Fowler's Folly

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Lithograph of the Fowler Octagonal Mansion in Fishkill

Fowler's Folly, built during 1848–1853, was the octagonal home of Orson S. Fowler in Fishkill, New York. It was a "monumental" house for its time, with four stories and 60 rooms.[1] The house was condemned as a public health hazard and dynamited in 1897.[2]

Orson Squire Fowler was author of a book, The Octagon House: A House for All, that was first published in 1848. The book, frequently mischaracterized as a pattern book, ignited a fad for octagon houses in the United States and perhaps also in Canada.

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  1. ^ Bonafide, John A. (July 1997). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination:David Van Gelder Octagon House". Archived from the original on 2012-02-19. Retrieved 2008-06-08. and Accompanying 10 photos, exterior and interior Archived 2012-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ The Octagon House, Orson S Fowler: Introduction to the Dover Publications, Inc. 1973 reprint.