Near Marion in Smyth County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Abijah Thomas (1814-1876) and His Octagonal House

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 23, 2022

1. Abijah Thomas (1814-1876) and His Octagonal House Marker

Inscription. Just east of here is one of the most refined examples of an octagonal house in Virginia. Built for Abijah Thomas in 1856-1857, during a surge of interest in octagonal domestic architecture, this two-story brick structure contains 17 rooms and handcrafted interior treatments. By 1860, Thomas had acquired more than 10,000 acres in this area. He established the Holston Woolen Mills, around which a village emerged, and operated a sawmill, grist mill, and tannery. Southeast of Marion, he opened an iron furnace that produced pig iron for the Confederacy. Enslaved African Americans and hired workers labored on his properties. Financial mismanagement brought an end to his industrial ambitions.

Erected 2019 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KD-17.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.

Location. 36° 46.433′ N, 81° 34.225′ W. Marker is near Marion, Virginia, in Smyth County. It is at the intersection of Thomas Bridge Road (County Road 657) and Octagon House Road, on the right when traveling north on

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Thomas Bridge Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 663 Thomas Bridge Rd, Marion VA 24354, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mountain View Plantation: Antebellum Home Of The Abijah Thomas Family (within shouting distance of this marker); Village of Holston Mills (approx. 1.3 miles away); Seven Mile Ford (approx. 3.9 miles away); Mount Pleasant Methodist Church (approx. 4.7 miles away); William Campbell’s Grave (approx. 4.7 miles away); Elizabeth Henry Campbell Russell (approx. 4.8 miles away); Marion 9/11 Memorial (approx. 4.8 miles away); Aspenvale Cemetery (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marion.

Also see . . .
1. Abijah Thomas House (PDF). National Register of Historic Places nomination form for the house, which was listed in 1980. (National Archives) (Submitted on November 9, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Octagon House Foundation, Inc. This not-for-profit organization was formed in 2014 to repair the unique house, with the ultimate goal of restoring it to its former glory. (Submitted on November 9, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 23, 2022

2. Abijah Thomas (1814-1876) and His Octagonal House Marker

The Abijah Thomas Octagon House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 23, 2022

3. The Abijah Thomas Octagon House

Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 901 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 9, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.