MICHIGAN

Alcona County.

• Harrisville. Octagon house. Located at 478 Huron Road.
  Source: R. Kline.
  Entered: September, 2002

Allegan County

• Douglas. "McDonald-Jones House". Octagon house. Appears to be 1850s vintage. Said to have been built by McDonald, who enlisted and was kill in the Civil War. His brother completed the house. At 90 Mixer Street, near the intersection of Randolph. In 1958 it was owned by Eva Wheeler, who bought it from Margaret Jones. The house was owned by Joseph Erlwein in the late 1970s. Wood, two stories, with cupola.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  
  Source: The Octagon Fad, p. 41, and Dale Travis.
  Entered: March, 2002
  Updated: December, 2006
• Casco Twp. Octagon house. The Clark Marvin Sheffer Octagon House. Built in 1872. Two story, wood, cupola. Completely restored in the 1980's. Now called the Octagon Fruit Farm.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: June, 2001.
• Otsego Twp. Octagon house. Orleans Street. Now gone. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002.

Barry County

• Hastings. Octagon house. Might be 1860s vintage. 804 South Jefferson. Two story. Wood construction.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: March, 2002
  Updated: December, 2006
• Nashville. Octagon house. Now gone. Was located at Road M-19, just west of the city of Nashville.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: July, 2002

Berrien County.

• Buchanan. Octagon house. Now gone. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002.

Calhoun County

• Albion. Octagon house. 416 E. Erie Street. Built before 1858. Sometimes called the "McGee-Osborne House," there is evidence that Osborne was not the first owner, although it's reasonably clear that R. McGee, carpenter and joiner, built the house. Brick. Altered to almost square by additions. Four corners, including the entrance, are flattened to provide for a single window. One can see this in the sketch below. A circular staircase runs from the first floor to the attic. A cupola was removed in the mid 1940s or before, and replaced by a skylight. The staircase likely ran all the way to the cupola originally. The house original had 12 foot ceilings. Sometime in the 1930s the ceilings were dropped 1.5 feet. A two story piece was added to the back of the house at some point to provide for a hallway and additional stairs. According to Nancy Gildart, who grew up in the second floor of the house, the cupola might have not been totally removed, but rather shortened, and the windows still provided ventilation when she lived there. The dormers on the house were removed in the early 1990s, nominally because they leaked, ( Often the result when preservation collides with money ) resulting in still more modification of the original structure.
  
  Now owned by Albion College, by the 1940s the home had been divided into two apartments. The house was occupied by college faculty members from the 1940s through the 1990s - the Irwin's lived on the first floor, and the Gildart's on the second. The house is listed in "The Octagon Fad" as being the Gildart house, but this is erroneous. At this time is not clear just who built the house, and it was referred to as "the octagon house on Erie Street" over the years. There is some possibility that the house was built by Henry McGee, who did build other structures in Albion, but at this time the earliest known owner sold the house in 1858, and might or might not have built the house too.
  
  Martha Irwin points out that a 1973 copy of the Dover edition of Orson Fowler's book, owned by her father, contained the following inscription:

  
  
  1873
  Milton Osborn bought from Seth A. Mathison, Nov. 1864
  
  Mathison bought from Ruth and Polly Douglass, Aug. 1859
  
  Douglass bought from Henry McGee in Jan. 1859
  
  H. McGee bought from George Hannahs Sept. 1858
  
  

  Her father, who lived in the house from the 1940s through the 1990s, had mentioned that the house was once owned by Milton Osborn, who might well have later sold it to Albion College. The "1873" might denote when the information was compiled.
  
  An early photograph shows the house with the cupola, and before corner additions were made. The presence of electrical wires in the photograph suggests that it was taken around or after 1910. A somewhat later photograph shows the home with the corner additions. A later photograph showing the front entrance.
  
  Jim Irwin, who also grew up in the house, provides a pen-and ink drawing of the home, as well as the following exterior photographs.
  
  Back of the home.
  
  Front entrance closeup.
  
  Front view of the home.
  
  Front view of the home in winter.
  
  Jim Irwin has also produced two detailed drawings of the present interior layout of the house:
  
  Ground floor.
  
  Upper floor.
  Nancy Gildart, who lived in the upstairs portion of the house, provided some modifications to the drawing provided by Jim Irwin, reflecting the direction of doors, placement of closets, etc.
  
  Jim Irwin also provided the following interior photographs:
  
  First floor view from the living room towards the sunroom.
  
  Spiral staircase leading to the second floor, lit by skylight.
  
  First floor interior view from the dining room towards the sunroom.
  
  The upper floor was occupied for many years by the Gildart family. Robert Gildart taught English at Albion college, and lived in the house from 1956 to 1996.
  
  The following map segment of Albion, from 1868. shows two octagons houses, left and right of the center of the map. One sees the house at 416 E. Erie Street on the left, and another octagon to its right. Now long gone, the exact address of the second house is uncertain.
  
  2007 photograph.
  
  Large version - front right.
  
  Large version - front left.
  
  
  Sources: Martha Irwin, Jim Irwin, and Nancy Gildart, who grew up in the house, and provided the information, drawings, and photographs.
  Entered: May, 2002
  Updated: July, 2007
  Updated: August, 2007
  
  
• Albion. Octagon house (gone). One block east of the 416 E. Erie Street house. Demolished years ago. Like the house at 416 E. Erie, the house was built by carpenter and joiner R. McGee. Source: The Octagon Fad, p. 40. See the 416 E. Erie house for a map showing the location and rough appearance of this house.
• Albion. Octagon house. Now gone. Appearing on an 1868 map, it was built in or before that year, by Henry H. Barnes, a farmer. It was located on the northwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Burr Oak Street, (Hannah Street in 1868? ) on 83 E. Michigan Avenue. The house is shown in the center of a segment an 1868 map of Albion, which provides not-to-scale renderings of houses and other structures. An 1857-58 plat map of Albion shows a rectangular house on the site. Another reference shows that Mr. Barns settled in the area in 1856. The octagon house appears on the lot by 1868, and is also shown on an 1873 plat map of the village, with a small rectangular addition on the northeast side of the house. The house was apparently demolished in the early part of the 20th century.
  Sources: Jim Irwin, Martha Irwin, and Frank Passic.
  Entered: May, 2002
• Albion. Octagon house. 29 1/2 Mile ( Formerly Newburg ) Road, 1/4 mile south of the RR tracks. Two photographs, cira 1977, of the house are provided by the ELPuerzer archive.
  
  Photograph 1
  
  Photograph 2
  
  Source: Martha Irwin and Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: May, 2002
• Albion. Octagon house. Located on Maple Street. It was demolished in 1948, and a street named Maple Ridge was run through the property, and a subdivision built.
  Source: Frank Passic and Martha Irwin.
  Entered: July, 2002
• Athens. Octagon house. Age unknown. Located at Burr Oak and Avenue A. Two story, small cupola.
  
  photograph.
  
  Larger version
  
  Source: Martha Irwin. Dale Travis provides a photograph.
  Entered: May, 2002
  Updated: July, 2002
  Updated: December, 2006
• Battle Creek. Octagon house. Likely built about 1855. Two stories with cupola. Located on 159 North Avenue. A segment of an 1880 panoramic map of Battle Creek shows the location and setting of the house at the center of the image.
  Dale Travis supplies the following
  photograph.
  
  Larger version
  
  Kevin Berner provided the following photographs.
  Front view.
  Front and right view.
  Left and back view.
  Right and back view.
  Front and left view.
  Back view.
  Sources: The Octagon Fad, p. 40-41, Dale Travis, and Kevin Berner.
  Entered: March, 2002
  Updated: December, 2006
• Battle Creek. Octagon house. Built about 1856. Cobblestone construction. Two stories with cupola. 20125 12 Mile Road. Unusual two story porch on one side.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  
  The ELPuerzer archive provides the following photographs, from about 1977:
  
  photograph 1
  
  photograph 2
  
  photograph 3
  
  Source: Dale Travis and Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: March, 2002
• Battle Creek. Octagon house. Built in or before 1880. Now gone. Mott and Marshall Streets. A segment of a map from about 1880 of Battle Creek shows the location and setting of the house at the center of the image. The unlabeled street is Mott.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002.
• Battle Creek. Octagon house. Built in or before 1880. Bennett and Pittee. A segment of an 1880 panoramic map of Battle Creek shows the location and setting of the house at the center of the image. Although it does not appear to be a complete octagon on this map, this is the location of the house, and what can be seen suggests eight sides and a cupola.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002.
• Battle Creek. Penniman Castle, named after dentist John Penniman. Started in 1900, construction continued until 1906. An early photograph shows a third floor, which apparently was destroyed by a chimney fire in 1941. Recent owners would like to restore the floor. It is located at about 443 Main Street, near the intersection with Kingman. The structure is built of fieldstone, and the interior contains the kind of ornate woods and woodwork that were still available in Michigan in 1900.
  
  Kevin Berner reports being in the house in November, 2005, and found that it still has an early 1900s decor. The design includes octagon rooms of all sizes. On the main floor the main room is an octagon, as is the main room on the second floor. Four octagon rooms come off of the main octagon room on both the first and second floors. On the second floor these rooms serve as bedrooms. There are also four octagon rooms in the basement, for a total of 14 octagon rooms in the house. It is not immediately obvious from the outside that the house is an octagon house, or just what it is for that matter. The four attached octagon rooms give the house an external appearance of just being rectangular.
  
  Kevin Berner provided the following photographs.
  Right side and rear view.
  Another right side and rear view.
  Rear and right side view.
  Front and right side view.
  Closer front and right side view.
  Front and left side view, showing a garage structure.
  Front view. The garage can now be more clearly seen.
  Source: Kevin Berner
  Entered: March, 2002
  Updated: November, 2005
• Battle Creek. Octagon house. Built about 1856. Cobblestone construction. Two stories with cupola. 20125 12 Mile Road. Unusual two story porch on one side.
  
  Photograph.
  
  The ELPuerzer archive provides the following photographs, from about 1977:
  
  photograph 1
  
  photograph 2
  
  photograph 3
  
  Source: Dale Travis and Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: March, 2002
• Battle Creek. Octagon house. Built in or before 1880. Now gone. Mott and Marshall Streets. A segment of a map from about 1880 of Battle Creek shows the location and setting of the house at the center of the image. The unlabeled street is Mott.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002.
• Battle Creek. Octagon house. Built in or before 1880. Bennett and Pittee. A segment of an 1880 panoramic map of Battle Creek shows the location and setting of the house at the center of the image. Although it does not appear to be a complete octagon on this map, this is the location of the house, and what can be seen suggests eight sides and a cupola.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002.
• Near Homer. Octagon house. The Brockaway house. Northeast of the village at 6284 26 Mile Road. Two stories with cupola; red brick. The house is apparently a centennial house, meaning that it has been in the same family for 100 years or more.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Photographs
  
  Large version -front view..
  
  Large version -rear view..
  
  Sources: Lawrence Kestenbaum, Dale J. Travis. Both provide photographs.
  Entered: About March, 2001
  Updated: July, 2007
  Updated: August, 2007
• Lyon Lake. Octagon house. built in 1909. Located at 110 Perrett Road. Apparently a house kit.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  
  Sources: Martha Irwin; photograph provided by Dale Travis.
  Entered: May, 2002.
  Updated: December, 2006.
• Near Homer. Second octagon house. Nothing else known.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: July, 2002.
• Marshall. "Abarthan Place" or "Pendleton-Alexander House". Octagon house with additions. 216 S. Eagle Street, at northwest corner of Eagle and Hanover streets. Built 1856 by Increase Pendelton, with help from his son, William H. Pendelton. A small rear segment was added some time before 1868. Morgan J. Alexander purchased the house in 1875, and remodeled it extensively. Stuccoed; two stories with cupola. A segment of an 1868 panoramic map shows the context of the house. The house is at the center of the image.
  
  photo, about 1875
  photo, about 2000
  another photo, about 2000
  Photograph.
  
  The following photographs were provided by the current owner December, 2007, and show some of the inside details of the house. The house appears to be largely in original condition, with many of the wood and glass details intact. The owners are in the process of doing some painting and other maintenance.
  
  Living room view showing bay window.
  
  Front right view of exterior.
  
  View of the roof from the Cupola.
  
  Interior view showing some of the restoration work.
  
  Dining area.
  
  Exterior view showing some restoration work.
  
  Interior view showing woodwork restoration and glass details.
  
  Interior view showing stairway.
  
  Larger version
  
  Sources: L. Kestenbaum; R. Schweitzer; M. Culver; Buildings of Michigan, p. 210; Dale Travis. Jeremy Adcock, 2007 owner.
  Entered: June, 2001.
  Updated: March, 2002.
  Updated: December, 2006.
  
  
• Near Marshall. Octagon house. Built in 1856. 17051 Sixteen Mile Rd., north of Marshall. Two stories; grout; cupola removed. Porch on three sides.
  Left and rear view.
  Rear view, showing addition.
  Second left and rear view.
  Right view near sunset.
  Distant view of the front.
  Distant view of the left side.
  Front view.
  Right view at sunset.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  Sources: L. Kestenbaum; T. & J. Smith (owners), and Kevin Berner and Dale Travis, who supplied the photographs.
  Updated: February, 2002.
• Marshall. Octagon house. Built in 1868 or earlier. Near the intersection of Locust and Marshall streets. Shown in an 1868 panoramic map , at the center of the image, the house appears to have three additions. Nothing else known.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: May, 2002

Cass County

• Dowagiac. Octagon house. Source: The Octagon Fad, p. 41. 518 Spruce Street. Two story. Porch on three sides.
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: March, 2002
• Dowagiac. Round house. Construction date unknown, but might be in the 1920s. Located at 58634 M-51 South. Two story.
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  Sources: Dale Travis, and Michelle Jewell, the current owner.
  Entered: March, 2002
  Updated: March, 2006
• Newberg Township. Octagon house. Nothing else known.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: July, 2002

Clare County

• Harrison. Octagon house. Now gone. Nothing else known.
  Source: R. Kline.
  Entered: September, 2002

Clinton County

• Northeast of Fowler, in Lebanon township. Octagon schoolhouse. Built in 1868. Burned down in 1990 when a neighbor's trash fire set the field in the school was located on fire. Located at the intersection of French and Grange Roads, it was originally located further back from the roads. When it was moved is not known here. It was located on the property of Bernard Vance, 13877 W. French Road, Pewamo, MI. 48873.
  Sources: "More About Octagons," Carl Schmidt. Martha Irwin. Richard E. McLaughlin.
  Entered: October, 2002
  Updated: December, 2004

Eaton County

• Charlotte. Octagon house (gone). Was located on Lovett Street. Source: Charlotte Reporter, 8/27/1971.
  
  Adrienne Saint-Pierre acquired the photograph in Ohio, while on a visit. The writing on the back of the photograph makes it clear that a photography business in Charlotte, MI, took the photograph, making it quite likely that it is indeed of the house. Taken in 1886 or 1887, the house is at least that old. It is quite remarkable that an old photograph of the house would turn up in another state altogether, and that someone on a visit would buy the photograph, locate this web site, and make the photograph available.
  
  Probable photograph.
  
  Writing on the back of the photograph.
  
  The back size of the photograph, kept large to maintain detail, also shows a number of names that might one day be used to determine the name of at least one of the owners. From left to right are James Mason, the likely owner at the time, two daughters, Stella and Florence ( which is which is not clear ), and, Graham Wells, Sabina, and Mrs. Wallace. Just who they are is not clear, but since James Mason was a recent widower, with five children ( only two shown ), they might have been relatives and domestics there to help with the children.
  
  Sources: R. Kline. Charlotte Reporter. Adrienne Saint-Pierre supplies the photographs.
  Updated: June, 2007

Emmet County

• Bay View. Octagon house. Built in 1884. Two story octagon cottage. Located in the National Historic Landmark District of Bay View.
  
  Photograph.
  
  2006 - photograph.
  
  2006 - photograph.
  
  Source: Jim Irwin. Martha Irwin provided the B&W photograph. Edward Rice provided the 2006 color photographs.
  Entered: May, 2002
  Updated: April, 2008
• Harbor Springs. Hexagon house. The Iphraim Shay house. Built in 1892. Two story. Has a number of side attachments.
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  
  Larger version
  Source: Dale Travis
  Entered: October, 2004

Genesee County

• Flushing. Octagon house. Built about 1850. Razed in 1942. Located at 717 East Main Street. Two story. Cupola.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: September, 2002

Gratiot County

• Alma. Octagon house. Built in approximately 1875 by William Anderson. Located 4223 Bliss Road, near the small town of Elwell. Two story. Yellow brick. Being restored. No cupola.
  
  Gloria Price, the great-great-great grandaughter of the builder, has kindly provided some history and photographs.
  
  Photograph, taken about 2005
  
  Another photograph, taken about 2005
  
  Aerial view, taken April 28, 2005
  
  Hubert Gee signature in cement, 1923 This appears to be a distant relative of George Gee, who homesteaded the land that was sold to William Anderson in 1865. How the inscription came to be there is unclear.
  
  Detail of furnace control.
  
  Sources: R. Kline, Dale Travis, Rick McLaughlin, and Gloria Price, great-great-great grandaughter of the builder, William Anderson.
  Entered: September, 2002
  Updated: June, 2005

Hillsdale County

• Jonesville. Octagon house. Located at West Street and Adrian Road. Now gone. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002
• Jonesville. Octagon house. Located at US 12 and Concord Road. Altered. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002
• Jonesville. Octagon house. Possible third house. Altered. Nothing else known.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: July, 2002
• Jonesville. 12-sided house. Built before 1958, when it was somewhat restored, but how much before is not known. The current owner (2007) suggests that it was built "in the 1800s." Located about a mile from Jonesville. Sadly, the current owner also mentions that the house is slated to be demolished.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Large version of the above.
  
  Another large version of the above.
  
  Sources: Carl Schmidt, "More About Octagons."Dale Travis provides the photographs.
  Entered: September, 2002
  Updated: August, 2007
• North Adams. Octagon house. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002

Ingham County

• Dansville. Octagon house. Built in 1863. Located at 1397 Mason Street; just east of main corners of village, on north side of M-36. Grout construction; the exterior walls, which were in bad condition, were recently resurfaced, changing the appearance of the house.
  A 1978 photograph of the house, provided by the ELPuerzer archive.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Sources: L. Kestenbaum, M. Culver, Dale Travis, and Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: March, 2002
  updated: September, 2002
  updated: November, 2004
• Lansing. Octagon house. Built in the 1854, by Colonel Whitney Jones. Was located at the southeast corner of South Washington Avenue at Kalamazoo. It was moved to the back of the same property in 1902, and used for a warehouse., Demolished in 1929.
  
  Photograph.
  
  The photograph above shows the house in the process of being moved.
  
  Source: Source: L. Kestenbaum.
  Entered: March, 2002
  Updated: February, 2005

Ionia County

• West of Belding. Cooks Corners. Octagon house. Age unclear. Located at 6979 White Bridge Road.Two story. No cupola. No porch.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Sources: Martha Irwin. Dale Travis provides the photograph.
  Entered: May, 2002.
  Updated: July, 2008.
• Ionia. Octagon house. Built before 1868.
  A segment of an 1868 map of Ionia shows the possible location of the house, between Main and Washington Streets.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: June, 2001.
  Updated: July, 2004.
• Saranac. Octagon house. Apparently built between 1850 and 1852. Located at 168 South Main Street. Single story.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  
  Sources: Elline Slater-Trumbal, the owner. Dale Travis provides the photograph.
  Entered: September, 2001.
  Updated: July, 2004.
  Updated: November, 2004.

Jackson County

• Near Concord. Formerly octagonal house. On M-60 immediately west of Concord. One story, wood, altered to square by filling in corners. Source: L. Kestenbaum.
• Near Jackson. Octagon house with octagonal barn. On M-60 near Jackson. Could be same property as previous entry. Source: The Octagon Fad, p. 41.
• Parma. octagon house. Brownhurst. Built in 1852 by William and Lucinda (Landon) Brown. William Brown came to Michigan from New York in the 1840s. Located at 6770 Brown Road, Parma, MI, 49269. Two stories. Stucco. Cupola. Very well maintained. The exterior is plausibly in quite original condition. There are two historical plaques located on the front of the house.
  
  Reid Campbell, whose relatives owned the house for three generations, and lived in it himself for a while in the 1960s, relates the following information. Herman and Ellen (Benham) Brown lived in the house after William and Lucinda Brown died. After they died the house was inherited by their youngest daughter Bernice. She and her husband, Ray Campbell, then lived in the house. Upon Ray Campbell's death in 1970 ( Bernice died in 1968 ) the house was passed on to the children, Norman Charles Campbell, Doug Campbell and Joann Campbell. The house and farm were then sold to Doug Campbell, who then lived in the house until the early 1980s. Thereafter the house has had three owners, who pretty much kept the house and the contents, many family heirlooms, intact. A large amount of detailed history of the house exists. Alas,many of the contents were eventually auctioned off, much to the consternation of the original family, which bought as many items as they could. As so often happens, much of the history of the house has been scattered to the winds now.
  
  Frank Passic, Albion historian, supplies a postcard of the house, written in 1907 by Ellen (Benham) Brown to her cousin Carrie (Snyder) Ott.
  
  1907 view of the house, showing a back right shot, and a third door to the outside.
  
  Following are two 1986 photographs, supplied by Jim Irwin.
  
  Front and right side view.
  
  Front and left side view.
  
  The following photographs are from 1974, also supplied by Jim Irwin.
  
  Back view.
  
  Front and left side view.
  
  Another front and left side view.
  
  A 1976 photograph of the house, provided by the ELPuerzer archive.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Sources: Jim Irwin, Reid Campbell, Erin Cambell Frank Passic, and Dale Travis.
  Entered: July, 2002
  Updated: October, 2002
  Updated: December, 2004
  Updated: April, 2006
• Near Rives Junction. Octagon house. Near US-127 interchange. Modern; built probably in 1960's. Wood. Source: L. Kestenbaum. Photo pending.
• Spring Arbor. Octagon house and barn. Built about 1860. Located at 49283 Spring Arbor Road ( M-60 ). Both have been demolished.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002
• Springport. Octagon house. Nothing else known.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: July, 2002

Kalamazoo County

• Kalamazoo. Octagon House. Potter House. 925 South Westnedge. Built 1853 (another source suggests 1856), by congressman Allen Potter. Brick, one story, cupola. Abraham Lincoln spent a night in the home after delivering a campaign speech. A segment from an 1874 panoramic view of Kalamazoo shows the home near the corner of West and Burr Oak Streets. West Street is now Westnedge, and most of the other streets have also been renamed, something to keep in mind when looking for homes on old maps.
  Historic photo - date unknown.
  Front view.
  Side view.
  Closeup front view.
  History.
  View of the ceiling.
  View of central internal area.
  
  
  Photograph.
  
  Sources: R. Schweitzer, The Octagon Fad, p. 41-42, Kevin Berner supplied many photographs and the historical material, Dale Travis supplied photographs.
  Entered: January, 2002.
  Updated: February, 2007.
• Kalamazoo. "Clapham House"; nearly octagonal house. Built 1856. 628 S. Rose Street. Wood, two stories; the front, rear and side walls are a bit longer than the diagonals. A segment of an 1874 map of Kalamazoo shows the location on Rose Street, at the intersection with Dutton Street. It is at the center of the map.
  Front and right view.
  Rear view, showing addition.
  Front and left view.
  Front view.
  Left side.
  History.
  House as it appeared about 1900.
  
  Sources: R. Schweitzer, The Octagon Fad, p. 42, and Kevin Berner, who supplied the photographs.
  Updated: February, 2002.
• 1 mile north of Cooper. Octagon house. Douglas Ave. Now gone. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002

Kent County

• Grand Rapids. Octagon house (gone). Built by Elihu Smith, 1853; demolished 1961 for I-96 freeway. Baxter's 1891 history of Grand Rapids says the house was built in "the era of building gravel or cement houses." Located on a bluff on the north side of the Michigan Street Hill, at 7 Hastings N.E., the house had a commanding view of Grand Rapids, The hill, the house, and the surrounding neighborhood are now long gone. An article, containing a photograph of the house, appeared in the Grand Rapids Press in about 1961.
  
  The following 1868 map of Grand Rapids, Michigan, shows the home at the center, at 7 Hastings Street. Eliahu Smith own a steam powered machine shop by 1856, which was located on the east side of Canal Street.
  Source: R. Kline.
• Grand Rapids. Octagon house. Built in 1856 by Ira Jones, and, according to Baxter's 1891 history of Grand Rapids, built of cobblestone. Two story. Now gone. Located at 706 Butterworth Street S.W. - called Butterworth Road at the time.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002
  Updated: October, 2007
• Grattan. Octagon house. Appears to be 1860s construction. Located at 13027 Seven Mile Road. Two story. Cupola. Has an unusual recessed porch on the first and second floors.
  
  Photograph
  
  Photograph
  
  Photograph.
  
  Sources: R. Kline; Kevin Berner and Dale Travis supplied the photographs.
  Entered: September, 2002
  Updated: May, 2003
  Updated: July, 2006
• Kentwood. Octagon house. The Sluman and Delia Bailey octagon house, built in 1855. Located at 3180 E. Paris Road, S.E., which is near the intersection of E. Paris Road and 32nd Street. Sluman Bailey was a pioneering figure in Kentwood. The octagon house was part of the Bailey farm, but was only one of Sluman Bailey's interests, which also included many different local government positions. In addition, he kept a detailed diary throughout his life, which contains a great deal of information about activities involving the house. Many details of the house can be found in the book "The Story of Kentwood, A History of Kentwood, Michigan," ISBN 0-9662943-0-0.

  Now a commercial building. Until about 1990, when E. Paris Road was expanded from two to four lanes, the house was well back from the road, and in a more rural setting.
  
  Photograph supplied by Raymond V. Kline, April, 2001.
  
  Dale Travis supplies this set of photographs.
  
  Larger version
  
  An undated, early photograph of the house with a porch on seven sides shown:
  
  Early photograph.
  
  Descriptions of the house in all of the photographs below are relative to the front door. e.g., front left is to the left of the front door as seen by someone standing outside, looking at the front door.
  
  The following photographs were taking in March, 1973, and show the house long before it became a commercial property.
  
  Front view.
  
  Front left view.
  
  Front right view.
  
  Kevin Berner supplied a winter view of the house.
  
  The following photographs were taken during an open house celebrating 150 years since the construction of the house. Free access to the house was provided, inside and out, and a reasonably complete view of the house was obtained. After years without it, a porch similar to the original, on 7 sides of the house, has been added, and the widow's walk restored. It appears that around 1973 the upstairs of the house was a separate apartment. A set of stairs leading from the rear first floor entrance to the second floor, in no way original, has been removed.
  
  In general the house is in excellent condition. One can compare the 1973 photos above to the house in 2005 to see how much careful restoration wore has been done. Most of the fixtures have been replaced again with pieces that would have existed when the house was first electrified.
  
  Exterior photographs
  ---------------------------
  
  Left side view
  
  Front left view
  
  Front right, showing front door and rear entrance
  
  Right back side, showing basement, and the first, and second floors
  
  Right back side, showing first and second floors
  
  Right back side, showing mostly basement, first floor
  
  Left back side, showing basement, and the first, and second floors
  
  
  First floor interior photographs
  -----------------------------------
  
  Front door
  
  Fireplace and stairs to the second floor
  
  
  Second floor interior photographs
  -----------------------------------
  
  Front left side
  
  Top of stairs, facing right side
  
  Stair guard
  
  Stair guard and stairs between the first and second floors
  
  Entrance to room in the rear of the house. Hatch above the door is attic access
  
  
  Basement interior photographs
  -----------------------------------
  
  Access door to outside - mostly faces right side
  
  Fireplace - no longer functional - also stairs to the first floor
  
  Batten on basement ceiling, probably once plastered
  
  Log holding up first floor beams
  
  Sources: R. Kline, Dale Travis, Ray Boisvenue, and Kevin Berner. Lynn Mack, the current owner of the house, provided free access to the house for taking photographs.
  Entered: March, 2002
  Updated: March, 2005
  Updated: June, 2005

• Kentwood. Octagon restaurant. Existed until at least the mid 1940s. Advertised "Hamburgers, Dinners, Fish Frys." Single story structure. A photograph is available in the book "The Story of Kentwood, A History of Kentwood, Michigan," ISBN 0-9662943-0-0, page 171.
  
  Newspaper image from 1929.
  
  Source: R. Kline.
  Entered: April, 2001
• Lamont. Octagon house. Now gone. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002

Lapeer County

• Almont. Eight sided house. The Frederick P. Currier house, built in 1854. Located on 231 East St. Clair Street. Four sides of the house are 6 feet long, and the other four 20.5 feet. The house was in the family until 1960. In 1985 Frederick P. Currier IV purchased the house and had it completely restored.
  
  An 1890 view of the house.
  
  Contemporary photographs.
  
  Large image of left front of house.
  
  Large image of front of house.
  
  Large image of the front door.
  
  Large image of historical sign..
  
  History & photographs.
  
  Sources: R. Kline and "An Octagon for the Curriers," Melanie Meyers,Frank Angelo, and Frederick P. Currier IV, Post Publishing, $29.95. Dale J. Travis provided many of the photographs.
  Updated: June, 2004

Lenawee County.

• Adrian. The J. H. Champion octagon house. Built in 1856. 523 S. Winter Street. A circa 1977 set of photographs is provided by the ELPuerzer archive:
  
  Photograph 1
  
  Photograph 2
  
  Photograph 3
  
  Contemporary photograph.
  
  A detailed discussion of the house.
  
  Sources: Martha Irwin, Ellen Puerzer, Dale Travis. Peter Barr.
  Entered: May, 2002
  Updated: April, 2005
  Updated: May, 2005
• Adrian. Second octagon house. Nothing else known.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: July, 2002
• Hudson. Octagon house. The Heman Goodrich House. Built about 1862. Located at 428 South Church Street. Two story. Brick construction. Heman was apparently married to one of Will Carlton's sisters. Michigan's Poet Laureate, Will Carlton was born just east of Hudson in 1845.
  
  Front view
  
  Rear view
  
  Sources: Martha Irwin. Edward Lancaster, the current owner, who also supplied the photographs and details about the house..
  Entered: May, 2002
  Updated: June, 2004
• Tecumseh. Octagon house. Now gone. Nothing else known.
  Source: R. Kline.
  Entered: May, 2002

Macomb County

• Romeo Bruce township. Octagon house. 36 Mile Road, .6 miles west of Van Dyke Road. Now gone. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002.
• Mt. Vernon. Octagon house, by William Austin Burt. Built in 1843. Located at 3603 28 Mile Road. Wood clad, two story. One of three or four "Burt Chalets" remaining with ties to William Austin Burt, who. with his family and associates, built several.
  
  The current owners provide the following information:
  
  "The home was built by William Austin Burt for one of his sons, I believe the name was Wells Burt, in 1843, a little before Orson Fowler became popular. The construction is a timber frame type with 8x8 timbers for support in all of the corners and perimeter of the building. We are in the process of replacing the upper wooden decking and columns at this time."
  
  The current owners are in the process, as of July, 2005, of restoring the upper wood deck to a more original condition.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Sources: Matthew Schulte. Dale Travis and Jerry Freeze provide the photograph. Jim and Jean Holcomb, the current owners.
  Entered: June, 2001.
  Updated: June, 2003.
  Updated: July, 2005.
• Near Washington. "Loren Andrus House"; octagon house. 57500 Van Dyke near 26 Mile Rd. Brick, two stories, with cupola. Built 1859-60, by Loren Andrus, an engineer who surveyed the Clinton and Kalamazoo Canal, and the route of the railroad between Port Huron and Flint.
  
  Loren Andrus
  
  The architect was the builder's brother-in-law, the local carpenter David Stewart. The basement has fieldstone and clay walls three feet thick. The upper three stories have foot thick walls made of brick. The house was originally part of a 380 acre peach farm. A history of the home was written about 1950, by Virginia Bond and another. It was owned by Wayne State University until 1964, and used as a headquarters for the Albert H. Schmidt Foundation Farm. It was also used by students specializing in agriculture.
  
  After 1964 it was slated to be demolished, and was purchased by a private party for restoration. Around 1984 to 1987 it was purchased by "Friends of the Octagon House," which then raised the funds to restore the house. See "Sources" below for a web link to the house.
  
  Photograph.
  
  A Photograph and postcard.
  
  The postcard shows the house in perhaps the 1940s, or 1950s. It's interesting that it had a four digit phone number. The ad is from the time the house was at least partly a restaurant.
  
  Sources: M. Culver; R. Schweitzer
  The Octagon Fad, p. 43
  Buildings of Michigan (photo), p. 177
  Friends of the Octagon House
  Martha Irwin supplied the photograph
  Dale Travis supplied the postcard.

Manistee County

• Arcadia. Octagon house. Now gone. Two stories, and a full basement. Located just north of Arcadia, on the top of a hill, on property now owned by Consumers Power Company. The company demolished the house in anticipation of constructing a pumped hydro facility, but then did not build. The house employed poured concrete walls, containing large field stones, and was scored on the outside to make it appear that the house was built of concrete blocks. An octagonal chimney extended through the center of the house, which had central heating, with an octopus like structure of ducts that ran out from the center. Iron bolts secured the roof of the porch to the walls. The pilasters and the horizontal belt course at the second story level are part of the concrete wall.
  
  The following photograph, from Carl Schmidt's second book, "More About Octagons," is possibly of the house. The photograph was possibly taken in the 1950s. The house appears to be abandoned already. Eric Showalter visited the house several times in the 1970s, and states that the photo might well be of the house. Old deeds might provide information about who built and owned the house, and perhaps lead to photographs of the house when it was inhabited.
  
  Sources: Martha Irwin. Eric Showalter, who provided location and other details.
  Entered: May, 2002.
  Updated: June, 2003.

Marquette County

• Marquette. Octagon house. Home of high school teacher
  Source: Vivian Glass.

Mason County

• Eden township?. Octagon house. Located on Hawley Road. Now gone. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002.
• Branch. Octagon house. Razed in the 1990s. Located on Barothy Road. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002.

Newaygo County.

• Hesperia. Octagon house. Construction date unknown. Single story. Cupola. Porch on at least four sides. Appears to be wood construction.
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: March, 2002

Oakland County

• Lake Orion. Octagon house. 850 Pleasant Ridge. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002
• Lake Orion. Second octagon house. Also on Pleasant Ridge. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002
• Lake Orion. Octagon house. Now gone. Located at 458 Main Street.
  Source: R. Kline.
  Entered: September, 2002
• Oxford. Octagon house. Harry Frink House, built around 1850. Located at 2246 Oxford Rd. Two story. Cupola. Each side of the house is 20 feet long, making it a very large house. A spiral staircase in the center of the house stops short of the cupola. Frink was a farmer and master carpenter from New York.
  
  The current owners are apparently the 7th, although the second owner was in the house some 80 years. The current owners say the house is basically in very good condition, and are in the process of restoring the items changed to agree with the original plans, which they have.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Photograph - front view.
  
  Photograph - left view.
  
  Photograph - front left view.
  
  Sources: the owners as of September, 2004, and Dale Travis, provided the photographs.
  Entered: June, 2001.
  Updated: September, 2004.
  Updated: April, 2006.
  Updated: July, 2007.
• Pontiac. Octagon house. Quite possibly the Dunlap house. Built in the 1850s. Razed in 1929. Two story. Cupola. A 1926 photograph suggest there is no porch, which probably means the original one rotted away, which was the fate of most of them. The house is shown at the center of a segment of an 1867 map of Pontiac, on 127 West Huron Street. Another possible polygon structure appears nearest the upper right hand corner.
  
  The following is a photograph of the house taken about October 26, 1926, two to three years before it was razed..
  
  Sources: R. Kline. Ken and Tammy Martin supplied the photograph. The photograph is part of the Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University, and is used with permission.
  Entered: June, 2002
  Updated: November, 2007

Oceana County.

• Pentwater. Hexagon mansion. Built in 1870 by S.E.Russell, as a boarding house for visiting lumbermen from Chicago. Two story, cupola, likely a library. First and second story porch might go all the way around.
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: March, 2002
  Updated: March, 2006

Ottawa County

• Gitchel. Octagon house. Located at 595 24th Avenue. About one half mile south of Gitchel, which is little more than a cross roads. The house is about 3 miles south of Jamestown.

  The house was substantially modified in the 1950s, as can be seen in a set of photographs.
  
  Larger version
  
  Larger version The earlier one, taken around 1900, shows a two story house. Today the house is a single story dwelling, and features like the curvature of the tops of the windows have also been removed. The pitch of the roof is about the same today as in 1900, but the widow's walk, porch, and much of the "gingerbread" is gone.

  The reasons for the substantial downsizing of the house are not currently known.

  
  Source: R. Kline. Dale Travis supplies the photographs.
  Entered: September, 2002
  Updated: August, 2004

Saginaw County

• Chesaning. Octagon house. Located on the edge of town, on M-157. Nothing else known.
  Source: Dale Travis
  Entered: August, 2002

Sanilac County

• Amadore. Now Croswell. Octagon house. Built in 1869 by George W. Smith. Located at 7925 Wildcat Road. Two story. Large cupola - 13 feet wide. Wood sided.
  
  Amadore was the the original name of the town. In year 2007 it has no post office, and the mailing address is now Croswell, MI. Near the St. Clair county border, the house is sometimes erroneously said to be in Jeddo.
  
  George W. Smith was from Scotland, and was a seaman on the Great Lakes until he turned to farming. The orginal farm was 120 acres.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version - rear right of house.
  
  Larger version - rear right of house.
  
  Larger version - rear of house.
  
  Larger version - left side of house.
  
  Sources: R. Kline. The current owners (2007), Bill, Cindy, and Jesse Todd.Dale J. Travis provides the photographs.
  Entered: July, 2002
  Updated: May, 2007
  Updated: July, 2007
• Sandusky. Octagon house. Built in 1910. Located at 132-13 Elk St.
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: August, 2002

Shiawassee County

• South southeast of Owosso. Octagon schoolhouse. Built in 1850. located at 723 Bennington Road. Converted to a private residence.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: August, 2002
  Updated: April, 2008

St. Clair County.

• Almont. Octagon house. located at 231 E. St. Clair St. Nothing else known.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: July, 2002
• Fawn River. Octagon house. located at Fawn River Road. Contemporary.
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: August, 2002
• Yale. Octagon house. Nothing else known. Searched for in 2007, but not found.
  Sources: Martha Irwin. Dale J. Travis.
  Entered: May, 2002
  Updated: July, 2007

St. Joseph County.

• Fawn River. Octagon house. ( Originally a school. ) Built in 1881. Located at 31251 Fawn River Road. Two story.
  Photograph.
  Source: Martha Irwin. Dale Travis supplies the photograph.
  Entered: May, 2002
  Updated: July, 2003

Shiawassee County

• Shiawasseetown. Octagon house. Built in 1850, as school. 723 Bennington Road. One story.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002

Sanilac County

• Amadore. Octagon house. Wildcat Road. Nothing else known. ( Carl Schmidt's book, "More About Octagons," list the county as "Smallac," but this does not exist. And the city or town as Anadore, which also does not exist today. )
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002
• Sandusky. Octagon house. 132 S. Elk. Nothing else known.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002

Tuscola County

• East of Mayville. Octagon house. Built in 1870, by William Randall. 5927 Treasurer Road. Two story. Large cupola. Also an octagon carriage house. Now a bed and breakfast.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version - front of the house.
  
  Larger version - B&B sign.
  
  Sources: Martha Irwin. Dale J. Travis provided the photographs.
  Entered: May, 2002
  Updated: July, 2007
• Richville. Octagon house. Located on Reese-Richville Road, off M-46. Nothing else known.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: July, 2002

Van Buren County.

• Northeast of Covert. Octagon house. Built in 1908. Two story, cupola. Wood construction.
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: March, 2002
• Northeast of Hartford. Round house. Woods Hole Silo House. Four story. Perhaps a converted silo.
  Photograph.
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: March, 2002
• South Haven. Octagon house. Built in 1872. Located at 7371 North Shore Drive. Two story. Cupola Apparently the house has been significantly renovated as of July, 2003. The cupola may or may not be original. Possibly it has been restored.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Photograph showing house context.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Sources: R. Kline. Kevin Berner and Dale Travis supply the photographs.
  Entered: July, 2002
  Updated: July, 2003
  Updated: April, 2007

Washtenaw County

• Ann Arbor. "Winchell House"; octagon house. Built in 1853. Razed in 1913. On North University Ave. at site where U-M's Hill Auditorium now stands. Demolished 1913. A portion of an 1880 map . shows the location of the house, at center of the image.
  
  Brief article, photos, floor plan..
  
  Alexander Winchell left the U. of Michigan in 1872 and became chancellor at Syracuse Univesity. In 1875 he became a faculty member at Vanderbilt. What he did with the house after 1872 is not clear.
  
  A 1904 photograph.
  
  Alexander Winchell..
  
  Sources: M. Culver; L. Kestenbaum; R. Schweitzer; The Octagon Fad, p. 40; R. Kline.Wystan Steven, Ann Arbor historian.
  Updated: October, 2003.
  Updated: March, 2008.
• Near Dexter. "Henes House"; octagon house. Age unclear. 4360 Mast Road. Unusual roof. Wood exterior. Needs paint, but otherwise appears to be in good condition.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Larger version
  
  Sources: M. Culver. Mark Comstock provides the photograph.
  Updated: May, 2004
• Northeast of Manchester. Octagon house. Single story. Large cupola. It is not clear whether the house is old, or was built to look old. Nothing else known.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Source: Dale Travis.
  Entered: December, 2004
• South of Rushton. Octagon house. The Devereaux house. Built in 1864. 66425 West Eight Mile Road, west of Rushton Road. Two story. Cupola.
  
  A photograph of the house, provided by the ELPuerzer archive.
  
  Photograph.
  
  Sources: Martha Irwin, M. Culver, R. Devereaux, Dale Travis, and Ellen Puerzer.
  Entered: May, 2002
  Updated: September, 2002
  Updated: March, 2007
• Ypsilanti. "McAndrew House" Octagon house. Built in 1854 by William McAndrew, a carpenter, and husband of Dr. Helen McAndrew, who ran her practice from the house. 105 S. Huron Street. Shown in an 1868 map segment of Ypsilanti. Two stories. Demolished years ago.
  
  A historic photograph, possibly taken in the late 1850s, shows the home to be two story, with a large cupola, and a porch probably on five sides. A rectangular room hangs off one side of the house, and was likely part of the original construction.
  
  A photograph of the house, provided by the ELPuerzer archive, probably from the 1970s, shows how dramatically the house was altered over the years. A form of cupola exists, but it's not clear it has any windows, or just what it's function was. As is so often the case, the porch is gone. The original chimney is gone, and apparently some kind of fireplace has been added. Some kind of porch structure, shown at left, over what was probably the orgiginal front door, has also been added. The rectangular room to the right might or might not be part of the original. The camera angle does not permit enough view of the back of the house to know whether this is over and above the original rectangular structure.
  Sources: M. Culver; The Octagon Fad, p. 43, and Ellen Puerzer.
  Updated: September, 2002.
  Updated: September, 2007.
• Ypsilanti. Octagon house. Built before 1868 or before. Originally located on Cross Street, near the intersection with Summit Street. Shown in an 1868 map segment of Ypsilanti. Wood, two stories. Moved from Cross Street in 1966, and now located at 114 N. River Street, where it serves as an "SOS Clinic".
  
  Photograph.
  
  Sources: M. Culver; L. Kestenbaum; R. Schweitzer; R. Kline; Dale Travis.
  Entered: June, 2002
  Updated: February, 2004

Wayne County

• North of Plymouth Township. Octagon house. Perhaps the Dohmstreitch-Roy house. Built in 1860. Located on a hill. Razed about 1955.
  Source: Martha Irwin.
  Entered: May, 2002
• Plymouth Township. Octagon house. Now gone. Two story. Cupola.
  Source: R. Kline
  Entered: September, 2002
• Southeast of Plymouth Township. Octagon house. Possibly built in 1870 to 1880. 7352 (7342?) Newburgh Road, just north of Ford Road. Moved to the Westland Historical Museum property at 857 North Wayne Road. White horizontal siding, and several "wings" attached.
  
  A photograph. showing the move in progress.
  
  Outside repairs
  
  Source: Martha Irwin and Dale Travis.
  Entered: May, 2002
  Updated: January, 2007