Question: Info on Architect Herb Fritz?

Tim from Wisconsin emailed us this question below. Can anyone help?

I recently acquired a 1960 Herb Fritz house in rural Wisconsin and am trying to find out more info about Herb Fritz and his other projects. Thanks, and keep up the great work! - Tim

If you have any info, leave a comment.

Image from Eric Saed's Flickr Photostream

Comments

[Eric Saed]

Scott Templeton is the expert on Mr. Fritz. If he doesn't reply to this thread, let me know & I can help you get in contact with him.

[Scott T.]

Tim and I are in e-mail contact now. The house in question is an adaptation of an Aaron Green house in California. Sort of a builder bootleg, wherein the floorplan for the Green house was published in a national magazine and then used as the basis for this house in Wisconsin (presumably without Green's knowledge). I've been inside; it's a very cool house.

Also, for those curious, the photo accompanying this PM blog entry *is* a Herb Fritz house here in Madison, one of his earliest. It is easy to see that the front wall of windows cants outward from the ground up, but less obvious is that both side windowwalls are likewise canted, making for complex mitres at the corners. A recent visit to the house revealed that these corners must have finally failed or become too energy inefficient, as there was an additional mullion (black, I think) in place of each mitred corner. Pity! Still a very cool house.

[Karyn L. Erickson]

Herbert and Eloise Fritz operated Hilltop Camp in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Hilltop Camp is not far from Taliesin East. You may be able to contact Eloise directly about her husband's work.

[Jonathan Bader]

I understand that Fritz modified existing buildings and added additional structures (1965) for Wildwood Lodge near Taliesin at 5795 Upper Wyoming Road outside Spring Green. Not far from intersection of County T & Z. I arranged a spiritual retreat there in the 1970s. He also designed the Plain Medical Center in Plain Wisconsin (1974).

Jonathan Bader
De Forest Wisconsin

[Scott T.]

For those of you interested in Fritz's work, I've been working on-again-off-again on a GoogleMap showing all the known locations of Fritz structures, which I intend to post here on PrairieMod along with a short article on the fellow. There are gaps in the research that I hope some PrairieMod readers may be able to help fill -- even if it's just by driving out to a suspected location that's too far away for me to get to, and reporting back. I've done random research in the archives at Hilltop, but compiling my list and map will help me take a more focused approach next time I visit the archives. Some drawings in the archives of unexecuted buildings are absolutely stellar. Stay tuned ...

Scott T.

[J. Caraway]

Herb was certainly a master architect; he designed a number of interesting buildings in the Spring Green and Madison area.

If you are looking for additional information regarding some of his buildings you should contact his wife Eloise. Over the last several years she has been creating a catalog of all his projects. This includes three books of drawings (built and unbuilt) and will soon be accompanied by photographs of many of the built projects. I have been fortunate enough to see the drawings and they are quite impressive.

Eloise is a grand women and would probably be more than happy to discuss Herb's projects with you. I recommend giving her a call and trying to schedule a visit. Additionally, you could try to contact their son Ty, who is also a fantastic designer/builder.

Which house did you recently purchase? I may be able to give you more information regarding a specific house. Feel free to contact me at jcaraway44@hotmail.com.

Good luck.

[Libby M.]

Hi.
I was a camper at Hilltop camp in Spring Green in the nineteen-sixties and early seventies. I am currently making a video (for academic purposes only--getting a late life MFA at Goddard College in Vermont) about barns that have been transformed/adapted for educational and creative use. I am desperately looking for a picture of the camp's main building which I believe had been a barn at one time--long before Hilltop days. The building I am talking about is the one that was attached to the Fritz's house by the bridge, the one that served as dorm, main meeting area, and dining room downstairs. Does anyone know where I can find a picture(s) of this building? Exterior and/or interiors? Also any pictures of the hay storage structure by the pasture would also be welcome.

I have tried a few friends from that era with not much luck.
You can write me at my home address: lmarcus@maine.rr.com or post a comment.

Any help would be very appreciated. Thank you,
Libby M.

[Sharon McNeil]

Re: Scott T.'s Google map of Herb Fritz Houses. I' own one of his houses in Baraboo. I'd be very interested in seeing this map. Is there a link?

[jenny]

Hello all:

I as well was a camper at Hilltop 60's and remember the old barn very very well. It is still there! I drove up yesterday and most buildings are still there which housed many of us young campers. Unfortunately, the beautiful pasture which was home for a galant herd of horses has been replaced by crops. Maybe the old brochure from hilltop would give info on barn. I know eloise resides in Arizona now but Ty is still on site in one of the adjacent homes. The old barn housed "blonde balcony, "long balcony" and "brown balcony" upstairs, main floor was for dance, yoga, and lower barn was our eating area.....Wonderful times and just beautiful!

[Cindy Simmons]

I was a counselor at Hilltop in 1983. The barn was the sleeping area for the younger campers, pre-teens were in another building.

I don't think I have photos of the barn, but I have remained friends with one of the campers. I'll see if she has any.

[jenny]

Hello All!

Was up at Hilltop other day...Ty lives there as well as Eloise during pleasant weather, then they go to Arizona. What a wonderful beautiful home. Several outbuildings still remain which I was told young students from Tallesin stay there. I believe a drive there is well worth it....

[georgia]

also visited and ran into Ty's son....Not real pleasant or much info...got impression they dont like visitors...oh well, dont think eloise and herb would like but he was just like his dad, TY

[jean.bass@parkprinting.com]

My parents had Herb Fritz design their house in 1950. It is on Ridge Road in Madison Wisconsin. I remember that he didn't want my parents to have furniture in the living room. Just big pillows. My Mom refused. Couldn't see herself and guests lounging on pillows!
Jean Dudley Bass

[Jannis Mindel]

I was also a camper at Hilltop for three summers in the 70's. I recently drove onto the grounds and it looks pretty much the same. I really wanted to go into the old barn and look around but I don't think that would've been much appreciated. I'd love to get in touch with other campers or see old photos again.
Jannis Mindel

[dave]

I am interested in the designs and life of Herb Fritz . Is there any published collections?

Please contact me at dmjukesconstruction@gmail.com

Thank you
Dave Jukes

[Linda Jordan]

I also would be interested in any other information about Herb Fritz especially published book/s.

Since 1995, I've lived in the Herb Fritz house on Ridge Rd that Jean Bass mentioned in Oct 4 post. Shortly after moving in, someone came to take photos saying they were collecting info on all of Herb's houses for a book. I've not heard or seen anything about that book.

I would be interested in hearing from Jean in terms of any other wishes Herb expressed about my house. And my info was that my house was built in 1946 and that it was the first house Herb designed. Sounds as if that may not have been accurate? Jean if you've any inteest in seeing the house as it is now, you would be welcome to do so. The Kaplan's who were the owners after your parents and prior to myself are both deceased.

[Nathan Knoche]

My mother had an addition built on her home in approximately 1980, it was designed by Herb Fritz. I am not sure if the original addition was also designed by Herb or not. The core of the house was a stone one room school house circa 1848. The original addition was to the left of the house as you faced it and the 1980 addition was to the right. The address is 4282 Twin Valley Road, Middleton, WI.

[Bert Dodds]

A friend of mine lived for 40 years in a Herb Fritz house. He designed it for her and she built it in phases as she could afford – I think she lived in essentially the basement for the first 8 years. She moved about ten years ago. My wife has been in the house many times and loves the design (I’ve only driven by, but the original owner is trying to get me a tour this spring). My wife loves the layout and says it’s about the most efficient house she’s ever been in….only about 800 sf spread over three levels and built on the edge of a bluff.

Anyway, it’s north of Cross Plains. Drive north on KP, take a left on Table Bluff Rd. It’s on the right, just over the crest.

[connie]

I am doing research for a gentleman doing a book on the social history of Lake Mendota in Madison. He has asked me to find if any homes on Lake Mendota were designed by Herb Fritz. Please help! The phone number for Eloise Fritz in the Madison white pages has been disconnected.....Please reply redwinec@aol.com. Many thanks!

[jim klassy]

My son has 1955 Herb Fritz home on a large lot in New glarus. My son relocated for a job and needs to sell. It needs some work but could be a real good buy for anyone interested.
The house has not been mucked up and lives very well this very special to us because my wifes family had it built she lived there while growing up... Please reply Jim@klassybuilding.com Thanks

[fond camper]

Can anyone clarify/verify if visitors are welcome at Camp Hilltop. It was "home" for many of us and fond memories. I know that one summer a reunion was hosted, with ofcourse a charge, to stay and revisit. Any chances of another one? Can people just "stop in" I know I would not want people just stopping, wanting a tour of my home but we all have fond memories. Would love to see Eloise as well....

[Lisa Wertman Crowe]

I, too would be interested in visiting Hilltop and getting in touch with any campers from the early 70s when I attended. I have such beautiful memories of the place. Perhaps there is a blog somewhere or a Facebook group.

[Kenneth Casper]

I am a student in the Interior Design program at UW Madison. We have been given a Herb Fritz house to either rehabilitate or redesign. The current owner will be choosing one of our designs.

I would prefer to suggest designs that will preserve or at the very least honor the original intent of Fritz.

I'd like to illustrate how desperate I am for information:
The current owner does not like the "whole cinder block look" and is asking for ideas on how to tile or mask over the fireplace.
All of the original trim-work and kitchen cabinetry is still in place. Most of my fellow students will have these cabinets replaced by contemporary boxes without honoring the shape and detail of the cabinetry.

All of the windows are original. The owner would like to eliminate the interior windows between the the bedrooms and the living spaces.

The owner would like to drywall over any cinder block walls and the exposed douglas fir beams.

There are ways to meet the owner's demands for updating the house while still honoring the intention of the architect.

But, I need to know more about what Fritz had in mind. I have taken European Modern Architecture class but not American. I believe when I see the house that the construction was done with the idea of creating "design within reach" of middle class families. I don't know what this school of thought would be though - so I don't know how to start researching it.

The house has some obvious prairie style going on - but there is something else. There is a lot of vertical and a lot of unexplained glass. Is there an iconography going on with the glass and the vertical angles?

I need an iconological explanation of Fritz.

The house is in very - very bad shape. It is currently a rental property. It is in a desirable neighborhood. It will be updated. I would like to preserve most of the lines and the geometry of the spaces. But, I could use some help determining which lines are most important. I will also be choosing upholstery, window treatments, flooring, and wall treatments (wall paper, paint, & tile). I would like to choose fabric and wall paper designs that would complement the period and the iconography. This is the link to a swatchbook of fabric designs - choose the 20th Century Textiles book. maharam.com/vl.html - am looking for suggestions from this index.

I have not been able to find books on Fritz in the UW Madcat directory.

If Eloise has published books - what are their titles?
Please help with keywords that might lead me to some information.

The address to the Fritz house that is being redesigned is 2828 Sylvan avenue Madison Wisconsin 53711.

thanks

-kenneth

please email to kfcasper@wisc.edu

[Jean Lawrence]

I was an assistant counselor when I was 14--so that is 52 yrs ago...I remember Herb and Eloise like it was five mins ago--and all the private school horseback riding campers from Chicago. I think I also attended Ty's wedding--is that possible--a horsedrawn carriage, a field...sort of. I remember Jungle Breakfast at the camp--little packs of cereal tied in the trees. And the two resident bats--Elmer and Henrietta. Now, I am many yrs down life's road--but this is still a shining memory.

[Jean Lawrence]

As for Kenneth Casper--redoing a Herb Fritz house--I do remember Herb was very exacting. I suppose now we would call it compulsive. He would rake the white rocks outside the barn constantly, like a Zen desktop garden. His office was at the camp--or the camp was at his office, not sure which, but he was sort of standoffish. One day, as I came down the steps to the barn, he was raking. I stopped, hesitated. He looked up and impatiently said, "Come on, come on, if you can't walk on it what does that make me?" I walked on it. Then he raked my shoeprints away. So--to answer--my sense of it would be--don't take out those interior windows.