Hard by the heels of the Egyptian phase, the search for new forms developed an octagon house. Evolved from the now overwhelming romantic idiocy, the style was widely adopted for rural architecture with but rare dependency on any Greek canon.

The octagon house of Syracuse is the only known example to have been built here. Purely geometric, there is little to distinguish it other than its form, with the roof overhang, the thin window mullions, and the stone jambs completely typical of the more conventional houses of the period.

Our main note of interest rests with the original entrance porch seen in figure two. The square columns are to be expected, but here they have achieved some character through fluting. Greek dental mouldings and Gothic arches complete the composition..

Of additional importance is the roof of the attached barn, seen to the left of the main structure in figure 3, for here remains a pitched roof and entablature.

The house, built at a cost of $2,000 in the old first ward or village of Salina, remains as the victim of a play of fantasy, an unfortunate orphan of the Greek Revival.

Figure two from E. Q. Williams collection