FEBRUARY 2021 Volume 26 Issue 1 WRIGHT in WISCONSIN MEMBER NEWSLETTER \ CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT LostLost andand FoundFound BOOKBOOK CHRONICLESCHRONICLES ‘FRANK‘FRANK LLOYDLLOYD WRIGHT’SWRIGHT’S FORGOTTENFORGOTTEN HOUSE’HOUSE’ PAGE 2 PAGE 4 PAGE 6 PAGE 15 News & Notes: Wright in Has an American System-Built Revisiting the Erdman Prefab New executive director joins Wisconsin items of interest been ‘hiding’ in Spring Green? No. 2 (1957) in Madison the Wyoming Valley School News & Notes from Wright in Wisconsin Update: Wright and Like torical Preservation Award. Submissions are We continue to monitor the COVID-19 pan- due March 15, 2021, with the award and the President’s Message demic to determine whether we can host a $5,000 prize to be announced on April 11 and by GEORGE HALL Wright and Like tour this year. Variables range presented at the Lake Delton cottage on June from the willingness of homeowners to open 13. their homes for public tours to the number of The biannual award is presented to an indi- infections in Wisconsin and the widespread vidual or organization in recognition of past availability of vaccines. Please stay tuned to our work in historical preservation of a Frank website and Facebook page. Lloyd Wright or Prairie School building in Wisconsin or a contiguous state. In general, Entries Sought for 2021 Kristen Visser buildings constructed between 1900 and 1925 Hall © Joan Historical Preservation Award are given preference, and the restoration work © Mark Asshole © Mark © Brent Nicastro © Brent The Seth Peterson Cottage Conservancy is Members and friends, looking back at 2020, I think we can building conservancy has long performed this function for seeking entries for the 2021 Kristen Visser His- Kristen Visser NEWS & NOTES CONTINUES ON PAGE 07 marvel that we’ve survived, as individuals and as organizations Wright houses, and we remain in contact when apprentice and supporting a critical preservation mission, while in the midst of “like” visits occur. serious economic, sociopolitical and personal chaos. Thanks to So on a windy October afternoon, architect Bob Bell and I WRIGHT IN WISCONSIN VOLUME 26 ISSUE 1 your continued generosity, we are able to maintain our office, scrambled around on a rubber membrane roof that was leaking, WRIGHT IN WISCONSIN is published three times annually by continue publishing our member newsletter and keep our web- assessing and photographing all that was going on. Bob recog- CONTENTS Wright in Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization designed to site active until we can safely convene in person for our Wright nized the manufacturer of the membrane and was later able to promote, protect and preserve the heritage of Frank Lloyd and Like tour and other activities. put the owner in contact with qualified contractors. Wright, his vision and his architecture — as well as the work of his apprentices, Taliesin Associated Architects and like-minded In the palpable exuberance following the receipt of our IRS Over the years, we’ve performed similar site visits. In this architects — in his native state of Wisconsin. Membership nonprofit and Wisconsin charity status, I hoped that we would case, the owner had the original TAA drawings that helped im- benefits include discounts at the Monona Terrace Gift Shop and be able to increase our online activities. We intended to pro- mensely to assess what was likely going on underneath. Such on Wright and Like™ tour tickets, this newsletter, volunteer duce programs on some of our Wright, apprentice and “like” visits not only help to preserve these homes, but they also allow opportunities and more. Donors of $100 or more receive ARTICLES sites and to work with several of our Frank Lloyd Wright Trail us to add to our cumulative record of apprentice-designed reciprocal membership benefits at Wright sites nationwide (benefits vary by location). To join, visit us at sites. houses and their methods of construction, obtain current pho- 03 President’s Message www.wrightinwisconsin.org or contact us at the number or Doing this has proven much harder than anticipated. Part of tography (with permission) and build a network of contractors. address below. the challenge of producing digital programs, aside from the Before our first November snowfall, while continuing back- 04 William Weston House Wright in Wisconsin Member Newsletter technology itself, is doing the necessary background research ground research for Wright and Like in Madison, architect and that now takes much longer due to restricted access to archival board member Ken Dahlin, Bob and I visited our two “like” 08 Lost and Found: Book Editor and designer Brian R. Hannan material. And, unlike public sites, what we search out and ex- architect-designed houses slated for the tour. Chronicle’s ‘Frank Lloyd Special thanks to: Robert Hartmann for designing the Wright in Wisconsin logo and sharing his vintage picture; and to Patrick J. plore are private homes. For videos, we continue to maintain One designed in 1981 by Eric Vogelman for himself bears Wright’s Forgotten House’ Mahoney for providing the vintage postcard. the same privacy policies as we do for our tours (i.e., no names, many stunning similarities to Taliesin. This comes as no sur- no addresses and no interior photos). prise, as Eric spent time studying Taliesin in Spring Green and 15 Wyoming Valley School Wright in Wisconsin Board of Directors and Staff Lastly, we need volunteer help — not the easiest challenge to working for Taliesin apprentice Herb Fritz, all while executing Cultural Arts Center Interim president George Hall overcome. For those of you with videography experience, we’d his own projects. The other slated tour home, a 1953 John President-elect Brian R. Hannan love to hear from you, as we have several owners willing to par- Steinmann, showcases the simplicity of form, construction and Vice president Open ticipate with outside tours. high-quality craftsmanship emerging at the beginning of the Director, at-large Ken Dahlin Director, at-large Henry St. Maurice At the same time, the pandemic hasn’t stopped small groups midcentury modern movement. Secretary Open of us from having socially distanced visits with owners and Working with the Wisconsin Historical Society, our conver- REGULAR FEATURES Treasurer Curt Szymczak working on architecturally interesting houses. In October, the sation resulted in a new Wisconsin architectural history inven- Office administrator Bill Swan Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, after being ap- tory number for the Vogelman. The owner of the Steinmann 06 Vintage Photos 14 Public Sites Wright in Wisconsin proached by the owner of a free-form Kamal Amin/William continues to pursue National Register of Historic Places status. 10 Wright Thoughts 16 Vintage Postcard P.O. Box 6339, Madison, WI 53716-0339 Wesley Peters Taliesin Associated Architects (TAA) home in Thanks to another homeowner who was part of the 2015 (608) 287-0339 www.wrightinwisconsin.org Beloit, asked us to handle a requested consultation on repairs. Wright and Like tour in Madison and whose efforts led to his Owners of apprentice- and “like”-designed homes should home being listed on the national register, we have a willing take note: On a limited basis, after initial conversations with owners, Wright in Wisconsin will schedule house visits. The PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE CONTINUES ON PAGE 04 © Brian R. Hannan LEFT: Spiral staircase at Wingspread, Wind Point ON THE COVER: Elizabeth Murphy House, Shorewood, as photographed in 1929. Shorewood Historical Society, donated by Dorothy (Stock) Hoffman. 02 WRIGHT IN WISCONSIN MEMBER NEWSLETTER VOLUME 26 ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2021 03 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 03 consultant for homeowners interested in knowing what achieving national register status entails from a homeowner perspective. Homeowners can also con- tact Wisconsin’s national register coordinator at (608) 264-6501. Now that our state and federal requirements are satisfied, and the finances are in good shape for the coming months, I am stepping back as interim pres- ident. Brian R. Hannan, our vice president and com- munication committee chair will become president. I’m sure many of you have encountered Brian on Facebook, in Wright chat groups or through our member newsletter thathe edits and designs. Foundation Wright Lloyd © Frank I will continue to serve on our Wright and Like steering committee and work with homeowners and other Wright-related groups as we continue to un- cover and research more Wright material and ap- prentice houses, and rediscover/publicize Hall © George midcentury Wisconsin architects inspired by Wright. To any of you who desire to become involved with research and programs, drop me a line. Please wel- it down to three and then picked the one best come Brian, and let’s offer him our complete sup- William Weston House suited to his needs and the site. He modified it port, as I know how much time being president somewhat but stuck pretty close to the original. entails. Spring Green House May Trace Its Origins to an I recall Mr. and Mrs. Wright coming to see it one Meanwhile, it is imperative that we fill the position day while in construction. They went through of vice president and add new board members with Unbuilt American System-Built Homes Bungalow the whole house. Mr. Wright was only critical of diverse skills. We have an extensive relationship with by BRIAN R. HANNAN my father’s use of an ‘open cornice’ instead of Wisconsin archives and architectural historians, and the closed soffit he always designed and said this area needs board representation, as does the A recent discussion on the so- been something of an open se- therefore that he couldn’t claim it was one of his Frank Lloyd Wright Trail. Currently, Brian and I are cial media platform Facebook cret in the Driftless Area com- houses.” jointly speaking with Frank Lloyd Wright Trail sites may have resolved a pair of long- munity.