I n the deep woods of southwest Ohio exists a structure that could have been the future, but is now most decidedly a relic of the past. The Stewart house was the work of a man who thought he was going to save lives, make the world better, and possibly pocket a tidy sum in the process. He created this concrete sphere as a prototype for homes that would be sold along the Gulf Coast and the plains states -- areas that see frequent tornado and hurricane outbreaks. The idea is that with no flat surfaces, wind resistance is reduced, minimizing the effects of the storm. Of course, it's not the wind itself that kills people in tornadoes -- it's flying debris, which is a good reason to make the walls out of concrete. However, such a home might not save lives in a hurricane. The overwhelming majority of deaths in a hurricane are not caused by wind or debris, but from the storm surge. Like just about every other person who was ahead of their time, Mr. Stewart was ridiculed for his invention, which the locals dubbed "Stewart's Folly" -- a comparison to America's purchase of Alaska, which was historically known as "Seward's Folly." However, Mr. Seward was eventually vindicated. Mr. Stewart had no such luck, and his dream was abandoned.
New York, United States
