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There is an octagon house in Lebanon , Ohio. The city wanted to tear it down back in the 70"s-, but a wealthy man bought it and restored it. It is on the historic register now. It's a beautiful and unique house. Cities always want to destroy beautiful old houses.

@atomicwedgie8176

5 ай бұрын

You should buy them all!

@popowazhere

5 ай бұрын

Theres one in Danvers, MA as well

As an American cultural historian with a special interest in the Fowler Brothers, I especially enjoyed your presentation on the octagon house. As a youth, I lived, and later worked, in Schenectady, N.Y., near the Union College campus. There, the octagon idea was taken to extreme in the 16 sided Nott Memorial, the center and focus of the campus. Happily, it has been lovingly preserved, and, listed as a national historical landmark, continues to serve as a focus of College and community life.

@alanblanes2876

Жыл бұрын

It looks like it would be structurally more able to withstand extreme winds.

Octagon shaped buildings would be really cool. Not necessarily very practical but still very cool.

The beauty of the Victorian architecture is a lost art. Because of the cost of labor and supplies, we do not see this kind of beautiful architecture any more.

My ancestors came to Humboldt, Ks and was part of the vegetarian creek which took many lives. My ancestors tried to save many who were dying. On our farm is an old rock house built by my great, great grandfather and his brother Watson and Samuel Stewart/Stuart(some authors spell it different..but most of our documents spell it Stewart. The house still stands(but could fall any day) they survived this disaster, the Quantrill’s Raiders who burnt Humboldt down and made friends with the local Indians to help keep them safe. Fascinating stories

@IntriguedLioness

Жыл бұрын

I had never heard of these stories and with your additional information I'm going to Google and do some reading! Such stories of failure in city planning or architecture are just as fascinating as the successes. _Thanks for the story!_

@Thefrugalgal

Жыл бұрын

I need more info on this. It's sounds so interesting!

@denisewright3179

Жыл бұрын

Look up Watson Stewart ( other spellings is Stuart) and the sad saga of vegetarian creek...

@OhKayinAustin

Жыл бұрын

I'm sorry but WTF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT

The outside is beautiful! Interior has some nice rooms, but with the side rooms being pie shaped and crammed it seems like he tried to put a square house into an octagon !

@chrisbaier6252

Жыл бұрын

Yes, seems like a very bad use of space, plus more difficult to build, considering all the angles.

@hd-xc2lz

Жыл бұрын

The inaccessible corner issue brings to mind the quonset hut shortcoming. And if this building plan was directed toward interior space improvement, how were these sharp corners justified, and how addressed decoratively?

The central staircase is a great idea. Stairs are essentially wasted living space and don't need windows. This solves the stair problem

@IntriguedLioness

Жыл бұрын

I respectfully disagree to some point.. in homes built before electricity even gas lamps did not properly illuminate staircases and many of tumble would follow. Windows provide not only light but can be opened for ventilation and especially in houses over two story that is the main way to cool a house. I grew up in houses built long before air conditioning and I still appreciated the louvers, transium windows over doors, and our multi-level staircase wherein the windows could be cranked open to allow ventilation.. you would actually notice the increase of heat on a hot summer's day as you ascended from one floor to the next. Thankfully the attic even had louvers so that we could get even more air flow.

@michaelkline884

Жыл бұрын

@@IntriguedLioness I learned this very thing last year while watching of all things a realtors video It showed a gutted enormous townhouse in NYC and a point was made about the 4 story stairwell and its functions including ventilation

My parents briefly had an octagonal house. I asked my mother why the sold it. She said it was annoying because the wedge shaped rooms were not practical and it was hard to furnish comfortably.

When I was in college I was house hunting because living on campus was expensive and I found an octagon house that i went through and seriously considered buying... it was much older than most of the neighboring homes and the two story brick had been painted white as well as the front porch had been enclosed with cinderblock and turned into wierd shaped uncomfortable rooms... the regular house had a large addition on the back which included a bedroom and kitchen dining... it was very large, about 3000sq ft and the original 2 story octagon was about 2000sqft... the livingroom went from the front to back in a rectangle down the center and had this great front hall which used the wall angles well, and a small bed and bath which used the other odd shape... then upstairs were 3 beds and a bath... it had a low pitched italiante style roof with a coupala, but unfortunately all the beautiful bric-a-brac was gone from the eaves... my dad loved it as it was a very unusual historical house and the thing that made us pass was the sheer amount of work to get it comfortable... its in Adrian Michigan and has been rescued from the abandoned looking when i toured it to livable, but is still far from the original glory it once was

There was a circular dome house in my neighborhood when I was young. Thankfully our families were friends so I got to go inside. It was very unique and living room had a really high ceiling.

@samanthab1923

Жыл бұрын

The domed building on our campus was one of the dorms upstairs. They had a room at the top with all mats to hang out on.

My husband and I built our own Octagon house in Florida. I was a science and math teacher and my husband had worked home construction in Westchester County, NY. He told me to design the house I wanted and told me to think of it like a machine: how did I want it to work? I designed a modern, open floorplan house with a normal, ridge line roof that was energy and material efficient, wind resistant, and built on a poured, reinforced concrete foundation that raised the floor 34” above grade. Even now my electric bill is only $67 per month. I am able to heat almost the entire 1564 sq foot house with a Jotul wood stove during the month when it is cold in North Central FLorida. I cool it with window air conditioner in main part of house and a small one in the 2 bedrooms. This avoids the problem of mold growing in ductwork that many Florida houses find to be a problem. My only other utility bills are for phone and internet because I live on an acreage. There are NO AWKWARD ACUTE CORNERS in my house. Though the actual area is moderate, the interior design makes it feel spacious and much larger. The octagon gives the largest volume for the least surface area while still being easy to construct. This house would work fine in much colder climates, as well. The octagon dwelling is as ancient as the Mongul people of the Asian stepps.

@hd-xc2lz

Жыл бұрын

Is the house single story?

Reminds me of Longwood in Natchez MS. It's huge and has a tragic and interesting history.

Thank you Ken for the explanation behind the octagonal house! I once visited Longwood - in Natchez, Mississippi. It is the largest octagonal house in the United States and has a fascinating history your viewers may find interesting!

@IntriguedLioness

Жыл бұрын

Longwood! That was the name. I just left a comment about an unfinished property and this was it! I had seen it from a distance but never toured inside as I was leading a site tour in Mississippi. I knew it was unfinished but I didn't realize that the entire building was now a museum. Quite interesting!

@zelvemorganz9001

Жыл бұрын

I have been interested in Longwood/Nutt's Folly for 40+ years. Beautiful architecture. Its floor plan appears more practical than that of A-S House. - There are several octagonal homes in the small town (pop. 6,000) that I was born in. Trend must have been very popular.

@jacestotler86

Жыл бұрын

There’s another octangular near Starksville, MS but I can’t recall the name. Plantation near a river..

@samanthab1923

Жыл бұрын

Longwood was used in the HBO show Trueblood as Russell Edgertons home. Joanna didn’t agree but both shared their Ill gotten gains 😂

@bramlintrent1145

Жыл бұрын

@@jacestotler86 You're thinking of Waverly near Columbus, MS -- a large Greek Revival plantation house with a cupola on the roof.

A friend of mine lived briefly in an octagonal house. It is a very awkward design, although not as extreme as geodesic domes which are a waste of materials to build. The staircase, however, was amazing. Unfortunately the house was haunted as hell. The stories I heard. . . They basically cleaned it and gave it a coat of paint and sold it. Hope it worked out for the new owners.

It tends to be rather interesting individuals who might consider living in an octagonal or circular home. Tricky to sell afterwards. Always fascinating though. Thanks for the video.

The owner built his house this way because he didn’t want to be cornered again.

@IntriguedLioness

Жыл бұрын

That's only true if you see it from the right angle!

I always wondered where that house was. I'd seen it in some movies and thought that it looked magnificent. Thank you for finally settling that for me.

There’s an octagonal house in Circleville, Ohio which was acquired by their historical society and moved to be saved when a Walmart was built. I remember hearing that Walmart even helped finance the move. This was very interesting. Thanks!

@thesam19841

Жыл бұрын

I visited this on a haunted tour... the house has a circular stair and the rooms all run around the octogon center hall... none of the rooms were pie shaped, although none were square, it however made the space feel much more comfortable except the balcony hall to get to the upper rooms was far to narrow and made the house feel rickity... a very cool house

This is the first time that my favorite part of the house is not inside. I'm most impressed with the ceiling of the veranda. Excellent video about an unusual house.

New to this channel, I clicked on the thumbnail because I thought this was the building of house I'd heard of in the South that was interrupted by the Civil War and not finished. Instead, this is a finished octagon house! I was fascinated after seeing Jefferson's Monticello in Virginia when I first moved to the states. I was intrigued by these unusual shapes because I had grown up in very Georgian and even Palladian houses but when I really thought about it.. they're just silly. The point brought out by all the water damage as the water seeped in from the roof is valid. To build such an intricate roof simply meant multiplying the joist 100 fold. How silly! Another great video, thanks!

@MomCat6000

Жыл бұрын

The octagonal house you described is Longwood in Natchez, Mississippi. Very interesting history indeed!

@IntriguedLioness

Жыл бұрын

@@MomCat6000 I saw your comment and actually replied! I just couldn't remember the name. I actually had seen it years ago now and I think about it as I was on business in Mississippi but I was never that near. I'm currently looking at it online and reading of it on Wikipedia!

You should do America's first octagonal house: Thomas Jefferson's retreat, Poplar Forest. It has been undergoing a meticulous, period restoration since the 1980s.

San Francisco has a famous "Octagon House" from the 1860's. Luckily it survived the 1906 Earthquake and Fire!

@IntriguedLioness

Жыл бұрын

I lived in Lower Pac Heights in San Francisco and would often pass the McElroy house. It's actually quite tiny, not at all impressive and even though I never went inside I can only imagine the irregular room shapes would have been cramped and difficult to maneuver in. It's an interesting concept, just silly in the end though in my opinion.

@mitchellbarnow1709

Жыл бұрын

@@IntriguedLioness I agree!

I just received in the mail today, Orson Fowler's book, The Octagon House: A Home for All. And now this video popped up, again. Weird. I commented when your vid first appeared that you should do Thomas Jefferson's retreat, Poplar Forest. It was the first octagon shaped house built in America. The floorplan is rather ingenious. Well worth a look.

I love this channel!

So interesting Ken! Thanks!

I want it.

This is a BEAUTIFUL house! They offer tours and it is totally worth visiting.

Thanks for sharing information on this interesting building form, I've seen them periodically in my travels and was always curious. Not sure I'd want to live in one though!

@IntriguedLioness

Жыл бұрын

I was intrigued by these interesting forms when I first Monticello in Virginia when I moved to the states. But they are quite silly. I could see staying in one if it was an Airbnb but I would _never_ ever want to live in one of these. Not only are the irregular room shapes difficult to furnish and maneuver in, but the problems brought up by the increased number of joists in the roof allowing more rain damage is a very serious issue.

A single story octagon building would make the perfect pizzeria.

I live around the corner from the Steiner house. Someday I will take the tour. There are so many mansions in the area to visit. Worth a trip. Stay at the Castle in Tarrytown for the Sunday brunch and the view.

Cool ! I ride up and down the old croton aqueduct trail all the time - I have past this house and taken pictures often - so awesome!

Octagon Hall Museum in Franklin, NY is gorgeous. It looks like it was built yesterday (actually built in 1847) and is furnished as it was in the period. And it's haunted.

@bretthess6376

Жыл бұрын

Hah! I just posted about a different octagonal house which was haunted. Not surprising. Odd shapes seem to generate such problems.

@hd-xc2lz

Жыл бұрын

Franklin, KY, (not NY).

@AnonyMous-er7fw

Жыл бұрын

@@hd-xc2lz No, it's in NY. I drive by it pretty often.

@hd-xc2lz

Жыл бұрын

@@AnonyMous-er7fw Have a street address or road on which it can be found? I'm familiar with Franklin, NY, know of no such museum there, but would love to visit.

We had several octagon houses in bell county Texas. But sadly there is on one left now.

The idea was interesting, but resulted in a house with too many cramped little rooms. If someone were to build this house today, I'm sure that they would take advantage of the shape, and most of the space, especially on the ground floor, would be open concept. And they would design a different way of laying out the bedrooms and bathrooms on the upper floors to maintain that open feeling...perhaps with so many floors, there could be just one bedroom and bathroom per floor. That would be something unique and truly interesting to see.

@toddhensley880

Жыл бұрын

I was thinking the same thing. Open floor plan on the main floor, may two or three rooms on each of the other floors.

I have no problem with the octagon houses of the Victorian era. I think they're unique and have an attractive appearance. It is true, though, that it seemed an impossibility to design one's way out of having some small, awkwardly shaped rooms inside.

There’s an octagon house on Washington Street in Hackettstown, N.J., my hometown. I went to school with the kid who lived there. I remember in geometry class he had such trouble with right angles.

The windows on the very top and the shaded porch are combined to form a passive air conditioning system. Open the windows on the bottom floor and the cook shaded air is pulled into the home, moves through the house (many Octagon homes utilize transom windows), and up the center to exit through the windows in the top. I'm a museum guide where we have one of these homes in CA, and on the hottest summer days our octagon house is a minimum of 15 degrees cooler than the other Victorian homes.

Great channel PERFECT for marathon viewing! I absolutely love architecture of all bygone eras. I had 4 years of drafting in high school. But my math skills lacked to consider architecture as a profession. Artistic side to me too. I’m of the opinion that Frank Lloyd Wright was the best architect in the couple of centuries. I just can’t get enough of viewing video tours of his creations.

This reminds of the house in the novel "Little Big" by John Crowley. Definitely of the era and mindset. Very cool.

Octagons homes cause a nightmare on furniture arrangement and what for saving some building materials over having corners.

Thank you..

An aggressively-wrong guy asked "What if a park gazebo could haunt a contractor's worst nightmares forever"

There were 3 Octagon houses in my old hometown Boonton, NJ.

I had the pleasure of touring Longwood in Natchez, Ms this fall. It is octagonal & has an onion dome...it's beautiful. I enjoyed the house you featured, but no it's not the only one.

@marlenalinne6100

Жыл бұрын

lisalembens5195. I've been to Longwood twice. The first time we went in the early 80s, there were no guardrails on the top floors but they were added by the second time we went. But this place is a must-see.

@hjp9815

Жыл бұрын

It's unique because the octagonal footprint is FULLY domed. Longwood has a dome, yes, but just over a central cupola. It doesn't span or make up the entire roof like this home. Design here seems to take some inspiration from baptistries in Florence and Pisa in Italy.

I’ve been to an octagon house in Watertown, WI and enjoyed the experience. The rooms were quite bright and there was an interesting spiral staircase going up the center.

Wow, gorgeous. I’m so surprised. I thought the interior might be a hot mess.

Had a neighbor with an octagon shaped house. Many things didn't fit right.

Longwood Plantation in Natchez, Mississippi. Perhaps the most amazing octagonal domed house. Never completed.

Reminds me of a Navajo house. Since they build them octagonally as well

Round, domed houses would be good in hurricanes. Theres a famous octoganal house in my town!

It would have been nice to see the restored version of the home...

What a fascinating theory!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video!!! Happy Holidays!!! 🎄🤶⛄

I’ve been to the McElroy house in San Francisco. Built in 1861 It is an Octagon House.

Wow I really like the look of this octogon home. It really a shame the design allowed for such serious flaws😲

I was thinking of a house like this in my circle, already have a wood and iron gate to it, would probably be decorated with iron in wood too. The dome would really only come to a cone with a round room at too like many have, no dormers, and the actual dome curve being free floating iron scroll. The circle is about 36 foot, a ring of raspberries now. First floor may only be a masonry curved stairway surrounded by porch

Structurally, I wonder if Octagon shaped houses are stronger than a rectangle-shaped house? 🤔

We had an Octagonal Barn about 10 miles from where I grew up in East Tenn between Johnson City and Unicoi but sadly some time in the 1970’s someone tore it down.

There is an excellent Octagon house in Oneonta, NY. It looks very similar to the Armour-Stiner House, less the verandas. There's an undomed octagon house in Thomasville, GA., every room is 8 sided. North and south of Chenango County along rte 12 there are wonderful octagon barns, and houses all over the place. There are approximately 3 in Norwich NY. Also in Unadilla, there's at least one. Nice job on the Armour Stiner House. HH.

Easier to find a window to see out of, when you're paranoid. 😄

Still love the concepts and victorian shapes of

Around 2009, the Lawton octagonal house on Public street in Providence was acquired by the Providence historical society( or so i was told) It was very much in original condition with a centrally located chimney and a double fireplace on the parlor floor - one fireplace faced the parlor room , to its back, another faced the dining room. The original kitchen lay in a corner of the octagon to the rear right of the building. If you were to see what the society did to that building ( if, indeed they had acquired it)you would be physically sick for a month. you can see images online.

@hd-xc2lz

Жыл бұрын

After reading your comment I searched for photos and info online, could only find an exterior shot. Have a link?

@bedstuyrover

Жыл бұрын

@@hd-xc2lz sorry. i don't have a link. i typed in the address and the images of the renovated interior came up- but that was several years ago. in my original comment i placed the kitchen to the rear right, it was the rear left.

@hd-xc2lz

Жыл бұрын

@@bedstuyrover No worries. Can you say in a sentence or two what the restoration got so wrong? I have zero connection to the restorers or building, never visited, just always fascinated by conflicts within historical place restoration.

@bedstuyrover

Жыл бұрын

It was not a restoration. They simply installed a modern bland apartment. The entire fireplace was blocked off and a tacky false mantelpiece placed over it. Recessed lighting throughout and a modern kitchen slapped against the back wall. The only thing decent done was the exterior restoration.

There is a house in Texarkana that deserves your investigation. I think it's in the shape of one of the suites of a card deck

I just wanted to say that I am watching you on my smart TV. I’ve recently just figured out how to like on it. And I am subscribed. I am enjoying your channel very much. Keep up the good work.

Clearly, the superior shape is the hexagon.

Sooo, the real problem is cutting floors into pie-shaped wedges? Maybe limit it to two floors, with some loadbearing columns, and have just a few rooms per floor.

How interesting! The wedge shaped rooms don't really seem to work for people who would entertain large groups. Other than the verandah, most of the rooms seem small. The main house featured sure is pretty on the outside. Almost makes me think of a historic hot air balloon from the heyday.

The Jane Reeves House in Shirley, Indiana is octagonal.

I know of an octagonal house close where I live in KCK. Not fancy but it has been there for years.

@blueforest2927

Жыл бұрын

Same in greenfield mass on conway st. even has a cupola atop that octagon. It needed a serious paint job last i knew.

You should do the O'Fallon house in Barnhart, MO

There is one of these abominations in Michigan. The small wedge rooms are annoying. The staircase made me dizzy. On the historic register.

There is an octagon house in Hudson, Wisconsin.

there is a small octagon house that looks like it was built mid 20th century near Wheeling West Virginia.

There are two octagon houses near me, one in rural Seneca County, Ohio south of Clyde, and one in Monroeville, Ohio both roughly between Toledo and Cleveland

There is one in De Ridder Louisiana.

💛

I would have to install an elevator right at the center of the house!

why does this author have such an issue with the wedge shaped rooms?! i've taken a tour of the house myself and found it all very charming, not cramped at all

Still love the victorian variety of octagons hexagons ovals and round rooms in addition to rectangle and square room shapes .also windows and other interesting elements . keyhole shapes and gothic arches the lust goes in and on with queenannes🙂😁😆

@garygloska7396

Жыл бұрын

List goes on and on... I hate spellcheck

There is one of these homes here in San Francisco.

There was one of these houses in Columbus, Ohio owned by a wealthy family.

The hexagon is the best-a-gon.

what about the james nutt house in nachez misssissippi ,with an onion dome

More proof that having a pencil and a napkin does not an architect make.

👍

I guess you wouldn't count Longwood in Natchez, MS? Cupola, not a dome, I reckon.

Unless the photos were simply not showing what I wanted to see, it appeared that the library had no books, and the music room had no instruments. Seems weird, but I wasn't around in those days, so what doo I know?

I was mistaken. The house in Lebanon, Ohio is a hexagon house, not an octagon. Very rare and unusual house though.

It looks like .E.T.’s spaceship….

gazebos 8 sided fancy angles r still a thing.

@jamesmerkel9442

Жыл бұрын

If small enough 6 sided still fancy enough angles.

Why was that harp in the library rather than the music room?

@IntriguedLioness

Жыл бұрын

Because tiny triangular shaped rooms means you have to shove the furniture in will ever it will fit!

Was this by the phrenologist? Read his book with the house in it! Phrenology has nothing to do with slavery btw.

Do you happen to know whereabouts in Kansas the octagon city was located?

I think it's one of the ugliest houses ever. Thank goodness this architectural style was a short-lived fad. Buildings for public use with an octagon are fine. But when an entire building is one octagon, it's ugly. I actually had a friend whose family lived in an octagon-shaped house. The dad was building it himself. And it was ugly!

What's technalogy

Poor horse

The Navajo Indians did octagon homes way before the Victorian era architects.

A new and better theory suggest that three 19 century octagon shaped buildings had more to do with an old system of land claims or navigation…. where are lines drawn from the sides of these structures lead to other structures or markers…. check Out Cort lindahl on youtube

Not true I just Sean one in Cloverdale indiana check it out

What a ridiculous idea! Anyone with a minimum of common sense and architectural flair would realize that an octagon would create ridiculously small and awkwardly shaped rooms. Thank you for the information!