McElroy Octagon House

The McElroy Octagon House stands as a rare survivor of a nineteenth-century architectural trend that swept across North America. Built in 1861 by a local wood miller named William McElroy, the home was constructed based on the theories of Orson Squire Fowler, who argued that eight-sided houses were more efficient, easier to heat, and provided superior natural light compared to traditional square designs. At the time, this style was seen as a cutting-edge approach to healthy living, though its unconventional geometry often created awkward, triangular interior spaces that were difficult to furnish.