ENGELHARD — Hyde County’s historic Octagon House is opening its doors to the spirit of Christmas on Sunday, as part of its annual Christmas Open House.

Area church members will decorate the eight-sided house, and the event will also feature carolers singing familiar holiday tunes, according to a press release. The open house is free and open to the public.

Bags of Mattamuskeet apples and apple butter will be available for purchase, and all of the proceeds will go toward the maintenance of the house, the release stated.

Dr. William T. Sparrow built Octagon House around 1857, and although the reason for its shape isn’t known for sure, the most common story is that Sparrow wanted the structure to hold up against hurricane winds, according to accounts from the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

Residents formed Octagon House Restoration Inc. in an effort to preserve the house in as close to the original state as possible. Some of the original 19^th-century wood floors have been preserved and are still in the house.

The design is unusual, influenced by the short-lived fad perpetuated by phrenologist Orson S. Fowler of New York. The layout of the home includes two stories with six rooms each, with each story having a main hallway. Octagon House has four fireplaces that connect to one chimney.

“The design never really took off. Why is anybody’s guess: Maybe they lacked the coziness of a bungalow or a simple frame house. Maybe owners disliked the fact that it was hard to get away from their spouse and kids in a house that had no corners,” reads “North Carolina Curiosities,” a book by Kent Priestley and Jon Elliston that features Hyde County’s Octagon House.

Despite the unanswered questions that surround the house, it is one of only two in the state from the 19^th century to still be standing. And with the upcoming Christmas Open House, curious residents can see Octagon House in all its holiday finery — not to mention enjoy a community-centered holiday experience.

The Christmas Open House at Octagon House will be Sunday, Dec. 13 from 2-4 p.m. and is located at 30868 U.S. Highway 264 East near Engelhard.