2014 FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT WISCONSIN MEMBER NEWSLETTER Wright and Like 2014: Driving Mr
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Volume 19 Issue 2 MAY 2014 FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT WISCONSIN MEMBER NEWSLETTER Wright and Like 2014: Driving Mr. Wright © Robert Hartmann © Robert © Mark Hertzberg © Mark The owners of It’s Time to Hit the Road! Frank Lloyd Wright’s Greenberg House in by DENISE HICE, Wright and Like 2014 co-chair Dousman are building an addition according to Wright’s original Actor and comedian Robin Williams once said, Please join your friends at Frank Lloyd Wright plans. “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s Party!’” At Wisconsin on Saturday, June 7th for our south-central Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin, we say, “Spring is time Wisconsin road trip to celebrate the architecture of Long and low, for a road trip … and for touring great Wisconsin Frank Lloyd Wright and his contemporaries on our Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture!” After what seemed like an interminably 19th annual home tour. Your travels will take you to Arnold House in long winter, our spirits are filled with pleasing thoughts the delightful communities of Columbus, Dousman, Columbus also has an addition, designed of a season of rebirth—sunny days filled with warm Delafield, and Wales, and will feature seven private by Wright apprentice gentle breezes, flowers blooming throughout the homes and three public sites for your touring pleasure! John Howe in 1959. greening countryside, and motoring through the Both homes will be open for tours during rolling Wisconsin landscape to quaint cities and towns Your Wright and Like 2014 weekend experience begins Wright and Like 2014: as you embark on your Wright and Like 2014: Driving on Friday, June 6th in historic downtown Lake Mills, Driving Mr. Wright. Mr. Wright outing. WRIGHT AND LIKE CONTINUES ON PAGE 11 President’s Message by LOIS Y. BERG There are definitely signs of spring in the air. I saw my first robin last week, and Monday actually felt like spring. By the time you receive this newsletter the Spring Event on May 3 will be a wonderful memory. I am writing this message anticipating touring two private Frank Lloyd Wright–designed homes. The Allen Friedman House (a 1959 Usonian design) in Bannockburn, Ill., has the distinction of being the last © Traci Schnell © Traci home that Frank Lloyd Wright designed. It avoided demolition in 2001 and was saved by its current The Wright and Like 2014: Driving Mr. Wright tour includes five homes designed by feature “Like” architect LaVerne Lantz, who has owners, Jamal and Salwa Alwattar. The second home— never been represented on a Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin tour before. Pictured above is the Lantz-designed Ron and Eileen Karrer the George Madison Millard House in Highland House in Wales, completed in 1996. Enjoy several more photographs of these all-new tour houses throughout this issue. Park, Ill.—is a Prairie School home built in Highland Park in 1906. The floor plan is a cruciform design. This is the first home that Wright designed for the Wright in Wisconsin is published three times annually, in February, May, and September, by Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin, Millards; a second home in Pasadena, Calif., was built CONTENTS a nonprofit organization designed to promote, protect, and in 1923. Both homes are on the National Register of preserve the heritage of Frank Lloyd Wright, his vision and Historic Places. Our last stop on the tour is Crab Tree his architecture, in his native state of Wisconsin. Membership © George Hall © George benefits include discounts at the Monona Terrace Gift Shop Farm, once part of a 370-acre dairy farm owned by the and on Wright and Like tour tickets, complimentary tour of eminent Illinois federal district judge and railroad pres- the Model B1 house in Milwaukee, newsletters, volunteer Heavily influenced ident Henry W. Blodgett, who created the system that Driving Mr. Wright, our annual Wright and Like event, opportunities, and more. To join our organization contact became the Chicago & Northwestern Railway in 1863. will be June 6–8. The feature article beginning on the by the works and us at the address and phone number listed below, or visit writings of Frank Lloyd ARTICLES www.wrightinwisconsin.org. Scott Sloan Durand purchased 250 acres in 1905 and cover of this newsletter highlights this great event. We Wright, LaVerne Lantz designed and built his Chair, Publications Committee Mark Hertzberg presented them to his wife, Grace Durand. In 1910, have a number of new “Like” homes on the tour that first house for himself 01 Wright and Like 2014 Designer and Editor Scott K. Templeton/Campsite Creative llc a fire destroyed the original farm buildings, and that will offer an architectural feast for our tourgoers. As and wife, Mollie, in Special thanks to architect/author Randy Henning event prompted Grace Durand to commission noted always, we need many volunteer docents for each home 1961. Sited on top of 05 SC Johnson Tower Opens for contributing the “At Taliesin” column, and Patrick Mahoney a moraine, this house for contributing the vintage postcard. Chicago architect Solon Spencer Beman (1853–1914), on the tour. If you are interested in being a docent, who is perhaps best known for his design of Pullman please contact me or Sherri Shokler in the Frank Lloyd will be available for 06 Lamp House Update Board of Directors (Site Representatives) exterior viewing only Lois Berg, president (Wingspread); George Hall, vice president; Village (1880–84) on Chicago’s far south side, to Wright Wisconsin office. during Wright and Like Mike Lilek, vice president–facilities; Denise Hice, secretary; develop plans for a modern facility for her farming 2014. Within walking 07 Hardy House Restoration distance, however, Tess Unger, Treasurer; Greg Anderegg (SC Johnson); Mary Arnold; operation. The result was the assembly of buildings Please visit our American System-Built Homes V. Terry Boyd; Michael Bridgeman; Ken Dahlin; Michael Ditmer are two more Lantz that survives today as Crab Tree Farm. It is now home Model B1 at 2714 W. Burnham St., Milwaukee, homes—including the 12 Changes at Monona Terrace (Schwartz House); Rick Donner; Gail Fox; Timothy Frautschi; Tom Garver (Unitarian Meeting House); Robert Hartmann; to cattle, horses, sheep, chickens, and turkeys. Crops and see the completed exterior restoration of the second one he built for his own family—and Mark Hertzberg; Carol Johnson (Taliesin®); Stewart Macaulay; have included hay, corn, and soybeans. The original Two Family Flat “C” at 2732–34 W. Burnham St. both of them will be REGULAR FEATURES Bill Martinelli (Seth Peterson Cottage); Margo Melli; Beman buildings have undergone extensive renovation The results are stunning. An additional tour day— open for interior and Donna Newgord; Heather Sabin (Monona Terrace Community exterior tours. 03 President’s 13 “At Taliesin” and Convention Center); Ron Scherubel; Traci Schnell; Pamela and display collections of furniture and decorative the second Friday of the month—will be available Message Stefansson (Wyoming Valley School); Scott Templeton; arts from the American and English Arts and Crafts from June 13 through October. Check our website 14 Wisconsin Jason Tish; and Mary Wasielewski. www.wrightinwisconsin.org 04 News Briefs Wright Sites movement, as well as contemporary furniture. I hope ( ) for all the tour dates. Tours & Events Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin those of you that attended this event thoroughly 08 Wright Thoughts p.o. Box 6339, Madison, WI 53716-0339 16 Vintage Postcard enjoyed the day. Hope to see you at Wright and Like in June! 10 Burnham Beat Phone 608-287-0339 www.wrightinwisconsin.org 02 WRIGHT IN WISCONSIN VOLUME 19 ISSUE 2 MAY 2014 03 © Scott Templeton/Campsite Creative Templeton/Campsite © Scott NEWS BRIEFS A Long Awaited Peek Behind the Pyrex Veil Innovation and architecture are on display as SC Johnson Salvation for A.D. German opens its Research Tower to visitors for the first time On April 16, the A.D. German Warehouse Conser- vancy, Inc. (ADGWC), a newly formed not-for-profit Akerlund © Nels corporation, formally assumed ownership of the only This spring, for the first time ever, SC Johnson building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Richland Dusk at the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed will open the doors of its Frank Lloyd Wright– Center, the community where he spent his initial Kenneth & Phyllis Laurent House in Rockford, Ill. designed Research Tower to the public. For 32 years, childhood. This significant landmark was transferred to the Tower served as a hub of innovation and the the group through the generosity of local philanthro- birthplace to some of the world’s most widely used pists Glenn and Mary Schnadt. This achievement is the household products. Now visitors can make online culmination of a grass-roots effort initiated nearly two Laurent House to open in June reservations for free tours that include the Tower. The years ago and supported by the Frank Lloyd Wright The newest Frank Lloyd Wright museum, The Kenneth season’s new tours begin on May 2 and run Fridays, Building Conservancy. Ron Scherubel, a FLLW WI & Phyllis Laurent House, will open to the public on Saturdays, and Sundays until Sept. 27, 2014. Four main board member and the former executive director of the Friday, June 6 in Rockford, Ill. A series of events begin- exhibit areas on two floors will provide visitors with Building Conservancy, played a role in the transfer of ning Wednesday, June 4 will celebrate the opening. an unprecedented look at one of Wright’s most unique the warehouse to its new stewards. architectural achievements. Visitors will be taken back The Laurents commissioned the home in 1948 and in time to experience how the Tower operated in its The mission of the new organization is to complete lived there from 1952 until early 2012, when the home heyday, with a full mock-up of a 1950s laboratory.