The OES visited the M.M. Crites Octagon House on October 25, 2003. This unique eight-sided home in Circleville is believed to have been built between 1855 and 1856 by a man named George Gregg. The house may have been built to resemble the octagonal court house that was at Circleville's center when the town was originally laid out as a circle. The home featured a large free-standing spiral staircase in its center leading up to the second floor. The rooms were divided like a sliced pie. Every room had a door on each side so that you can walk from room to room. The oak and pine woodwork of the home's interior was spectacular. With a house this unique who would want it gone? Apparently Wal-Mart did. There was much controversy in Circleville because Wal-Mart bought the land that the old Crites house resided on to build a new Wal-Mart Super Center. Originally the new owners wished to simply tear down the house and begin building. Luckily the Roundtown Conservancy group came to the rescue. They were able to raise enough money to move the house out of Wal-Mart's way. They are still raising money to make more repairs and relocate the house to a new site. What exactly the house will be used for has not yet been determined. The group may use the house as a museum, art gallery, or welcome center. Whatever it will be used as will definitely be a better outcome than the wrecking ball. If you would like to donate to the cause, please visit the Roundtown Conservancy's website. (Thanks to Carla Gill for the update and for the photo of the house on the trailer).