2645 Gough St
San Francisco, CA 94123, USA

McElroy Octagon House (Colonial Dames Octagon House) - National Register of Historic Places

Statement of Significance:

Octagon Houses throughout the United States owe their origin and vogue, during the 1850s and 1860s to the publication of a book by Orson Squire Fowler of New York, in 1848, "A Home for All". This book was intended to stimulate the building of houses by Americans on a new and rational plan: the octagonal plan, designed to provide eight rooms on each floor (of two), and advocated as the most healthful because it gave a maximum of sunlight to the rooms, each receiving light at some period of the day. At one time at least five octagonal houses existed in San Francisco, of which the Colonial Dames Octagon House is one of the last two and the only one maintained and open for the public.

It was built in 1861 by William C. McElroy and wife. McElroy, a miller, had arrived in San Francisco in 1851 and had been successful in his trade. His wife, Harriet, had bought the lot (on the east line of Gough Street) from Charles and Harry Gough, after whom the street was named. The McElroys lived in the house until 1891. For some three years Daniel O'Connell, a noted poet of the day lived in the house and during this period the house was the site of gatherings of the writers and artists of the city.

In 1952- the house was saved from demolition by the Colonial Dames, who bought it. removed it to the west side of the street and had it extensively restored. The restoration was under the direction of Warren Perry F.A.I.A, former chairman of the Department of Architecture at the University of California. The building is now used as a headquarters for the Colonial Dames in the State of California; and also serves as a museum or place of display of predominantly 18th century furniture, manuscripts, and historic mementos.

McElroy Octagon House, 2645 Gough St (moved), San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA

The Octagon House was constructed ca. 1860-1861 with plain concrete walls surfaced with "V" groove redwood rustic siding, and with wood quoins at the angles and modified Classical Revival cornice and entrance details. Built for William C. McElroy, it is now owned by the National Society of Colonial Dames of America Resident in California. The building is one of two remaining houses in San Francisco built on the octagon plan, which became popular in mid-19th century America.