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The Armour-Stiner (Octagon) House By Joseph Pell Lombardi The Armour-Stiner (Octagon) House Through a collection of images and an extensively researched history, Joseph Pell Lombardi provides a first- time comprehensive narrative into the lyrical Armour- Stiner (Octagon) House and its significance. Being a unique-to-the world home, it is not only physically extraordinary, its history is a compelling story. The story of a highly skilled professional conservation of an important monument, this beautiful book will appeal to all including architectural historians, preservationists and those interested in remarkable homes. The Armour-Stiner (Octagon) House By Joseph Pell Lombardi “An arrested carousel” A visitor George W. Dibble Shortly after his acquisition of the Octagon House from Joseph Stiner Circa 1882 7 Aerial view overlooking the Hudson River From the northeast - 20th century 8 9 Aerial view from the east South stair to the verandah 10 11 The verandah Early fall at Octagon House 12 13 Inside the Foxglove Garden 14 15 Lord & Burnham greenhouse with the shed and the artist studio Carriage house and shed 16 17 Foxglove Garden Eastern elk weather vane, evening silhouette North stair gas lamp The Octagon House birdhouse and lion at south flanking stair 18 19 Entry hall Solarium 20 21 Stair from entry Salon 22 23 Library Dining room 24 25 Egyptian revival music room Master bedroom 26 27 Kitchen Second floor stair hall 28 29 Second floor bathroom Entry chandelier and medallion 30 31 Dance room window Dining room door, etched glass The observatory Dance room 32 33 The Armour-Stiner (Octagon) was the first house to be bought Irvington-On-Hudson ests and established small farms. In 1693, the British, who had taken over The Armour-Stiner(Octagon) House by the National Trust and resold to a private citizen. Since 1978, I have the colony, confirmed the Philipse holdings. Through continuing acquisi- Irvington-On-Hudson, New York undertaken a complete conservation of the interior and exterior of the “A noble river, running majestically along, always imparts life and tions, the Philipse family became lords of a vast manor of 90,000 acres. house and the grounds, furnished the house with original and contempo- spirit to the scenery of its banks.” When the Revolutionary War began, the Philipses chose loyalty to the raneous furniture and corrected extensive structural problems, including Richard Brown British Crown - a decision, after America’s success, which resulted in for- Introduction separation of the dome. feiture of their manor. At a public auction of 1785, the tenant-farmers My goal was not to remove all traces of age, but to hold together were able to buy the farms they had leased. “The story of a house is the story of life. Just as the history of a country the fragile exotic beauty of this lyrical home. To the north of the island In 1849 a railroad was placed on the east bank of the river en- is written down in architecture, so is the history of individuals to be traced of Manhattan, the east bank abling passengers traveling from New York City to reach the area which by the houses in which they have lived. There it all is -- their beginning, their growth, their development or deterioration, the realization or the de- of the Hudson slopes up would become Irvington in less than one hour. With the tracks being on struction of their dreams, the very pattern of their destiny as it was etched gradually from the river to the edge of the river, travelers enjoyed delightful, direct river views. The line by line.” low hills. The outlook from surrounding old Dutch farmland began to be purchased by prominent Elise de Wolfe the hills very beautifully en- New Yorkers who erected country seats and summer residences overlook- compasses the ever chang- ing the picturesque Hudson and the Tappan Zee. The Armour-Stiner (Octagon) House is one of the most visually unique ing river, the steep palisades Twenty miles north of the City, in 1848, the small village of Dear- homes in the world. Referencing Donato Bramante’s 1502 Tempietto in of the opposite shore and, man, later Irvington, was created from one of the farms. Its main street Rome, it is the only known residence constructed in the domed colonnad- twenty five miles above the became lined with small shops and large trees which formed a long tun- ed octagonal form of an ancient classical temple. The exterior decoration city, a great widening of the The Pallisades, W. G. Wall nel stretching down to the glimmering river. The area eventually became is as distinct as its shape and adds to the unique-to-the-world appearance river which the early Dutch home to numerous noted residents, including Cyrus W. Field, John Ja- of this melodic structure. The exterior embellishments are decidedly fes- settlers called the Tappan Zee (Sea). cob Astor III, Charles L. Tiffany and, tive with floral details in the cast iron cresting and railings and extensive- In the third quarter of the 17th century, Frederick Philipse began its most celebrated resident and name- ly carved wood scrollwork and capitals - all polychromatically painted in purchasing large tracts of land on the east bank of the Hudson River. sake, Washington Irving. shades of rose, blue, violet, gray, tan and red. Born in 1626 in the Netherlands, Philipse emigrated to the Dutch colony In the 1850’s, entrepreneurs The interiors and furnishings are as they were in 1872. Painted of New Amsterdam (later New York City) in the mid-1650’s. He prospered bought a tract of farmland one mile to ceilings in floral patterns, stenciling, gilding, gas fixtures with a play on through successful business the south of Dearman to create another neo-Roman decoration and singular 8-sided motifs in the plasterwork, activities and a marriage to small village with a Main Street perpen- woodwork and etched glass continue the specialness of this remarkable a wealthy woman. Philipse dicular to the River. It was to be called house. Throughout the house are fine examples of American Renais- bought land from Indians Abbotsford. The sale of building plots sance Revival and Egyptian Revival style furnishings The exterior and and patroons (early Dutch resulted in several houses built as village interior of the house, its decorations and its 1870s furnishings all reflect entrepreneurs) who had houses fronting on the “Main Street”, the late 19th century interest in exotic decoration. Like the 18th century been granted land by the but with only a few plots sold, the idea of French pavilions on the outskirts of Paris, the colorful Octagon House is The Armour-Stiner (Octagon) House 2011 The Tempietto 1502 Dutch. Philipse leased por- a separate village was eventually aban- meant to entertain and amuse its viewers; a rarity in somber post-Civil tions of his land to Dutch doned and the area became the outskirts War America. The Tappan Zee, John Williamson 1875 settlers who cleared the for- of the present-day village of Irvington. The proposed village of Abbotsford 34 35 The Octagon House 1858-1975 “Phrenology teaches that the mind, instead of employing the WHOLE And the Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle reports on February 6, 1874, The Octagon House, A Home for All or a New, Cheap, Convenient and Superior Mode brain for EACH mental function, uses one particular part of it for one on the departure of Professor Franklin after a phrenological lecture in of Building, In his book, Fowler advocated the use of the octagonal plan for class of mental functions, and another for another, just as it does the Fishkill, New York: houses on the suppositions that it: Orson Squire Fowler eye for seeing, the ear for hearing, etc.; that it uses that part under 12 • encloses one-fifth more space than a square plan (although an [numbered parts assumed to be associated with particular functions] “He departed from the village by the milk train on Sunday evening, octagonal shape is difficult to build); “Man’s greatest knowledge is HIMSELF to know.” for an affection of fear, that under 13 for kindness, etc. Now the and as he left he was presented with a few eggs, and in order that he • creates rooms more accessible to each other (certainly true); O.S. Fowler exercise of any corporeal organ increases its size as well as strength. If might not have the trouble of breaking them, they were hurled at his • is more beautiful because it approaches the shape of a circle then one part of the brain is used more often than another, it will grow noble cranium.” (another truth); more, and of course elevate that portion of the skull above it; so that • receives twice as much sunlight by having eight sides instead of The octagon house fad in if a person exercises the feeling of benevolence more often than he does Often overlooked, the practice of Phrenology prescribed ways in four (a delightful truth); 19th century America was in- that of apprehension, the portion of the brain under 13 will be larger which to improve behavior. This was accomplished by recommendations • allows viewing into the grounds from all directions (a fine spired by the publication of an and more elevated than that under 12, as much more so as he is more as to how to restrain or cultivate a problematic behavior. For example, attribute); and 1848 book, The Octagon House, benevolent than apprehensive. So of all the other organs, if we can tell Fowler’s recommendation for the cultivation of individuality was to “no- • gives square rooms with triangular closets between them just a Home for All, by Orson Squire what portion of the brain the mind uses for each mental function, and tice whatever comes within range of your vision.” To restrain individual- where they are wanted (true, but triangular rooms are awkward).

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