[identity profile] push-stars.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] davis_square

Round House

Round_house_front" At 36 Atherton Street between Porter and Union squares, there is round house which dates from 1856. I am fascinated by its archirecture and history and saddened by its state of direpair.

According to the Somerville Public Library, the 40-foot diameter Round House was built as a curiosity by a prominent inventor and locksmith, Enoch Robinson. It contains a glass-domed central hall and two parlors: one circular and one oval. The Somerville Old House Organization (SOHO) has a nice write up on the place, including a rare picture of the interior, seen at right. Interior_1 In it you can see sections of the parlor walls, which Robinson covered with a French scenic paper depicting royalty in castles, gardens, and hunting scenes. The shape of the house itself has been traced to one built in the Desert de Retz in Chambourcy, France, in 1780 and 1781 by Francois Nicolas Henri Racine de Monville (1734–1797) in the shape of a huge, round, ruined, classical column."

    Here is more :   Round House

    Thanks for all of the replies and additional links!  Here are some more intersting links about the house as well as some other Somerville historic photos    Link one, house plans

Link two, Somerville Historic photos

Date: 2006-04-11 02:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] agnosticoracle.livejournal.com
I noticed it a couple years ago. Thanks for posting the details on it, I always wondered about its history. I keep hoping it goes up for sale in hopes of an open house.

Date: 2006-04-11 04:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prunesnprisms.livejournal.com
I bet at this point it is ruined inside from leaky roof or from animals. It is very much not in good shape. :/

Date: 2006-04-11 06:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] julishka.livejournal.com
you're on a very very long list of people hoping that it goes up for sale. hehe.

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