Around 1850! Who knew?
The words Hendricks House on the historical marker caught my eye as I was a passenger in the back seat. We were at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck a couple of weeks ago and staying in Red Hook where this landmark is located. It’s the town’s Public Library.
Built in 1865. Randi pulled over so I could capture these pics.
“The Hendricks House is a rare surviving example of the octagonal concrete form of house construction popularized in the mid-19th century by phrenologist and author Orson Squire Fowler, whose book A Home for All (1850, 1854) launched a nationwide fad for octagonal buildings. Between 1847 and 1856, Fowler built his own octagonal concrete house in nearby Fishkill, which may have provided inspiration for local builders in Dutchess County”
Cool!!
Interesting…I wonder what it is shaped like on the inside….
Great sighting. Interesting for sure. gar
Very cool house.
This is perhaps the most unusual old house I’ve ever seen. What a find!
That house is a beauty!
Hendricks House, great name for such a beautiful house, great detail . I would love to see the inside rooms.
Thanks for posting this Ruth as I had noticed that house too while we were in the Red Hook NY area. There is one here in FL on the beach near me and it always catches my attention. For some reason I decided it looked like a sea captain’s house, but that’s just my imagination talking.
I think they should put a Hendricks House sign up at your MP home! dc
I wonder why people felt octagonal houses were superior to square/rectangular ones? Seems like they would be more difficult to create…. better lighting, perhaps?
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/09/realestate/octagon-house.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Looking for a House in This Tight Market? Consider an Octagon.