The Floors Unveiled u Sleuthing Graycliff’s Interiors Interior Restoration Work is Underway u Before & After Graycliff Fast Facts u Volunteer Spotlight Q&A PHOTO BY PATRICK MAHONEY, AIA u Introducing... We hope you like the new format of the Graycliff newsletter. We’ve opted for one issue per year in color, rather than two black & white issues...so you can see our progress more clearly thru photos. For more frequent updates on all things Graycliff, subscribe to our eNewsletter BOARD OF DIRECTORS (send your email address to [email protected]) Diane Schrenk, President and “like” us at Facebook.com/Graycliffestate Jim Charlier, Vice President Barbara A. Seals Nevergold, PhD Vice President Now and Then... Diane Chrisman, Secretary When Wright first designed Graycliff in the late Kevin J. Christner Jeffrey Manhardt 1920s, the porte-cochère was quite prominent, with Larry Cobado Sharon Metz few plantings and strong, clean lines (top photo). Benjamin Christy, Ph.D. Michael McGuigan As time went on, the roof of the porte-cochère was Kenneth Graham, Esq. Patrick Mahoney : by Jim Charlier : by Jim Susan J. Herold replaced with black asphalt shingles by the second Terrence Robinson Darice Hickey, Esq. Bottom owners, the Piarist Fathers, and plantings had Catherine Schweitzer Kevin Hoffman Deborah Lynn Williams obscured the structure (middle photo). Charles Le Fevre, ASA Mary F. Young In recent years, with the help of members and HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS Graycliff Archives donors, the Conservancy restored the roof with The Reverend Margaret R. Foster red-stained cedar shingles, as it had been originally, Darwin Martin Foster and removed non-original plant materials Clifford E. Whitman Top and middle: Top (bottom photo). ADVISORS Photos: Photos: Jason Aronoff Jack Quinan A Special Note of Thanks Carol Bronnenkant Douglas Swift The Graycliff Conservancy appreciates the generous support of: John Conlin William Wisniewski New York State, John R. Oishei Excuria Salon and Spa Quaker Boy EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Andrew Cuomo, Foundation Fallsview Casino Turkey Calls Reine Hauser Governor and the Dorothy Payne Fund Field Service, Inc. Richardson Restoration NYS Legislature Corp. STRATEGIC PARTNERS Phyllis W. Pierce Trust Fontana Rowing The New York State Roycroft Inn New York State Office of Parks, Council on the Arts Saperston Family Boat House Foundation Seneca Larkin Recreation and Historic Preservation The County of Erie, Forest Lawn Evans-Brant Chamber of Commerce Simple Gifts Fund Holdings LLC County Executive Garman Family The Preservation League of New York Mark Polancarz and The Western New York Foundation The Shaw Festival The Cultural Landscape Foundation the Erie County Foundation Graycliff Hotel and Sienna Environmental Legislature Estate of Marion Resort, The Bahamas Technologies The Alliance of American Museums The Town of Evans Zimmerman Herschell Carrousel Simoncelli Electric The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation The Baird Foundation The Margaret L. Wendt Museum The Slater Law Firm The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Building Conservancy The Balbach The History Museum Sonoma Grill Family Foundation The National Trust for Historic Preservation Thank you also to: Hull House Restaurant The Cameron Newsletter design by JCharlier Communication Design, Alpha Contract Flooring John and Marie Sterling Inn and Spa Brown Fund Hutchins JCharlier.com, (716) 884-3274 Buffalo and Erie County Stratford Tourism The Community Dr. Thomas Jambro Alliance Foundation for Greater Botanical Gardens Buffalo Botanicus Krog Corporation Tantalo Photography James H. Cummings Ted Catalano KROMAC Trillium Courtyard Flowers Foundation Buffalo Museum of Larkin Center of The East Hill Science Commerce Merk Blasting Foundation Burchfield Penney Larkin Development The Mansion on First Niagara Bank Art Center Group Delaware Avenue Gannett Foundation Business First Liberty Liquor Theodore Roosevelt M&T Bank Inaugural National Hooper Family Chaintreuil Jensen Historic Site Foundation Stark Architects Russell Maxwell Trillium Courtyard Key Bank Concrete Applied Merk Blasting Florists Technologies/CATCO Services, Inc. Seymour H. Knox Uniland Foundation Darwin Martin House Mulberry’s Restaurant Verizon Samuel H. Kress Dessert Deli MusicalFare Theater Foundation Vintage Hotels of Dundee Ales National Fuel Niagara-on-the-Lake M&T Bank EBS Engineering; National Grid Visit Buffalo Niagara Louise Y. Mokadam Ellicottville Chamber New Era Caps Wanakah Country Club Trust of Commerce Party Squad Waterbourne Preservation League of Entercom New York Ponds Unlimited Zarcone Electric Evenhouse Printing Premiere Wine and Spirits Photo by Jim Charlier Photo by Jim Charlier by Jim Photo We’re The floors are now returned to their original wide-planked cypress, FLOORED as Wright intended. By your generosity! ou’d think it would be First, the concrete floor was painstakingly a state-of-the-art “misting” fire relatively simple to refinish removed, section by section. suppression system was added, too. Yoriginal floors. But no–the Next, new subflooring, with With the wood floors now gleaming, project encompassed careful removal temporary supports, was installed. the return of under-floor heating, of a concrete floor that Then wide plank cypress and fire suppression, your support had been installed in “Oohs and aahs was delivered, from and encouragement have made an the 1940s. Seven long southern forests–just enormous impact. Do see it for yourself. decades ago, the wood filled the rooms as Wright had specified. living room floor as donors, After settling and collapsed. The problem? supporters and adjusting to the cooler Moisture in the damp local politicians temperatures of basement below. Martin northern climes, the walked around the CHARLIER JIM BY PHOTO family members first floor of the wide planks of cypress installed a concrete Isabelle R.Martin were installed...as floor–functional but Wright had specified. neither attractive, House...” The next step nor what Wright had - The Buffalo News, June 6, 2014 designed. Thanks to was fascinating. It seems Frank Lloyd Wright (always your support, the wetness was ahead of his time) designed heating corrected a few years ago by the beneath the floors. Nestled into the Conservancy. The dirt floor of the floor, grates are placed strategically basement was dug out, drainage at the coolest parts of the rooms. added, and a concrete basement floor Beneath them are heating units, just as poured. Only then was it safe to Wright intended. Finally, to protect the undertake this project. investment of members like yourself, 1 A thoughtful restoration of the building to its 1929 state is the work of hundreds of specialists – architects, historians, curators, carpenters, scholars, electricians, plumbers, painters, volunteers, and donors like you. Photo courtesyPhoto UB Archives But we’ve only just With your help, we can finish the interior restoration ou were there to rescue Now on to the interiors! Next up: floors in the entry way, living Graycliff fifteen years ago, Thrillingly, thanks to supporters like room and dining room gleam once Ywhen it was slated for you, we’ve restored the Family Sun again (see article, page 1). Protecting demolition. Success after each success, Room. A local family, the these restored areas you’ve continued your support. And Hoopers, offered to assist The Hooper family, is a “misting” fire now Graycliff’s restoration is nearing in returning the original offered to assist in suppression system– completion! Exteriors are restored, Library Table, which returning the the first of its kind structural repairs graced the Sun Room. original Library in the area. completed, and Once the table was Table...they were Now the most dramatic the Pavilion successfully moved from then inspired transformation awaits! welcomes Colorado to its rightful to undertake a Imagine the kitchen nearly place at Graycliff, the as it was when the 10,000 larger project... Hoopers were inspired cook brewed iced tea visitors the room itself! to undertake a larger to serve on the terrace. each year. project...the room itself. The walls and Or gaze at the turquoise lake from ceiling were repaired, and a rubber tile Isabelle’s bedroom, through the Photo courtesyPhoto Wikipedia floor, just as Wright designed, French door and graceful windows. returned the room to its former glory. Or heroically, help protect these rooms Isabelle Martin wrote to Wright “Are you entirely free and fully disposed to design severely simple two story house for lake shore for Martin Family for early construction and occupancy. Specifications not important. No superintendent required...” 2 U P N E X T Historic Furnishings Report A comprehensive study of Graycliff Estate furnishings is in progress. Using original photographs, correspondence, Floors? Check! Fire suppression system? Check! Walls and ceilings? We need your help! diaries, memories of Martin family members, and historic archives, professional curators/Wright scholars are Charlier Jim by Photo creating an Historic Furnishings Report to guide the Conservancy in its efforts. Funding for the Historic Furnishings Report was generously provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities and begun! the National Trust for Historic Preservation. with a state-of-the-art misting fire A bedroom awaiting your guests, favorite. Your contribution will protection system. opening to the cantilevered balcony. accomplish all of this, and more. Explore Darwin’s manly Suite, A warm glow as you gather at the With architectural drawings and with bedroom,