23. The Octagon

23a. Octagon (Hawksbury)

In 1848, in New York State, Orson Fowler loudly proclaimed that the octagonal shaped house had numerous benefits over 'square' shaped houses. He must have been an excellent salesman because hundreds of people bought Octagons. It is correct that the inner space is larger and that the rooms are brighter due to the many windows. What he didn't say is that the rooms are terrible to furnish due to the short walls and lack of square corners.

What to look for (clues)

- An eight-sided house.

- Most of the octagons sit a little bit above the ground.

- There is usually a verandah that encompasses the entire house.

- The third floor if often just a cupola or single room.

- The tall, narrow windows are often paired. Shutters may exist.

Where to find it

- Octagons are rather rare in Ontario (although not in New York State).

Other Structures

22d. This schoolhouse is in a conservation area near Port Rowan. I have seen one other octagonal schoolhouse near Sackville, New Brunswick.

22e. I couldn't resist this rare, 1790, octagonal outhouse that resides at King's Landing in New Brunswick. In 1783, a vast number of loyalists, fleeing the American Revolution, flooded the area. John Saunders was the area's Chief Justice at the time with a distinguished military career in the Queen's Rifles. In addition, he owned a 'barony' of 12,000 acres! I'm sure that this is where he would go to sit and think, with the lovely St. John River is in the background.