The Octagon House
October 12, 2006 by Ingrid
Filed under Home & Living
The John Richards Octagon House in Wiscosin is said to be the largest pre-Civil War single family residence in the state, if not the entire Middle West of the country. It has, after all, fifty-seven (57) rooms! Well, that’s if you include the halls and closets. I’m not sure how many standard “rooms” it has. Less than 57. 
The house was built by John Richards sometime between 1854 and 1856, and his wife and children moved in. For the next 80 years, despite deaths and losses, the house remained occupied by at least one member of the Richards family.
Since 1938, the house has fallen to the Watertown Historical Society, who happily invite guests into the home.
For a plethora of history and pictures about the John Richards Octagon House, please visit this site.
