National Register of Historic Places

Octagon House

Danbury, Fairfield County, Connecticut
Listed
May 6, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73001945

About this property

The Octagon House is a historic octagon house at 21 Spring Street in Danbury, Connecticut, United States. It is considered the best octagon house of those that survive in Connecticut. In 1973 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places to avert its demolition in urban renewal. It is west of downtown Danbury in a residential area approximately midway along Spring between Beaver and New streets. The house itself is set back further from the street than its neighbors. It is a three-story building of one-foot–thick (30.5 cm) concrete walls faced in stucco. An octagonal cupola rises from the center of the almost flat roof, with two brick chimneys rising from the exterior walls at the southwest and southeast facets. Verandas with cast iron railings and supports run around the upper stories. The wide roof eaves, both on the main house and the cupola, have scroll brackets. The ornate ironwork of the verandas contrasts with the simple wooden door and window surrounds. The house was built in 1852 by Daniel Starr. He was following closely the precepts of octagon houses laid out by Orson Squire Fowler in his book A Home for All, all the way to the use of concrete as the main structural material. At the time of its construction Spring Street did not exist, so it fronted on Elm Street to the north. It has been well-maintained and preserved throughout its existence, even after its partition into apartments.

Location

21 Spring St.
Danbury, Fairfield County, Connecticut
41.39509, -73.45902

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Octagon House

This page lists Octagon House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Octagon House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Robinson, P., Fur Cutting Company
Industrial
0.4 mi
Main Street Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi
Ball and Roller Bearing Company
Industrial
0.4 mi
Meeker's Hardware
Industrial
0.5 mi
Hearthstone
Industrial
0.7 mi

Nearby Battles

Danbury Raid Apr 26 1777
1777Revolutionary War
0.2 mi
Tryon's Raid on Danbury
1777Revolutionary War
0.3 mi
Raid on Danbury
1777Revolutionary War
0.3 mi
Tryon's Connecticut Raids 1777 — Newtown
1777Revolutionary War
5.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Octagon House listed on the National Register?

Octagon House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 6, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Octagon House?

Octagon House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Octagon House?

The period of significance for Octagon House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Octagon House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Octagon House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Fairfield County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Fairfield County.

Explore FairfieldCounty ›

More historic places in Connecticut

Browse all historic places in Connecticut.

View Connecticuthistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Connecticut history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Connecticuthistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Octagon House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report