Williams and Stancliff Octagon Houses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Williams and Stancliff Octagon Houses
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The northern of the two houses
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 26 and 28 Marlborough Street, Portland, Connecticut |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | c. 1853–1855 |
| Architectural style | Octagon Mode and Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001985 |
| Added to NRHP | April 22, 1976 |
The Joseph Williams Octagon House and the Gilbert Stancliff Octagon House are two unique historic homes in Portland, Connecticut. Built around 1853–1855, these houses stand side-by-side at 26 and 28 Marlborough Street. They are special because they are the only known pair of octagon-shaped houses in Connecticut that still look much like they did when they were first built.
These homes were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means they are recognized as important historical sites worth protecting.
What Makes These Houses Special?
The two octagon houses are located just outside the main part of Portland. They are set back from the street, with a large grassy area between them.
A Unique Octagon Design
Both buildings are two stories tall. They are made from a type of stone called Portland brownstone. This stone was then covered with painted stucco, which is a type of plaster.
Each house has an eight-sided dome, called an octagonal cupola, right in the middle of its roof. A porch sits at the front of each house, covering the main entrance. The porch on the Stancliff house was replaced in the 1900s. The main roof of each house has decorative carved wooden brackets. These are like fancy supports under the roof's edge.
When experts looked at the houses in the 1970s, the inside of the buildings still looked very original. Even though one house was changed into apartments, many of its old features remained.
Who Built These Homes?
These two houses were built for two families who were related. One house was for Gilbert Stancliff. The other was for his brother-in-law, Joseph Williams, and Joseph's wife, Laura.
The brownstone used to build the houses came from a local quarry. This quarry was owned by Gilbert Stancliff himself! It is thought that Gilbert's brother, Charles Stancliff, might have built the houses. Charles was a builder in the area.
