INDIANA

Adams County.

• Monroe. Octagon house. Located on IN-124, East of US-41. Present status unknown.
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: August, 2002.

Boone County.

• Zionsville. Octagon house. Built in 1868. Two story. No cupola. Porch covered only over entrance. Razed in the 1950s.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  1878

  
  
  Notice that a roof railing has disappeared some time between the 1878 image at the left, above, and the undated photograph at the right. Of course if the photograph is older, the railing would have been added...
  
  Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: September, 2002.
  Updated: June, 2009.
  Updated: December, 2012

Cass County.

• Logansport. Octagon house. Constructed pre 1860, by Elihu Rice. Located at 1100 Market Street. According to the current owner (2007), the first sale was in 1860. The house appears to be very well kept, with new siding and roof. Dormers on At least two sides. Two story. Porch on two sides.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  
  
  Photograph.
  
  Source: Dale Travis. The current owner, Thomas J. Smith. Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: May, 2002.
  Updated: July, 2007.
  Updated: December, 2012
• Logansport. Octagon house. Slabaugh-Rohrer House. Built about 1835. Now gone. Stone construction.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  
  
  Source: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: September, 2002.
  Updated January, 2010

Clark County.

• Clarksville. a.k.a. Jeffersonville. Octagon house. The Sidney Smith Lyon octagon house. Built in 1852. Located at 1449 Smyser. Constructed of hand made bricks. When first built in 1852, it fell apart at the seams according to a 1952 newspaper article where photo at right is from. Razed in 1940 to make way for the flood wall.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  
  
  Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer. Laura Renwick, Community Preservation Specialist, Historic Landmarks Foundation.
  Entered: February, 2002.
  Updated: March, 2009.
  Updated January, 2010

Clinton County.

• Frankfort. Octagon house. Built 1914-1915. Concrete block construction, with wood siding. Two-pitch, sectional roof.
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: August, 2002.

DeKalb County.

• Auburn. Octagon house. Located at 110 N. Indiana Avenuer, just north of 7th st.. Built ca 1863 by Alpheus Wheelock for Alonzo Lockwood, who lived there until 1894. Wheelock was builder of the second county courthouse and it is thought that he used bricks left over from that building on this house. There was one large room in the center of each of two floors, with pie-shaped rooms around the outer edge. A walnut staircase led from the lower to the second floor center room. Library has no records which show owners during the early years. Mrs. Sarah Grate is listed in the telephone directory of 1910 but not in the 1908-1909 area directory. Sarah Grate is listed in the directories at 110 N Indiana from 1925 through 1948-1949. In 1951-52 she is listed at 114 N Indiana. In 1953 until 1959 110 is listed as vacant; in 1961 it has disappeared from the directory. Forrest Gerig, owner of the property fronting 7th St, just north of 110 N Indiana, which served as residence and funeral home, purchased the house, which was at some point torn down and the space used as parking for the funeral home.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  
  
  Sources: Robert Kline. Ellen Puerzer. Gretel Smith, Eckhart Public Library. Artist of the drawing: Jeanne Cassady Gehring
  Entered: August, 2009.
  Updated October, 2009
  Updated December, 2009
• North of Butler. Octagon house. Built circa 1860. Two story. No cupola or porch today. Located at 6695 County Road 6.
  
  Photograph.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  
  
  The right two photos are circa 1987.
  
  Sources: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer. Gretel Smith, Eckhart Public Library.
  Entered: December, 2002.
  Updated August, 2009

Elkhart County.

• Millersburg. Octagon house. Age unclear. Two story.
  
  Photograph.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  
  
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: July, 2002.

Hancock County.

• Shirley. Octagon house. The Jane Ross Reeves Octagon House. Built in 1879. Two story, wood. The house is currently in the process of being restored, by the Jane Ross Reeves Octagon House Foundation, with the involvement of some descendants of Jane Ross Reeves. The foundation can be contacted at 765-738-6281.
  
  

  W. Jeller provides the following information:

  "The house originally had 2 portico's; one from the living room and one from the parlor. After Jane Ross Reeves died, the house was sold. The portico's were removed and a 3 sided wrap around was on the front of the house. Also about a side and half of the back was covered. We have put a porch all the way around as to best meet the needs of the community center and it also enhances the house."

  
  
  The images below show the house over the years. As of year 2010 the house was renovated, and is in excellent condition.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  
  
  Photograph.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  
  
  The top row, left hand, photo shows the house in 1879, with Jane Ross Reeves and her 12 children posing. The porches shown are the orginal ones - there was no wrap around porch. Top row, right, shows the condition of the house in 1987. Bottom row, left, shows the house in the process of being restored. The house had been moved 9 miles in 1997 by a member of the Octagon House foundation when it was found the owners, David and Francis Walden, planned to raze the house. How much of it is orginal at this stage is unclear. The wrap around porch was added to fit the needs of the current owners, not to reflect historical accuracy.
  
  Sources: Dale Travis. LOC HABS project IN-172. W. Jeller provides information about the restoration effort. Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: June, 2001
  Updated: March, 2004.
  Updated: July, 2006.
  Updated: June, 2009.
  Updated February, 2010
  Updated: November, 2011

Henry County.

• Knightstown. Octagon house. Built in 1840. "Tate's" Single story. High peaked roof.
  
  Photograph.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  
  
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: May, 2002

Jefferson County.

• Madison. Octagon railroad station. Built in 1895. Two story. Owned by the Pennsylvania railroad, itself now gone. Today the tracks are gone. The present function of the building is unknown, but at least it has survived.
  
  Photograph.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  
  
  Sources: Dale Travis and Jerry Freeze provide the photographs.
  Entered: May, 2002.
  Entered: September, 2003.

Jennings County.

• Hayden. Octagon house. One of two built by Henry Hawley in the 1860s. Now gone.
  Source: Roger D. Ruddick. Hayden Historical Museum Inc.
  Entered: July, 2009
• Hayden. Octagon house. The town was called Hardenburg in the 1860s, and was changed to Hayden in 1890. Built circa 1860 according to the current (2007) owners, by Henry Hawley, who also built another octagon house. In the 1930s some renovation was done. New windows, plaster, and a back porch. In the 1960s the back porch was converted to a dining area. Single story.
  
  Rumor has it that there were two more octagon houses in Hayden at one time. Clusters of octagon houses were relatively common in the mid 1800s, so this is at least plausible.
  
  The images below show the house over the years. The house looks stable as of year 2010.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  
  
  Photograph.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  
  
  The photograph at the left, above, shows the house in the 1930s, and the one on the right in the 1990s. The front porch was added, and an enclosed porch in the back.
  
  Sources: The likely new owner. Dale Travis. Roger D. Ruddick. Hayden Historical Museum Inc.
  Entered: August, 2005
  Updated: April, 2007
  Updated: September, 2007
  Updated: July, 2009
  Updated: November, 2011

Kosciusko County.

• Silver Lake. Octagon house. Built in 1890. 450 West, about one mile south of HWY 14. Two story. Current status unknown. Abandoned in 1991. Now gone.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  
  
  Sources: R. Kline. Ellen Puerzer. Kosciukso County Interim Report, Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory. Brandy Heckaman.
  Entered: September, 2002
  Updated: June, 2009
• Plain Township. Octagon schoolhouse. Built in 1864. By 1915 it was being used for church services. Current status unknown.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  Source: Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: January, 2010

Lake County.

• West of Cedar Lake. Round house. Two round barns also on the site.
  
  Photograph.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  
  
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: March, 2002
• Merrillville. Octagon log house. Age unclear. The photographs were taken from a moving train.
  
  Photograph 1 .
  
  Photograph 2 .
  
  Photograph 3 .
  
  Photograph 4 .
  
  Source: Kevin Berner, who also supplied the photographs.
  Entered: August, 2002.

Marion County.

• Indianapolis. Octagon house. Built about 1909. Razed in 1960. Located at 3458 North Meridian Street. Brick. An elongated octagon shape. Owned by John M. Bailey in 1915, but it's now clear whether he built it or had it built.
  Source: R. Kline.
  Entered: September, 2002

Porter County.

• Pines Turnpike., Octagon schoolhouse.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  An octagonal school stood on 1700 N LaPorte County Line Road (between LaPorte County and Porter County.) built in 1837 on land donated by Samuel Hacketts. Known as Eight Square school Eight corner stones were laid to form its shape and it was built of narrow flat boards laid vertically . Weather boarding later replaced it as exterior siding. It had eight sides each, 12 feet long. with one window on each wall.

  The land where the school stood is about 1.5 miles northwest of Otis on the Laporte-Porter County line.. Used as a school until 1890 it then became a church and Sunday school services until 1912 or 1914. Eight square served Pine Township as a Red Cross center in the first world war. H. C. Wolford who tore it down in 1931 said it was so securely built that is was necessary to dynamite one corner of it before his men could begin to hammer it apart.

  Source: Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: May, 2012
• Valparaiso., Octagon house. The David Garland Rose house. Built in 1860. Unique roof structure. Moved to the current location in the 1920s from a site about two blocks away. During the move its original double octagon design was lost, as was the stoop. The Gothic detailing is original. Not evident in the photograph is the fact the house leans back about 10 inches from its foundation. The house has been split into rental units, and has had at least one fire. Even the best view of the house, shown in the photograph below, suggests that it needs work.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  Left, 1960, right, 2013.

  
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  
  
  The photograph on the right, above, shows the result of some outside modifications. Some of the ornate trim has been lost. The house has probably been significantly modified on the inside, as a result of converting the house to aparetments, so at this point only a rough shell of the original house appears to still exist.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Sources: Nancy Gildart. Dale Travis supplies the photograph. Evan Williams provides historical information about the house. Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: June, 2002.
  Updated: July, 2002.
  Updated: October, 2002.
  Updated: July, 2009.
  Updated: April, 2010
  Updated: May, 2013

Putnam County.

• Cloverdale., Octagon house. Located at 154 North Main Street. Two story. No cupola. Wood construction. Appears to be in good condition.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  
  
  Photograph.
  
  Sources: R. Kline; Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: September, 2002.
  Updated: April, 2003.
  Updated: July, 2009.
  Updated October, 2009

Rush County

• Carthage. Octagon house. Built in 1855. Now gone. Two story.
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: August, 2002
• Rushville. William S. Hall octagon house. Later owned by Crull. Built in 1855. Two story. Unusual porches on first and second floors. Listed on the National Register on May 10, 1984. Now gone.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  
  
  In the photograph at the right, above, William S. Hall is seen at age 90, in the sitting room of his house.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  This photo is undated.

  
  
  Photograph.
  
  Gary Crull has provided a number of newspaper items dealing with the history of the house. They are all PDF files, and you might have to install a PDF viewer to see them.
  
  Item 1.
  
  Item 2.
  
  Item 3.
  
  Item 4.
  
  Item 5.
  
  Item 6.
  
  Sources: Dale Travis provides the photograph. Gary Crull provided the newspaper pieces. "More About Octagons," Carl Schmidt. Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: March, 2002.
  Updated: May, 2006.
  Updated September, 2009
  Updated: March, 2010

St. Joseph County.

• New Carlisle. The Matthews octagon house. Built about 1839. Torn down in 1952. Was the home of Mr. & Mrs. George Mathews, the step father and mother of Schuyler Colfax, of South Bend, who was Vice President under President U.S.Grant in 1868-1872.
  
  

  Left click on the images below for larger versions.

  
  
  The image at the left, above, is from 1925. The one at the right is from 1952, just before the house was demolished.
  
  Source: Dale Travis. Ellen Puerzer. John Kovach, St. Joseph County Indianna HS.
  Entered: March, 2002
  Updated: June, 2009

Shelby County.

• Noble township. Octagon house. Located on 100S.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  
  Sources: Ellen Puerzer. Stacey Orme, Collections Assistant, Reference Services, Indiana Historical Society.
  Entered: June, 2009

Spencer County.

• Rockport. Octagon house. Built in 1897. Located at 410 Walnut Street.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  
  
  
  Sources: R. Kline. E. Puerzer.
  Entered: August, 2007
  Updated: July, 2009

Vermillion County.

• West of Perrysville. Octagon house. Built in the 1850s. Condition apparently stable. Originally housed the Justice of the Peace.
  
  Photograph.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  
  
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: May, 2002

Vigo County.

• West of Terre Haute. Octagon house. Built in 1856. Single story. Condition poor. Possibly abandoned.
  Photograph.
  
  

  Left click on the image below for a larger version.

  

  
  
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: May, 2002