The Paynes made the house their residence for a short time and in 1934 moved back into the Octagon House where they stayed until the death of Ola in 1958. For the next two decades the house sat as an empty reminder of the past until a group of people interested in preserving the Historical Landmark formed the Octagon House Restoration Inc. and purchased the house in 1976 from the Payne heirs. Everyone was surprised when we removed them and found the false windows underneath. We had the outside stuccoed which is the way it was to begin with, and the inside replastered. Most of the original flooring and trim work remains intact.
Antique toys sit in the corner of the hallway.
The house differs from most of the others which still exist. The majority of the others have a cupola at the top of the roof, but, the Hyde County house has a large chimney which runs up through the two-floor home and accommodates four different fireplaces. While most of the other homes built with Fowler's plans were built of concrete, stone or brick, the Hyde County Octagon House is built of wooden planks which are laid vertically, one on top the other, thus creating a solid wall of wood several inches thick. The only posts in the house are around the doors and window frames. Although the the preservationists have come a long way in restoring the house, there is still much that can be done to enhance the possibilities.