The Octagon House Restoration, Inc. (OHRI) has received a $20,000 matching grant from the Marion S. Covington Foundation. The Foundation, headquartered in Greensboro, has long had an interest in North Carolina historic preservation.
The application was submitted in 2017 to help cover the costs of Phase II of the current restoration/repairs planned for the Octagon House. Thanks to generous contributions from supporters of this 1857 historic Hyde County landmark, the match was raised in less than three months, and the necessary work will take place during the spring and summer of 2018.
Phase II addresses the severe moisture problems and will include the raising of the House; foundation and pier work; and chimney foundation work.
The OHRI has just finished replacing the wood-shingled roof during Phase I of the process. The final Phase III will deal with exterior surfaces, window repairs, restoration of the interior chimney areas, and other issues that will make the Hhouse more usable for visitors wishing to learn the story of this mid-19th century home– one of two remaining antebellum eight-sided structures in North Carolina.
The OHRI was formed in 1976 to preserve, protect, and maintain the House, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The initial restoration took place in the 1980s with the assistance of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resource’s State Historic Preservation Office, which continues to provide guidance.
“We are excited that the next restoration phase of our beloved Octagon House will begin soon,” said Walter Baum, OHRI board chairman. “Without the assistance of the Covington Foundation and the generosity of our supporters none of this would be possible.”
For more information about the Octagon House email octagonhouse.nc@gmail.com. To follow the restoration, visit www.facebook.com/octagonhouse.
Donations are still encouraged and may be mailed to the OHRI, PO Box 35, Engelhard, NC 27824 or made safely and securing online on the Facebook page. The OHRI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by Law.
To read more about the Octagon House, click here.
