National Register of Historic Places

Octagon House

Laurens, Laurens County, South Carolina
Listed
March 19, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73001715

About this property

The Octagon House, also known as Zelotes Holmes House, is a historic octagonal house located in Laurens, South Carolina, United States. Designed and built in 1859 to 1862 by the Rev. Zelotes Lee Holmes, a Presbyterian minister and teacher, it is thought to be the first concrete house erected in South Carolina. It was called the Zelotes Holmes House by the Historic American Buildings Survey. Also known as the Old Holmes House, the Old Watson House and the Holmes-Watson House, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 20, 1973.

Location

619 E. Main St.
Laurens, Laurens County, South Carolina
34.49928, -82.00121

Categories

ENGINEERING
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

Laurens County Courthouse
Industrial
0.9 mi
South Harper Historic District
Listed
0.9 mi
Darlington, Lyde Irby, House
Industrial
1 mi
Laurens Historic District
Listed
1 mi
Wilson-Clary House
Industrial
1 mi

Nearby Battles

Skirmish at Hammond's Store (SC, 1780)
1780Revolutionary War
1.6 mi
Battle of Musgrove Mill
1780Revolutionary War
11.2 mi
Battle of Lindley's Fort
1776Revolutionary War
12.5 mi
Battle of Blackstock's Farm Nov 20 1780
1780Revolutionary War
12.8 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 March 19, 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 Laurens County

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

Explore LaurensCounty ›

More historic places in South Carolina

Browse all historic places in South Carolina.

View South Carolinahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

South Carolina history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

South Carolinahistory ›

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