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The Octagon House

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Engelhard, NC
The Octagon House

The Octagon House (ca. 1857) is on the National Register of Historic Places. Preserving, protecting, Elizabeth died in 1860.

Located in Hyde Co., NC, this 19th century eight-sided house was built about 1857 by Dr. William T. Sparrow, a medical doctor born in Craven County (1825), who married Elizabeth Jennette. Elizabeth had inherited the land where the Octagon House is from her father, Robert Jennette. The Sparrows lived there for several years with their three children. Dr. Sparrow, who served in the Confederate Army and was discharged due to poor health, returned to the Octagon House and died in 1862. By 1879, the three Sparrow children had sold their interest in the house to John A. Northan, who lived there until his death in 1904. Following, it was inherited by Ola Gibbs, who later married Charles Payne. The house was lived in until the late 1950s. During the 1970s and 80s, interested community leaders spearheaded a restoration of the Octagon House. In 1976, the nonprofit "The Octagon House Restoration, Inc." was formed and the house and lot were purchased. Since that time, the restoration and preservation of this historic home in the Lake Landing Historic District has continued. Dr. Sparrow built the eight-sided house since he was enthralled with Orson Fowler, a phrenologist, and his popular 1848 book, The Octagon House: A Home for All, or A New, Cheap, Convenient and Superior Mode of Building. The house has a central chimney and four fireplaces and no posts, except for windows and doors. There are six rooms with a hallway upstairs and downstairs.

10/22/2026

09/25/2026

Well, looks like Dr. Sparrow's early weather predicting tool is again showing spoons for the upcoming winter weather. So more of the snow shoveling!
The American persimmon seeds will show the spoons for a snowy winter, or forks for a mild winter, or knives for a sharp, bitter and cold winter.

08/26/2026

Masonry work restoration of first floor Hyde County brick fireplaces is well underway as work continues inside the Octagon House.

08/16/2026

A Mattamuskeet apple update - they are coming along!

08/05/2026

Are you aware that there are thousands of vintage Hyde County photographs, year books, newspapers, and other information available to view online? The Ocracoke Preservation Society, the Hyde County Historical And Genealogical Society, the Friends of Hyde County's Historic 1854 Courthouse and others are working hard to preserve our history. To view go directly to: https://lib.digitalnc.org/search?ln=en&p=hyde+county&f=&sf=&so=d&rg=10&fti=1

07/11/2026

07/02/2026

And with all of the special celebrations this Fourth of July weekend, it is noteworthy to mention that Dr. William Sparrow (1826-1862) would be 200 years old this year. His vision of the Octagon House left an architectural treasure for Hyde County.

06/29/2026

Work is again underway on the remaining exterior wall projects as well as the interior fireplace brick/wall repairs and restoration. And, outside, the Mattamuskeet apple trees are showing apples for the upcoming fall season.

04/12/2026

Don't forget to get your copy of "Our History & Heritage" booklet. You can scan the QR code OR visit the website OR get a hard copy!

Address

30868 US 264
Engelhard, NC
27824

Website

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