920s.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1893

Sources: "More About Octagons" Carl Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer. John Curran, Peekskill historian.
Entered: October, 2002.
Updated February, 2010
Updated: May, 2011
Updated: January, 2017
Rye. The Billip octagon house. The Billip house. Located on North Street and Railroad Avenue. Occupied by Pauline Billip until 1913. Then owned by John Sterline, who rented it to the Billip family for 50 years. Razed in the 1940s.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

1906

c1903
1910
November 8, 1940

1902
1903
Razed 1940

Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: September, 2002.
Updated: July, 2009.
Updated: May, 2013
Updated: August, 2014
Updated: January, 2015
Updated: January, 2016
White Plains. Octagon house.

Left click on the image below for a larger version.

Sources: Ellen Puerzer. Robert Hoch, President, White Plains Historical Society.
Entered: June, 2001.
Updated October, 2009
Yonkers. Hexagon house. Probably built in 1852. Plat maps put the construction date as early as 1889. At 185 Yonkers Avenue, a short distance west of where it crosses over the Saw Mill River Parkway. Two story, with a steeply pitched roof, and dormers on all six sides. It appears that the house is largely in good condition - the roof, sides, and foundation appear to be in good condition. A two family house for years, by 2010 the house appears to be boarded up. An ominous sign.

GPS coordinates: 40.935344, -73.881312

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Year 2000

Year 2003
Year 2009

Pre vinyl siding.

1917

Sources: Don Gilligan, who supplied both the site and the photograph. Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: May, 2002.
Updated: March, 2010
Updated: September, 2013
Updated: November, 2013
Updated: October, 2020

Wyoming County.

Arcade. A reported octagon house built by a Col. Woodruff of cement in the 1920s is a regular rectangular house with 4 edges of a much smaller dimension. Although NY State lists it as an octagon house. Its located at 124 Park St. in Wyoming County. Its extant The house has been re-sided. It was not a true octagon, more of a blunted corners construction which gave it an eight side effect

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Sources: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer. Sue Andrews, Arcade Historical Society.
Entered: August, 2002.
Updated: March, 2011
Updated: October, 2013
Updated: June, 2014
Updated: May, 2015
Updated: January, 2020
Wyoming. 12-sided house. Built in the 1850s by Pliny Hayes, 1824 - 1894. Located at 890 East Bethany Road, on the grounds of the Wyoming Cottage Water Cure Institute. Originally a recreation center for the institute Hayes founded, it was later a house apparently, and then a storage facilty. As of 2012 it is gone.

GPS coordinates: 42.836113 -78.098347

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

Pliny Hayes - about 1890.

Source: Ellen Puerzer.
Entered: February, 2010.
Updated: October, 2012
Updated: October, 2016

Yates County.

Penn Yan. Octagon carriage house. Located at 312 Clinton Street.

Left click on the images below for larger versions.

August 5, 1956

Sources: "More About Octagons" Carl Schmidt. E. Puerzer.
Entered: October, 2002.
Updated September, 2009
Updated: May, 2013
Updated: February, 2016
Rushville. Round school house. Probably built in the 1850's. Cobblestone. Single story. Destroyed by fire in 1919.

Photograph, taken before 1919.

Source: "More About Octagons" Carl Schmidt.
Entered: October, 2002.

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June 7, 1966	March 15, 1979	c1940
December 17, 1986	April, 1982	June 8, 1989
c1903	June 28, 1959	August 11, 1994


April 23, 1931	December 5, 1906	May 14, 1941
April 14, 1916.	1867	1880
		1907

March 4, 1938	March 4, 1938	March 4, 1938
March 4, 1938	March 11, 1938	December 4, 1961

Front and left side.	Right side.	Aerial photo - circa 2006.
	August 14, 1954	August 5, 1956
1873	1960

		May 20, 1927.
After 1927.	1873	1873
May 20, 1927	August 20, 1937	Long Island Advance - 1975
1888



		2012 satellite view. Foundation, on E. Main.
		W. J. Weeks at 70
1923

Evans family, 1906.	1853	1888
1893	1898	1927
1871	1867	1874
1874	1879	1928
1941		1888
1893	1898

		1938 or 1939

		c1975
c1887 - still a dwelling.	c1899 - still a dwelling.

	1913
1913



		1914
1914

Shown as a duplex.


	1907

	Photo taken in 1913.	Circa 1950s