Bowmanville’s Octagon House: From Church, Faith & Tait to Irwin & Seto

About the Octagon House in Bowmanville, Ontario Canada. In this book, I share with you images of what I have learnt so far about this architectural rarity, an 8-sided house, circa 1864… Something about its uniqueness has over 150 years attracted creative, community-oriented people to this residence. Here was nurtured the young Alice Freeman who became Canada’s first female columnist as Faith Fenton, one of the most influential journalists in her day. In the 20th century, it was purchased by Henry Tait, photographer, and later his brother, Archie Tait, once mayor of Bowmanville. It remained in the family via his widow, Lil McNall Tait, and the Irwin family of Port Hope, original farm settlers from Ireland and later the Seto family, who ran the Coronation Restaurant for over 70 years. This book was inspired by the research of Ellen L. Puerzer, The Octagon House Inventory Book, and Robert Kline, webmaster of the Octagon House Inventory site https: //www.octagon.bobanna.com/ The book, Bowmanville’s Octagon House, includes historical snippets and contemporary photos of this home through the years.