Hiram Ramsdell House

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Hiram Ramsdell House
Hiram Ramsdell House.jpg
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LocationHigh and Perham Sts., Farmington, Maine
Coordinates 44°40′17″N70°8′58″W / 44.67139°N 70.14944°W / 44.67139; -70.14944
Built1858
ArchitectRamsdell, Cyrus
Architectural styleOctagon Mode
Part of Farmington Historic District (ID94001551)
NRHP reference No. 73000107 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPDecember 4, 1973
Designated CPJanuary 20, 1995

The Hiram Ramsdell House, also called the Octagon House, is an historic octagonal house located at High and Perham streets in Farmington, Maine. Built in 1858 by mason Cyrus Ramsdell, it was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places on December 4, 1973. [1]

Contents

Description and history

The Octagon House was inspired by the octagon house designs of Orson Squire Fowler. Fowler thought that a round shape was conducive to better air circulation and socialization. The Hiram Ramsdell House has an eight-sided glass cupola over the central staircase. The first floor has five rooms around the core while there are seven bedrooms on the second floor. [2]

Cyrus Ramsdell occupied the house for ten years before he sold the property to his brother Hiram Ramsdell, who resided there until his death in 1903. The house was used for apartments in the 20th century and subsequently fell into disrepair. In 1912, Farmington Normal School (today the University of Maine at Farmington) principal Wilbert G. Mallett bought the house. [2]

On February 26, 2012, the owner of the house, Deborah Mallett Cressall, died, and her family offered the Farmington Historical Society the chance to buy the house at a steeply reduced price. The Farmington Historical Society received a May 30, 2013, deadline to buy the house and quickly began a campaign to raise $250,000 to buy the home. That money would also fund the renovations to the roof and drainage systems. [2] The Farmington Historical Society acquired the house in May 2013. [3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 Hanstein, Bobbie (October 5, 2012). "Historical society begins campaign to acquire Octagon House". The Daily Bulldog. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Octagon and Titcomb". Farmington Historical Society. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
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