Randall House (Mayville, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Randall House
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Randall Octagon House in 2013
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5927 Treasurer Rd. Mayville, Michigan |
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| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | William Randall |
| Architectural style | Octagon Mode |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001035 |
| Added to NRHP | November 7, 1976 |
The Randall House is a special old home in Mayville, Michigan. It was built in 1870 by William Randall. What makes it unique is its shape – it's an octagon house, meaning it has eight sides! This house is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1976. It's still a private home today.
History of the Randall House
William Randall was born in Canada in 1815. In 1850, he married Harriet Primrose. They had four children together. William worked as a traveling carpenter. He built things in cities like Chicago and St. Louis.
In 1865, William retired from carpentry. He moved to this spot in Michigan and started farming. In 1870, he began building the unique octagon house. Local carpenters helped him with the work. The Randall family moved into their new home two years later.
William Randall passed away in 1882. His land then went to his oldest son, Henry, and Henry's wife, Harriet. After Harriet passed away, the house and land went to the Randalls' son, Grant. Grant and his wife lived in the house for many years. After they both passed away, the house was empty for a while.
What Does the Randall House Look Like?
The Randall House has two stories. It is built using a special method called "balloon frame." The top of the house has a small tower called a cupola. On one side, there is a smaller, one-story rectangular part. This smaller part was actually the original house on the property. It was kept and connected to the new, larger octagon house.
The main octagon part of the house is about 40 feet long and 28 feet wide. A flat roof goes around seven of the house's eight sides. There are doors on the north and west sides. The windows are double-hung sash units, meaning they have two panes that slide up and down. The windows in the cupola are single, in a Gothic style.
Inside the house, the rooms are not very big. The largest rooms are about 12 by 15 feet. On the first floor, there is a kitchen and a pantry. There was also a library, which has since been changed into a bathroom. There are two parlors, which are like living rooms. In the middle of the house, a round staircase goes up to the second floor. This is where the bedrooms are located. The stairs also continue up to the cupola at the very top.
