During the mid 19th century America's contribution to unique and exotic architecture was the octagon house (eight sided). From about 1850 to 1860 more than a thousand from grand to humble were built. Many are gone now but a significant number still survive.
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Octagon House - Hancock County
This house is in Shirley. I first saw this house about thirty years ago, it was located a couple miles or so from Shirley in the middle of no where a good distance from the road. It wasn’t in very good shape then and I was hopping it would be saved. I was told a group of men bought the large piece of property and moved the house here and restored it. It very seldom seems the same after a structure has been moved but it is a great alternative. As you can see it is decked out for Christmas. This view looks to the southwest. This photo was taken on November 28, 2009.