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The Iconic Octagonal House
Three generations and over one hundred years have passed since Henry J. Bird moved his family into Woodchester, however the designs from over a century ago remain in the Woodchester house.
The eight-sided design was inspired by the writings of Orson Squire Fowler, a 19th century architectural philosopher. Fowler believed that the octagonal design promoted physical and mental well-being, and was the most economical way to use building materials and living space.
Woodchester was the first house in the area to have electric lighting. The home also had forced air heating and ventilation shafts to remove stale air. A dumb-waiter, that still works today, runs from the basement kitchen to the attic with access on each floor. The house may also be one of the earliest examples of a poured concrete house found in Ontario, with sixteen inch thick concrete walls.
Woodchester was built on a one-hundred acre property alongside the North Branch of the Muskoka River. After some time, it was decided that not all of the land was needed for Mr. Bird's home and thus lots were sold along what is now known as Woodchester Avenue. The land on which the Bird home was built fronted on Muskoka Road.
In 1978, the Bracebridge Rotary Club purchased the house from the Bird family and lobbied to have it designated as a historic site. The Rotary Club's intent was to have Woodchester transformed into a public historic site and they later succeeded in having the house designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. The Rotary Club set out to restore the building and work towards turning the home into a museum. On March 13th, 1980, ownership was transferred from the Bracebridge Rotary Club to the Town of Bracebridge and on June 22nd, 1980, Woodchester was officially opened as a public museum.
In 2009 the museum was closed and in 2012 another series of restorations began, upgrading both the grounds and the building. Today some of the Bird family’s belongings are brought together with modern pieces to merge Bracebridge’s past with its future.