Armour-Stiner House
Encyclopedia
The Armour-Stiner House, also known as the Carmer Octagon House, is a unique octagon-shaped and domed Victorian style house located at 45 West Clinton Avenue in Irvington
, in Westchester County, New York
. It was designated a National Historic Landmark
in 1976. It is known that other domed octagonal residence were built in the United States, but it is unknown if any of them still exist.
The house was built in 1859-1860 by financier Paul J. Armour based on the architectural ideas of Orson Squire Fowler
, although the specific architect of the house is unknown. The dome was added and the house was enlarged during 1872-1876 by Joseph Stiner, who was a tea importer. The Armour-Stiner House is said to be one of the most lavish octagon houses built in the period, and is now one of only perhaps a hundred still extant.
The house was occupied from 1946 to 1976 by historian Carl Carmer
, who maintained that the house was haunted. In 1976, the house was briefly owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation
to prevent it from being demolished. The Trust was unable to fund the amount of renovation the property required, and sold it to a preservationist
architect, Joseph Pell Lombardi
, who has conserved the house, interiors, grounds and outbuildings.
The house remains a private residence. It is located on the south side of West Clinton Avenue, on the crest of a hill overlooking the Hudson River
, to the west. It is about 1650 feet from the river, and about 140 feet above it, consistent with Fowler's siting ideas. The Old Croton Aqueduct
, another National Historic Landmark, abuts the property on the east.
__notoc__
Images
Irvington, New York
Irvington, sometimes known as Irvington-on-Hudson, is an affluent suburban village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, north of midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by a station stop on the...
, in Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. It was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1976. It is known that other domed octagonal residence were built in the United States, but it is unknown if any of them still exist.
The house was built in 1859-1860 by financier Paul J. Armour based on the architectural ideas of Orson Squire Fowler
Orson Squire Fowler
Orson Squire Fowler was a phrenologist who popularized the octagon house in the middle of the nineteenth century....
, although the specific architect of the house is unknown. The dome was added and the house was enlarged during 1872-1876 by Joseph Stiner, who was a tea importer. The Armour-Stiner House is said to be one of the most lavish octagon houses built in the period, and is now one of only perhaps a hundred still extant.
The house was occupied from 1946 to 1976 by historian Carl Carmer
Carl Carmer
Carl Lamson Carmer was an author of nonfiction books, memoirs, and novels, many of which focused on Americana such as myths, folklore, and tales. His most famous book, Stars Fell on Alabama, was an autobiographical story of the time he spent living in Alabama...
, who maintained that the house was haunted. In 1976, the house was briefly owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
to prevent it from being demolished. The Trust was unable to fund the amount of renovation the property required, and sold it to a preservationist
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
architect, Joseph Pell Lombardi
Joseph Pell Lombardi
Joseph Pell Lombardi is a New York City-based architect, heading the firm The Office of Joseph Pell Lombardi, Architect. Lombardi holds degrees in both Architecture and Historic Preservation , and he established his firm in 1969 to specialize in restoration, preservation, adaptive re-use and...
, who has conserved the house, interiors, grounds and outbuildings.
The house remains a private residence. It is located on the south side of West Clinton Avenue, on the crest of a hill overlooking the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
, to the west. It is about 1650 feet from the river, and about 140 feet above it, consistent with Fowler's siting ideas. The Old Croton Aqueduct
Croton Aqueduct
The Croton Aqueduct or Old Croton Aqueduct was a large and complex water distribution system constructed for New York City between 1837 and 1842...
, another National Historic Landmark, abuts the property on the east.
__notoc__
In popular culture
- The house is the main setting for the 1981 horror film The NestingThe NestingThe Nesting is a 1981 horror film directed and co-written by Armand Weston.-Plot:...
. - The house is featured in Tony MillionaireTony MillionaireTony Millionaire is an American cartoonist, illustrator and author known for his syndicated comic strip Maakies and the Sock Monkey series of comics and picture books.-Early life:...
's Sock MonkeySock MonkeySock Monkey is a series of comics and illustrated books written and drawn by the American cartoonist Tony Millionaire.-Description:Sock Monkey relates the adventures of the titular sock monkey, named Uncle Gabby, and a plush crow named Mr. Crow. Despite being toys, they are able to move, think,...
Volume 4, #2 (2003), reprinted in The Collected Works of Tony Millionaire's Sock Monkey. - An exterior shot of the home was used in the film, Across the UniverseAcross the Universe (film)Across the Universe is a musical romantic drama film directed by Julie Taymor, produced by Revolution Studios, and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The film's plot is centered around songs by The Beatles. It was released in the United States on October 12, 2007. The script is based on an original...
. The Octagon House is seen briefly after the "Magical Mystery Tour" bus arrives in a wooded area. It is first depicted in psychedelic colors and then with a moat surrounding it. The building is described by BonoBonoPaul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
(playing "Dr. Robert") as the "Headquarters of the League of Spiritual Deliverance", the home of Dr. Geary (an allusion to Dr. Timothy LearyTimothy LearyTimothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
).
External links
- Armour-Stiner House (The Octagon House), at Irvington Historical Society
- The Armour-Stiner (Octagon) House, Irvington-On-Hudson, New York, at Joseph Pell Lombardi, Architect.
- Multiple articles, at Joseph Pell Lombardi in the News
- Living Places—The Armour-Stiner House, at the Gombach Group, Inc.
Images
- 4 architectural drawings from 1975; 35 aerial, exterior, and interior b&w photos from 1974, 1975, 1978; a 13 page report; and 4 color aerial photos of Armour-Stiner House (click on icons at top left), at Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
- 1 b&w photo of gazebo at Armour-Stiner House (click on icon at top left), at Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
- Interior and exterior photographs taken in 2010