Octagon

Octagon Style Architecture located off M-24 southeast of Mayville
The Octagon style of architecture was first proposed for house building in the late 1840s by a lecturer named Orson Fowler. Fowler traveled the country speaking about the style of architecture that he believed was more economical to build, provided more light and ventilation, and was less costly to heat.

Beside the characteristic eight-sided appearance, Octagon houses are usually two stories in height, have a low pitched hipped roof, numerous windows of equal size and placement, and many have a large cupola rising up from the roof.

The Octagon was built in the 1850s - 1860s primarily in the Midwest, Massachusetts and New York. The style was used on structures other than houses, such as barns and schools but it never became very popular, and only rare examples still exist.