Volume 21 Issue 3 SEPTEMBER 2016 FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT WISCONSIN MEMBER NEWSLETTER 100 Years New Hertzberg © Mark Celebrate the Burnham Block Unique collection of Wright homes in Milwaukee turns 100 by DONNA NEWGORD Throughout Frank Lloyd Wright’s 70-year being assembled and shipped by rail to the building career as an architect, his lifelong passion was to site as a means of cutting costs. With only 15 homes build beautiful and affordable housing for every of this system known today we are celebrating American. That passion manifested itself in the the six homes built on the Burnham Block in American System–Built Homes in 1916. Wright Milwaukee – two bungalows and four duplexes. The produced 966 drawings for this project—more two bungalows and two of the duplexes are owned than for any other of his projects—specifying wood by Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin. being cut in the factory, and construction materials MORE BURNHAM BLOCK INFO ON PAGE 5 President’s Message by GEORGE HALL © Mark Hertzberg © Mark Despite the summer doldrums, and some welcome members Barbara Elsner, Kate Lilek, Nicole Atkinson, recovery time from June’s Wright and Like in Racine, I Sandra Wicker, Sybil Knop, Silke Cole, Lois Berg, Pat have a few things to bring to your attention. Martin, Margaret Howland, Kathy Kean, and Sherri Shokler. Forgive me if I’ve inadvertently omitted anyone. Last year board member Mike Lilek informed the board that he would like to step back from managing In July, Sherri and I met with the director of volunteers our website. Some of you may not know that Mike at the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust in Oak Park, along © Mark Hertzberg © Mark © Mark Hertzberg © Mark developed and has been the stalwart steward of our with one of their long-time docents and one of the website since its inception in 1999. His development resident historians who recently volunteered for us at Put in parentheses between all the kudos Gene Szymczak has gotten for his rehabilitation of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Thomas P. Hardy House in Racine has been the oft-repeated question, “But what about the ugly gas meter in front of the house?” Moving the meter is cost and stewardship of the site took a tremendous amount Wright and Like. Although the Trust (responsible for prohibitive, even though some Wright-philes have proposed a Kickstarter fund to help out. The meter is now shielded! Chad Nichols, the of time and effort, for which all of us are very grateful. operating and maintaining the Frank Lloyd Wright craftsman who built the Wright-designed gates for Gene (the original gates were removed by the third stewards of the house, 1947–1957), Following this announcement, an ad hoc web site Home and Studio, along with the Robie and Emil was commissioned to build a shield with the house address on the front. The shield is open to the top and sides for meter readers. committee was formed last fall, which generated a Bach houses) has a paid staff of 60, and we have one, desired site content outline, and in July recommended Sherri, we nevertheless came away with a few ideas that to the executive committee that we seek funding for we will discuss with the board and prospectively try Published three times annually in February, May and September. development of a new web site. I’m pleased to say that, to implement. As you’ve heard me say, volunteers— WRIGHT IN WISCONSIN is published by Frank Lloyd Wright thanks to assistance from Mark Hertzberg, FLLW WI ranging from board members to docents at Burnham CONTENTS Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization designed to promote, protect, and preserve the heritage of Frank Lloyd Wright, his vision and just received a welcome and generous grant from and Wright and Like, as well as Burnham’s 100th his architecture, in his native state of Wisconsin. Membership SC Johnson in support of website development. As I committee—are very important to our organization. benefits include discounts at the Monona Terrace Gift Shop and write this, we will be finalizing a contract with Image Without volunteers we simply wouldn’t exist. But to on Wright and Like™ tour tickets, a free tour of the Model B1 home in Milwaukee, this newsletter, volunteer opportunities, and Management of Racine to develop the new site. Part entice you to volunteer and ultimately make the best more. Donors of $100 or more receive reciprocal membership of the complete package includes training and hosting. use of your talents, we need a structure, and that’s one ARTICLES benefits at Wright sites nationwide (benefits vary by location). To Without the generous support from SCJ, we would of the ideas that Sherri and I hope to work on and join, visit us at www.wrightinwisconsin.org or contact us at the number or address below. not have been able to act as quickly as we have, and all discuss with the board. 01 Burnham Block 100th of us are very appreciative of SCJ’s long-term support Editor Mark Hertzberg Anniversary Celebration Designer and copyeditor Scott K. Templeton over the years since the inception of our organiza- While recently in London, I had the pleasure of talking Special thanks to architect/author Randy Henning tion (following an initial organizational meeting at to our sole UK member, an individual who periodically 06 Photos From Recent Events for contributing the “At Taliesin” column, and Patrick Mahoney Wingspread in 1990). makes trips to the US to see Wright buildings. Our for contributing the vintage postcard. 09 Ballerinas in the Warehouse conversation focused on things that we might do (and Board of Directors (Sites Represented) Planning continues for Burnham’s 100th anniversary in some instances are already doing) that would make George Hall, president; Mike Lilek, vice president–facilities; Mark Hertzberg, secretary; Kim Mattila-Kasten and Paul Sheahan, celebration taking place this fall. It will feature a series trips by foreign guests a little more tractable. co-treasurers; Lon Arbegust (AD German Warehouse); of events, including presentations by Mike Lilek, our Mary Arnold; Lois Berg; V. Terry Boyd; Michael Bridgeman; Burnham Curator and one of the few acknowledged I hope you’ve all had an enjoyable summer, and Ken Dahlin; Michael Ditmer (Schwartz House); Timothy Frautschi; experts on Wright’s American System–Built Homes, perhaps experienced visiting at least one Wright REGULAR FEATURES Andy Gussert; Timothy Hoye; Bill Martinelli (Seth Peterson Cottage); Mary Ann McKenna (Wyoming Valley School); along with an evening gala and other events. Once building! Plan on attending at least one Burnham event Sarah Milestone (Taliesin); Donna Newgord; Heather Sabin activities are confirmed, an events calendar will be this fall. And Sherri and I are discussing what we might 03 President’s 12 Faces of FLLW WI (Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center); Message Humberto Sanchez; Ron Scherubel; Traci Schnell; and publicized. I’d like to thank the event committee, do for a fall tour or two, but we need volunteers in 13 “At Taliesin” including our board member Donna Newgord, who is order to help make this happen. Please call me and give 04 News Briefs Dave Weber (Unitarian Meeting House). 14 Tours & Events responsible for moving this event along, and committee me a chance to encourage your participation. 10 Wright Thoughts Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin 16 Vintage Postcard p.o. Box 6339, Madison, WI 53716-0339 (608) 287-0339 www.wrightinwisconsin.org The newly constructed model of Wright’s San Francisco Call Building is on display at the annual Frank Lloyd Wright birthday 02 celebration at Taliesin and Hillside School and Theater, Saturday June 11. The model was constructed by Stafford Norris at WRIGHT IN WISCONSIN VOLUME 21 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER 2016 03 the behest of the Organic Architecture and Design archives. The original model is now at the Museum of Modern Art. © Mark Hertzberg © Mark NEWS BRIEfs Jewel in the Woods Celebrate with Us as We Explore The history of Frank Lloyd Wright’s charming Seth Peterson Cottage (1959) in Mirror Lake State Park is Wright’s Work on the Burnham Block well told in Scott Davies and Bill Kult’s new DVD “The Jewel in the Woods.” The main feature, which runs 58 minutes, tells the stories of Peterson’s persistence LECTURES EVENTS in getting Wright to design his home, his untimely Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 DOORS OPEN MILWAUKEE sponsored by Historic Milwaukee, Inc. death before the home was finished, the neglect 6:30–8:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 and Sunday, Sept. 18, 10:00–5:00 p.m. of the cottage after his death, and its painstaking SC Johnson’s Golden ASBH Model B1 Bungalow Museum House – FREE tours rehabilitation led by Audrey Laatsch and executed Rondelle Theater, ASBH Model C3 Bungalow – Fundraising tours, $10.00 per person, $5.00 for students over 16 by architect John Eifler and countless volunteers. Racine There are three bonus features in addition to the main Burnham Block: Frank ASBH Two Family Flat “C” – Displays – scale models of Wright’s work by Kenosha LEGO Club – film. The first is the story of the Lovness Cottage in Lloyd Wright American Wright’s designs, video of the last trolley ride throughout the Burnham neighborhood – Stillwater, Minn., which is modeled after the Seth System–Built Homes with Silent/secret auction of Wright items Peterson Cottage. The second tells the story of how lecturer Michael Lilek Original Music Performance – Access Contemporary Music decisions were made about how to design furniture RSVP: (262) 260-2154 Book Sale – Frank Lloyd Wright books and gift shop for the rehabilitated cottage, since none was ever built Thursday, Sept.