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WHK3
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Resources
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Octagon Schoolhouse
Also known as "eight-square" and "ink-bottle" schools.
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The Penn's
Park Schoolhouse in Wrightstown, PA is the only remaining intact
octagonal schoolhouse of the at least 15 that were once in Bucks
County, PA. The eight sided style of school house was popular
in the English Quaker settled areas of the Delaware Valley (Southeast
PA, New Jersey and Delaware) at the turn of the 19th century. These existed well before octagonal houses
were popular in the mid 19th century. The style spread quite far, as indicated by
surviving examples I've
found in upstate New
York, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin.
The form allowed natural light in at any time of day, a breeze could
blow through from any direction on hot days and central wood/coal
stoves heated the building evenly. It was more difficult
though, to send naughty kids to "the corner" for punishment.
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