# The historic Octagon House in Fond du Lac has been steeped in intrigue since 1856

## The living room was discovered to have a false fireplace with a small wooden stairway behind it.


*By Daphne Lemke*

Fond du Lac Reporter

Amid Fond du Lac, Wisconsin's historic buildings is one steeped in architectural wonder and mystery.

Former Fond du Lac mayor Isaac Brown built the Octagon House in 1856 after his time in office. Its address is now known as 276 Linden St., but at the time, that area was very sparsely occupied.

Its design was based on trending octagon-shaped homes from the mid-1800s that was sweeping the U.S. and Canada, according to FDL Reporter archives.

- The Octagon House in Fond du Lac was built in 1856 and is one of the few remaining examples of its kind in Wisconsin.
- Secret tunnels and rooms fueled rumors of a connection to the Underground Railroad, though historians largely debunked this theory in 2017.
- The house gained a reputation for being haunted after its owner reported paranormal experiences.
- After facing foreclosure in 2017, the Octagon House most recently served as a transitional housing facility.

Amid Fond du Lac, Wisconsin's historic buildings is one steeped in architectural wonder and mystery.

Former Fond du Lac mayor Isaac Brown built the Octagon House in 1856 after his time in office. Its address is now known as 276 Linden St., but at the time, that area was very sparsely occupied.

Its design was based on trending octagon-shaped homes from the mid-1800s that was sweeping the U.S. and Canada, according to FDL Reporter archives.
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