PRESERVATION - NEWSLETTER RACINE, INC. Fall 1988
Wright In Your Own Backyard Preservation-Racine's thirteenth annual Tour of Historic Places will provide lucky tour-goers with more to see in one afternoon than any of the dozen tours which have gone before it. Twelve buildings will be available to ticket holders to be walked through or visited on Sunday, October 2nd, between noon and 6 p.m. Notice that this year's tour is being held one week later than usual—on the first Sunday of October rather than the last Sunday of September. The change was necessary because Wingspread could not be made available on the traditional tour date. The theme this year is "Frank Lloyd Wright and Associates." Each of the buildings which are featured was designed either by Frank Lloyd Wright himself, by an architect who studied and worked with him, or by Taliesin Associated Architects—the firm which was established by Wright's widow, Olgivanna, to carry on his philosophy for living and his style in architecture.
"WINGSPREAD" Designed in 1937 by Frank Lloyd Wright.
/soBcer i/o/{AJVt£/i'~~
The centerpiece of the tour is "Wingspread" (1937), designed by Wright, named by him, and also deemed by him: "the last of the prairie houses." Built as a residence for Herbert F. Johnson, Wingspread was Wright's largest single family home. Its pinwheel plan—with an octagonal central section and wings that spread out from it in each of the points of the compass—accounts for its name. The long, low wings emphasize the horizontal line, which is the most immediately recog nizable characteristic of the Prairie Style; but the three-story living room at the center of the house, which Wright called "the wigwam," is its most dramatic feature. A thirty foot chimney tower rises from the center of the living room to serve five fireplaces on four different levels. The Johnson family lived at Wingspread until 1960, when it became a conference center and the headquarters of the Johnson Foundation.
The second Wright design which may be "experienced" is "The Great Work Room," the hub of the S. C- Johnson Administration Building (1936), at Fourteenth and Howe Streets. As a courtesy to tour-goers, Johnson Wax will open that central office area, but the rest of the building will be closed. (A tour of the entire Administration Building was provided by the company for Preserva tion-Racine's tour in 1986.) The Great Work Room is, however, the focus of Wright's design. From it a forest of slender, tree-like columns with "lily-pad" capitals soar to a translucent ceil ing composed of skylights constructed of glass tubing. Within the red brick walls of this enormous room are aligned the desks and chairs designed for it by Wright and commissioned by Johnson Wax from the Metal Office Furniture Company (now Steelcase of Grand Rapids, Michigan) exactly fifty years ago. It is a unique working environment, perhaps, one of the most pleasing in the world: truly streamlined and evocative of the Thirties, yet gracefully efficient even in the Eighties. The Golden Rondelle will also be open to ticket holders. It was designed by the architectural firm of Lippincott and Marguleis of New York City as the Johnson Wax pavilion for the New York World's Fair of 1964. When the fair closed, the Rondelle was dismantled and reconstructed in Racine in a new setting designed for it by Taliesin Associated Architects. The theater reopened here in 1967. In the Golden Rondelle on the Sunday of the tour, Don Kalec will present a fifty minute program on Frank Lloyd Wright entitled "Nature Patterns." It is a multi-image production, showing the evolution from nature of Wright's abstract decorative designs. Kalec was formerly the director of research and restoration for the Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park and he is now an associate professor at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. "Nature Patterns" will be presented at 12:15, 1:45, 3:15, and 4:45.
THE PRAIRIE SCHOOL A complex of five buildings designed between 1964 and 1978 by Taliesin Associated Architects.
^c^f?^7" i^^4'A,!f^^^— The Prairie School, at 4050 Lighthouse Drive, will be open for the tour. Its complex of buildings was designed by Taliesin Associated Architects between 1964 and 1978 under the direction of Charles Montooth as chief architect. The school is comprised of five buildings, four of which are linked by enclosed hallways and house the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools, as well as an art center, a theater, television and music studios, and the school's administrative offices. The four connected buildings expand in a low-lying contour along the flatland on which they are located: their volumes defined by the circles, curves, and incurves of Wright's later work. There is extensive use of glass, and brick walls both outside and inside. The horizontal line is emphasized from the ground to the roof by bands of low brick walls, ribbons of narrow windows, and particularly by the continuous strips of wood and stone trim which sinuously follow the lines of deeply overhanging eaves or the arcs of flush-set cornices. The fifth of the school's buildings—a field house—sits separately from the academic cluster, where it crouches like a huge brick Quonset hut whose expan sive black roof recurves from the ground back to the ground. The Prairie School currently enrolls approximately 440 day students. Some of the school's students. teachers, and staff will guide tour-goers through the buildings. St. Patrick's Church (1924), at 1100 Erie Street, is another stop on the tour. It was designed by Barry Byrne, who received his architectural training in Frank Lloyd Wright's Oak Park studio from 1901 through 1907. As an independent architect, Byrne began'designing houses, but by the 1920s he had established himself as one of the Midwest's most imaginative designers of churches and school buildings. In his plan for St. Patrick's Church, Byrne employed the rectilinear mass associated with the Prairie Style, but he added to it lancet windows and stone finials—which are Gothic details often found on churches—and pie-crust capstones above the main entry doors and along the parapet—whose geo metric forms are Art Deco and rarely seen on ecclesiastical buildings. The style might be called "Moderne Gothic" and the design is still fresh, clean, and up-to-date more than sixty years after the church was completed. Byrne also designed the rectory, which was constructed along with the church, and in 1930 he designed St. Patrick's School, located behind the church at 1109 Douglas Avenue. Byrne's first building in Racine was St. Catherine's High School, at 1200 Park Avenue, which was finished in 1924.
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH Designed in 1924 by Barry Byrne.
Three houses designed by Edgar Tafel complete the buildings on this year's tour. Tafel is the author of Years with Frank Lloyd Wright: Apprentice to Genius. During those years he was project engineer for a number of Wright's buildings which were then under construction—including the Johnson Wax Building and "Fallingwater." Tafel has the distinct honor of being a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and he still maintains his own architectural office in New York City.
THREE PRAIRIE STYLE HOUSES Designed by Edgar Tafel and built in Racine between 1947 and 1949.
Tafel designed two Racine residences in 1947. Both were constructed of old paving bricks which had been reclaimed from streets in Racine and Kenosha that were being repaved at that time. -The house at 432 Wolff Street is the smaller of the two. Rather than facing the street, all the living areas are grouped around a terrace at the back of the house. Service and carport areas are at the front. Clerestory windows admit light from the front while they preserve privacy by not allowing passers-by to peer inside. The plan—like that of many Prairie Style houses—is open: all interior partitions being removed except in the bedroom wing. Brick is used inside and out, and of course, a fireplace is the focal point of the living spaces. The larger house, at 2910 Michigan Boulevard, is oriented to the front because it overlooks Lake Michigan, and almost every room has a window facing the water. Because it is a two-story house, the plan is not nearly as unrestricted as that of the Wolff Street house, but the living room and dining room are open and the fireplace is the center of focus. The house is constructed of the traditional materials of the Prairie Style: masonry, wood, and glass. Stained cypress siding hori zontally divides the ribbons of glass on the first and second stories and bridges the brick masses on either side of the facade. Deeply projecting eaves hover over the house and a broad-roofed canopy shelters the entryway and forms a carport. The third Tafel house was designed in 1949 and has been nicknamed "Stardust" by former owners. The house stands on three acres of land along Lake Michigan and commands a superb view of the lake—especially from the 270 degree sweep of the windows in the master bedroom. The house is constructed of flagstone from the Crab Orchard Mountains of Tennessee, of cedar, and large expanses of glass. One of its most intriguing design elements is a porch with a pagoda roof clad in copper. The landscaping of the grounds around Stardust was planned by Jens Jensen—one of America's most accomplished landscape architects. In 1905, the Board of Park Commissioners retained Jensen to design three Racine parks: Washington, Riverside, and Island Parks. Jensen was then at the begin ning of a long and distinguished career which earned him a national reputation.
ifewir-r , ,r^t(i,7,;'
As in years past, vintage automobiles will be on display at each tour site and free shuttle buses will be available. Access to Wingspread and Stardust will be by shuttle bus only. One bus route will start at the Prairie School parking lot, make a circuit of just those two sites, and return to the parking lot. Other shuttles will run between the Prairie School and the Golden Rondelle, stopping at the Michigan Boulevard and Wolff Street houses and at St. Patrick's Church on the way up and back. Tickets for the tour may be purchased for $6.00 before the day of the tour at Lange's Pharmacy, Flowers & Company, O & H Bakery, Shorecrest Pharmacy, and Teacher Place. On Sunday, October 2nd, tickets will cost $8.00 and may be purchased only at the Prairie School or St. Patrick's Church.
If you already have a ticket, you may begin the tour at noon at any site except St. Patrick's Church (which will not be open to tour-goers until 12:30 because of scheduled Sunday services). There is a great deal to see on this year's tour, and it may well take you the whole afternoon. Indeed, you will be lucky to see everything unless you start early, but if you have any energy left, one more attraction will top off the day. Edgar Tafel will speak that evening at 8 p.m. in the Prairie School auditorium. His illustrated lec ture will cover his association with Frank Lloyd Wright over the years from Tafel's apprenticeship at Taliesin in the 1930s to Wright's death in 1959. Seating for the program is limited to 300, .and tickets are $2.50. They may be purchased at any of the outlets where tour tickets are sold and at the Prairie School or St. Patrick's Church on the day of the tour, as long as any remain. Don Rintz From the President thereby hangs a tale! Perhaps, readers, if you are in Chilton, you might want to drive We're one hot summer away from scraping by the Pierce's for a look at their home! wallpaper in the Walker/Boticki house and They traded restoration stories and the I thought you might like to know how Jean Pierces encouraged the Botickis to read and Joe Boticki have fared since then. Craftsman Homes and More Craftsman Those of us who drive by frequently know Homes (Dover Publications) to find more that the lawn is green (last year's crop of information on the interior of their house. chickory, thistle, and rocks have disappeared Jean tells me they are very happy they miraculously) and the recovered urns are purchased the house. Only one family blooming with petunias. New sidewalks have member has a complaint. The new baby been laid because this spring the city has been uncomfortably warm this summer. marked all thirty-five of them. Haven't we all! Inside even more magic is evident. (Is After leaving Jean, I drove by 1520 College sleight of hand at work here after all?) On Avenue to see what wonders are being per my recent visit, Jean handed the newest formed there. An imaginative color scheme member of the family, John, over to her is turning this beautiful old house into a daughter and gave me a tour. The olive true "painted lady." greens in the kitchen have disappeared. In their place are blue and mauves. A new It's difficult to keep abreast of all the door is in place where a counter-high win exciting things that are happening in Racine. dow used to be, allowing access to the sun- We're sure to miss a thing or two. If you porch. have information on events here in the preservation field, let us know. Upstairs, they have completely redone the third floor and have two large, airy bed Mary Whitman rooms there, new carpeting in the hall and on the stairs, and a sparkling new bathroom none of us would recognize. The second floor bathroom is renovated, and eventually they will refinish all the woodwork in the Where Is It? living room and dining room. Roof and gutter repair are in progress as the roof was leaking in several places, and Jean tells me that their number one priority right now is winterizing. Last winter they kept the thermometer at 62 degrees and the gas bills were still very high. The Botickis have already been initiated into the "old house club." Recently a young couple from Chilton, Ted and Ellen Pierce, rang their doorbell. The Pierces are inter ested in Frank Lloyd Wright and had been driving about looking at local Wright struc tures. They thought W6 Sixteenth looked fascinating and hoped to learn something about the house. The Pierces are the owners of a house in Chilton that has its own interesting past. They have a letter from a niece of the builders of the house, Mr. and Mrs. Groet- Now, don't tell us you have no idea where zinger. The Groetzingers were connected this geometric, stained glass window is with the Chicago Art Institute when they situated! were planning the house, she an instructor and he a student sculptor. They were friends of Wright and frequently consulted If you don't know the answer, look on page him in its planning and construction. And nine. RACINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY What's the Difference? AND MUSEUM is actually the oldest of these organizations, having evolved through We find in the community some confusion a series of reorganizations (the latest in as to the identities of four local organiza 1983) from the Old Settlers Society founded tions which do have some similarity of in 1870. Its purpose is to develop local interests and objectives but have different history collections, exhibits, programs, and goals and different forms of organization. activities for the benefit of present and The following is a summary which we hope future generations of Racine County resi will clarify the activities of Preservation- dents. The Racine County Historical Soc Racine, Inc., the Racine County Historical iety and Museum operates the historical Society and Museum, the Racine Landmarks museum and the local history library in the Preservation Commission, and Racine old Carnegie library building at 701 Main Urban Aesthetics. Street and the 1888 Schoolhouse on High way 31 and Five Mile Road. The organiza PRESERVATION-RACINE, INC. is a pri tion is supported by membership dues, vate, non-profit organization whose purpose donations, fundraisers, as well as the city is to identify and promote the preservation and county. It is a private, non-profit of worthy buildings, districts, and sites in organization administered by an elected the Racine community which have histori board of directors. cal, architectural, and cultural values. It has been active in the preservation of the RACINE URBAN AESTHETICS was founded Blake House at 936 South Main Street, the by the Junior League in 1973. It has a relocation of the Walker house to ^06 Six board of fourteen members who represent teenth Street, and is currently involved in geographical areas of the city and share an preservation of the Byron Blake house at interest in the quality of our urban land 110 Tenth Street and the Northwestern Sta scape. Funds are provided through money- tion on State Street. It has entered active raising activities and grants. Racine Urban protests against violations of preservation Aesthetics was established primarily to legislation and has promoted preservation provide professional help for downtown education through publications, slide shows, facade design. It recently established the lectures, bus tours, and the annual Tour of Belle Awards to be granted annually for Historic Places. Preservation-Racine, Inc. projects, large or small, which enhance the originated as the landmarks committee of urban environment. Racine Urban Aesthetics in 1973. It was incorporated as a separate entity in 1976 Preservation-Racine and Racine County and is administered by a board of directors Historical Society and Museum welcome consisting of four elected officers and new members; the Racine Landmarks appointed committee chairmen. Preservation Commission is appointed by the mayor; membership in Racine Urban THE RACINE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION Aesthetics is by invitation. COMMISSION was established by action of the Common Council in 197^, with the pur pose and intent of engaging in a "compre hensive program of historic preservation" There He Goes Again and to "foster a civic pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past." The Since three areas in Racine have enough commission consists of seven qualified architectural and historic quality to members appointed by the mayor. To date, warrant their designation as Historic Dis it has designated fifty-five Racine Land tricts in the National Register of Historic marks, has sponsored the application for the Places, isn't it likely that other areas, too, naming of two historic districts, and has would warrant the same distinction? The recently commissioned a study of a third Racine Landmarks Preservation Commission district. The Landmarks Commission and and Don Rintz, Preservation-Racine's vice Preservation-Racine sponsored a proposal president, think so. The Commission has which established the Architectural Conser just contracted with Don to do a study of vation Program which is funded by Com the "German brick cottages" on the north munity Development Block Grants. A num side for the purpose of creating a historic ber of publications have been issued by the district there. The study will be financed Landmarks Commission including a city- through Community Development Block wide architectural survey. Grants. Blake House II Urns V
Representatives from Preservation-Racine, In our Spring 1987 issue of the newsletter, the Junior League, and St. Luke's Hospital just over a year ago, we told you that the Board of Trustees have met several times urns which had been lost from the Prairie during the summer to discuss the lease that Style Walker House had rather miracu is being prepared for the Byron Blake lously been returned, but at the time of House at 102 Tenth Street. Preservation- that writing they were hidden away, to Racine and the Junior League have made guard against their wandering away again. tentative plans for the use of the interior Now we are happy to show you a picture spaces, and have prepared a list of needed of the urns out of hiding and resting in items that will appear in our next news their proper place on the College Avenue letter. It is hoped that the project will be side of the Walker house. To get them off to an early fall start. there took a lot of effort, muscle, and ingenuity; special thanks go to 3ohn Apple and Jim Fiene.
New Members mS^~"i Dan and Judy Jensen Ft 132^ S. Main Street 1 1 Todd and Carla Schober 1 r 1815 Park Avenue Ll! > Wayne and Cindy Briesemeister 1635 College Avenue 03 WM>WI ••»» - Ken Larsen ^ 1638 Park Avenue 03 Hal and Lore Sydnor 2320 Westwood Drive O^f
Coming Up At the Fair Preservation-Racine's Thirteenth Annual Preservation-Racine—as is its yearly cus Tour of Historic Places tom—trucked its booth to the Starving "Frank Lloyd Wright and Associates" Artists Fair on the first Sunday of August. October 2; 12 noon - 6 p.m. Thanks are due the members who volun Old Main Street Octoberfest teered to man—but who, for the most part, September 11; 12 noon - 5 p.m. '""• "womaned"—the booth on a long, sunny, and extremely hot day: Janet Kuhl, Dorothy Osborne, Luanne Frey, Bernie Yost, Mary Ann Staupe, Rick Sill, Ross and Jennie Thanks, Bob! Sheridan, Elizabeth Walker, and Fran Trumbull. Thanks are due to Robert Johansen who has, once again, contributed pen and ink Special thanks must go to Erv Kaufmann, sketches of the buildings on this year's without whom the booth would never have been set up, and to Ross Sheridan, without tour. The originals will be presented to whom it could not have been taken down the owners of each building. Reduced and stored. reproductions of them illustrate our article on the tour and will be used in the Don Rintz guidebook for the tour. has been duplicated; a new boiler has been Blake House Update > > installed; plaster moldings have been restored. These improvements have been Many of the newer members of Preserva financed from rents, generous contributions tion-Racine do not know the story of the by the Junior League, donations over a Blake House at 936 South Main Street, the number of years from Preservation-Racine, restoration of which was one of our a grant from the Johnson Wax Fund, and earliest projects. We continue to be inter low interest loans from the City of Racine's ested in it. Architectural Conservation Loan Fund. When the Blake House was threatened with They have also been made possible by demolition in 1976, Preservation-Racine, volunteer labor (more than six thousand the Junior League, the Racine County hours logged by 1985) and by many dona Historical Society, and Racine Urban tions of materials. Aesthetics formed a coalition to save and preserve it. A twenty year lease was The Blake House was built in 1868 for arranged with the owner, the Beth Israel George Bull, a dry goods merchant, and Sinai Congregation. occupied in 1873 by Lucius Blake, whom some historians credit with giving Racine its start in industry, for he is believed to have been the first manufacturer of agri cultural machines in the city. Members of BPi^^J^^iUit., ^H his family lived there until 1926. It is Italianate in style, with a Tuscan tower tucked into the corner of the gables. Its arched windows are decorated with molded brick, brackets decorate the eaves, and there is a delicate frame bay on the 11 ^ south side. It is an excellent example of a rare architectural style in Racine. FFLW Committee An ad hoc committee called "The Friends T'-f'S«»«™,_ •• /^^^"^i^g of Frank Lloyd Wright in Wisconsin" has been formed to help save Taliesin from Volunteers went to work removing linoleum future threats of deterioration and loss. from parquet floors, scraping Spanish plaster The committee hopes to attract other mem from the walls, smoothing the alligatored bers who share a concern for Wright's work finish on doors, sanding and painting wood at Taliesin and elsewhere in the state and work, and similar jobs. Professional assis hopes to have an organization in place to tance was sought for chemically removing assist in the preservation of Taliesin in the several layers of paint from the exterior near future when such plans are formulated. brick walls and with electrical and plumb For further information about the commit ing projects. tee, contact: FFLW Committee, Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation, Wisconsin The rooms in all five apartments into which Heritages, Inc., 2000 W. Wisconsin Avenue, the house had been divided were restored to Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233. make them as historically accurate as possi ble, and by the fall of 1977 the five apart ments were rented and producing income, as they continue to do to this time. The board of directors of Blake House Restoration, Inc., which consists of repre President Mary Whitman sentatives of the four original organizations, Vice President Don Rintz have directed further improvements over Secretary Jeanette Cody the past eleven years. A picture window Treasurer Janet Kuhl was replaced by two windows which dupli Preservation-Racine, Inc. Newsletter cate the originals and restore the integrity Editors Dorothy Osborne of the east facade; the original back porch Don Rintz, Roberta Fiene Save the Depot Century Certificates
In a letter, dated August 15th, to the Mayor Below is a reproduction of Preservation- and the Common Council of the City of Racine's century building certificate that Racine, our organization presented its offer was awarded for the first time this year. to buy the threatened Northwestern Rail Fifteen owners of Racine County century road Station if the city would exercise its buildings were presented with temporary right to the acquisition of abandoned rail certificates at a reception during National road property under the Wisconsin statutes. Preservation Week. Preservation-Racine could then seek a developer to purchase, preserve, and restore the building. The letter was referred by the council to the Office of the Mayor. Any action on the matter is now subject solely to his discretion. The mayor is still not convinced that the building should be saved. If you support its preservation, please call him and tell him so. We can only hope for a positive recommendation from him. 'Urat&diit' On the other hand, in a proposed decision, dated August 17th and prepared for the Office of the Commissioner of Transporta wtu^.^u& tion, the application of the Chicago and Northwestern Transportation Company to remove its depot at Racine from railroad C/L/K*"*' O^'''*'^ ^eniiita^^uiCiUfta^ use is approved. That proposed decision will become an order if it is adopted by =/= the commissioner. Most proposals of this kind are automatically adopted, and once this one is adopted, the station will be in immediate jeopardy of being torn down. The certificate was designed by Georgia If the station is to be saved, every effort KroU, local artist and calligrapher. It is must be made to contact the sixteen alder printed on a natural colored parchment men on the Common Council and convince paper, and each is being hand lettered by them to save the building. Please call Georgia. They will be placed in simple your alderman and fervently urge that the black frames, ready for hanging, before station be saved. being given to the owners. It
Answer: '
Wright you are! It is one of a row of windows on the lower level of the Hardy House designed in 1905 by Frank Lloyd Wright, the first Wright building in Racine.
./ ••-•' UTSUODST/(V 'SUTDE^ aivd lo^ef I* 'supen HDVisod 's -n £Si XOQ -O 'd •DU] *3UpP^-UOTJEAJISS3Jd
c g> c O o o 5P (1)55 .> (D o 0) O CO O m n O 1= CM 0) 0} c 1° ._ «> o (DT3 u. 5« D <>> 3sy c o £ ill o c •o 5| On o i; O O m >• c (A o >-CCQ4 O 2 So