Slide Title
Preview
Date
1-1-1979
Description
This early Victorian, two-story, wood-frame octagonal home was built in 1867 by watchmaker Albert S. Potter. The house was inspired by the 1853 publication "Home for All" by Orson Fowler. The influential book recommended the octagon as the most economical and practical shape for a house, however, the book also recommended using poured concrete, which this house did not incorporate. The house is owned by the Carolina Preservation and Band Society and is listed as a landmark in the National Register of Historic Places for the Carolina Historic District.
Creator 2 Role
Architect
Building Type
Single family dwelling
Building Style
Victorian
Subject Headings
Octagonal houses -- Rhode Island -- Richmond; Dwellings -- Rhode Island -- Richmond; Architecture, Victorian -- Rhode Island -- Richmond
Country Name
United States
Region Name
Rhode Island
City Name
Richmond
Street Address
4 Carolina Main St, RI-112
Recommended Citation
Smolski, Chester and Potter, Albert S., "Richmond: Albert S. Potter Octagonal House" (1979). Smolski Images. 1028.
https://digitalcommons.ric.edu/smolski_images/1028
Keywords
octagonal, architecture, Victorian, Richmond, South County
Notes
Bibliography: Jordy, William H. "Buildings of Rhode Island" Oxford University Press, 2004. p. 480. McGowan, Louis. "Octagonal Houses of Rhode Island." Quahog.org, 2016 www.quahog.org/factsfolklore/index.php?id=139. Accessed 11 Feb. 2016. "Rhode Island." Inventory of Older Octagon, Hexagon, and Round Houses, 2016, www.octagon.bobanna.com/RI.html. Accessed 12 Feb. 2016.