PrairieMod

Support This Bill And Support Historic Preservation!

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is urging everyone to urge their Congressperson to vote for the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Why? Because..."this bill includes the Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance Program (REEP), which would provide financial incentives in the form of state block grants to help owners of homes and businesses save money on energy upgrades, including weatherization or window repair. And, it would provide additional incentives for owners of older and historic properties to make these upgrades in keeping with the historic character of our homes, buildings, and neighborhoods." Follow the link, find out more and pass it on!

Image via The National Trust for Historic Preservation

Burnham Street Home Restoration

Mark Hertzberg sent us another update for his blog, Wright in Racine, but this time it's about Wright in Milwaukee! Check out new slide shows exhibiting the wonderful restoration work on one of Wright's earliest prefab housing designs: an American System-Built house on Burnham Street. See it all here.

Image copyright Mark Hertzberg

Wright For Real People

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Malcolm Willey House in Minneapolis, MN has been meticulously and lovingly restored by the Sikora family. Here's a link to a Natural Home article discussing the Herculean effort it took to bring this important Pre-Usonian design back to life.

Photo copyright Terrence Moore

Wright In Kankakee

A new organization has formed called "Wright in Kankakee" that is seeking to acquire, restore and preserve the B. Harley Bradley House & Stable and the Warren Hickox House, located next to each other in Kankakee, Illinois. One goal is to open the Bradley House to the public as a museum ASAP, since it has already been meticulously restored. The Bradley House was also recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well. Get more info and see additional photos here.

Image via Wright in Kankakee

Your Input Needed

We recently received an email that the good people from Landmarks Illinois are looking for PrairieMod reader input on what preservation project should be nominated for the annual Richard H. Driehaus Preservation Awards. Got any suggestions? Post them in the comments below and we'll be sure to pass them along to Landmarks Illinois for consideration. For more information on the Driehaus Awards, and to access a copies of our call for nominations and nomination form, click here.

"Spring" Returns To Buffalo, NY

In honor of Frank Lloyd Wright's 142nd Birthday, a reproduction of a Richard Bock sculpture titled "Spring" was installed at the Darwin D. Martin House, Wright's Prairie masterpiece in Buffalo, NY. Read more here.

Image copyright Derek Gee/Buffalo News

Blair Kamin On Historic Preservation And Green Architecture

Here's a link to Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin's recent lecture titled "Historic Preservation and Green Architecture: Friends or Foes". He uses the Wright-designed Seth Peterson cottage in Wisconsin as a case study. Read it here.

Images copyright Seth Peterson Cottage Conservancy

A Peek Inside The Marden House

Here's a link to a post on the blog Apartment Therapy that looks inside the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Luis and Ethel Marden House, a fabulously restored Usonian gem overlooking the Potomac River in McLean, Virginia. See more photos here.

Image copyright Nikolas Koenig

"Dear Mr. Wright..."

It's amazing what a little sleuthing on the internet can yield. Here's a link to a story about Stanley Marcus (of Nieman Marcus fame) and Frank Lloyd Wright, the house Wright almost designed for Marcus, and the less-than-polite correspondence (in PDF form) that occurred between the two. There's also news of how preservationists are trying to save the Marcus House that was built. Read about it here.

Image via Unfair Park, the Dallas Observer Blog

Ghosts Of Buildings Past

Much has been (and will be) written about the fan fare surrounding Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim, its golden anniversary and the upcoming Wright exhibit there. However, Newsweek takes a look at one of Wright's most important buildings from yesteryear that didn't get so lucky. Read it here.

Image copyright David M. Heald/SRGF

All About Bogk

Here's a great article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that interviews the long-time owners of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Bogk House. Read about it here.

Photo copyright PrairieMod

Eric Lloyd Wright On Restoring FSC

50 years and 3 weeks after the death of his famous grandfather, Eric Lloyd Wright visited the largest single collection of Wright-designed buildings for a single site: Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL. Read about the visit here.

Image copyright Scott Wheeler/The Ledger

These Students Don't Just Tour Houses, They Save Them

Here's a link to an interesting article from metromode.com that highlights the efforts of two Lawrence Tech students and their efforts to help restore the Wright-designed Affleck House in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Image copyright Peter Beers

Unity Temple In The News

Here's some links to articles covering Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple being selected as one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Sites in America:

Chicago Tribune, New York Times, USA Today

Also, here's a link to a video made by the National Trust discussing why Unity Temple matters.

Image via YouTube

When It Rains, It Pours

Hot on the heels of the announcement of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Landmarks Illinois announced the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places for Illinois. Check out the list here.

Image courtesy of Landmarks Illinois

The Wright-Related News Revealed

I caused a bit of a stir yesterday with my mysterious post, though I was not trying to be a tease. The news I can now announce was embargoed and kept very secret--until now.

Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois, to its 2009 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. This annual list highlights important examples of the nation’s architectural, cultural and natural heritage that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage.

This places Unity Temple on a very special (if not alarming) pedestal. Out of so many important national sites in need, this building has been specially chosen for its uniqueness and for the terrible risk it is in of being lost forever. As one of the last remaining public building from Wright's Prairie Period, and arguably in the top five of his most important designs, the time is NOW to Save Unity Temple. Read more after the jump...

Martin House Looks Inside

Restoration work on the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Darwin D. Martin House has already produced some visible and amazing results when seen from the outside. Now, work is shifting to the interior, an 18-to 24-month project at an estimated cost of $7.5 million, to be completed by October 2011. Read more about the progress by following the link.

Image copyright Bill Wippert/Buffalo News

Saving The Cooley House

A recent post on thenewsstar.com highlights the uniqueness of  the Walter Burley Griffin-designed G.B. Cooley House in Monroe, LA and how a group of local preservationists are saving it. Also, check out this plucky group's Cooley House website to see some great photos and to read more about this very sweet house on the Bayou.

Image copyright The Cooley House Foundation

Save This House: William Ross House

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed William Ross House in Glencoe, IL has had its price reduced to $499,00. Anyone who knows Glencoe will realize this is a great deal. So why is it still on the market? Well, the house needs a lot of TLC--but if you have the money and patience, saving this architectural gem will be well worth it. Follow the link to learn more.

Image courtesy of Baird & Warner

Historic St. Louis Schools Face Uncertain Future

It seems in this lousy economy one can't turn a corner without running into another tale about historic buildings in peril. Case in point: NPR featured a story on turn-of-the-century schools in St. Louis designed by William Ittner, whose open plans influenced the way schools were built around the country. Get details, photos and a podcast here.

$2.5 Million To Go

The group overseeing the restoration of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Park Inn Hotel/City National Bank in Mason City, Iowa has received more than $16 million in donations, grants, pledges and tax credits to save the important building. However they need another $2.5 million to meet their restoration goal of $18.5 million. With the state of the economy, it looks like an uphill battle. Follow the link to read more.

Orphan Windows On Display

Donald M. Aucutt's recent Prairie magazine (formally the Geo. W. Maher Quarterly) ran a piece on the Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts Gallery and their acquisition of a set of Maher windows form the now destroyed Winton House, formally of Wausau, WI. The gallery also has second group of windows from the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Little House II, formally of Wayzata, MN. Read about both houses and their remains by following the link.

Image copyright Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts

A Look At The Bradley House

Here's a link to an article exploring the history and recent restoration of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Bradley House in Kankakee, IL. Read more here.

Image via Chicago Sun Times

Celebrating Wright: Florida Southern College

TheLedger.com posted an article looking at the special place Florida Southern College held for its designer, Frank Lloyd Wright. 50 years after Wright's passing, the largest collection of buildings he designed for one site is gradually being restored. Read more here.

Photo copyright Scott Wheeler/The Ledger

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Update

The Prairie School Traveler website has an interesting set of photos and written update to last year's damage wrought by flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa--specifically to the Louis H. Sullivan-designed Peoples Savings Bank. Read about it here.

Image courtesy of Prairie School Traveler website

Delayed In Buffalo

There's an update to the story of forced Landmark status to two Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes in Buffalo New York. Seems like things are on hold for another 4 weeks as a cooling-off measure. Read more here.

Image copyright Mark Webster/Buffalo Business First

My Home Should Be A Landmark? No Thanks.

Buffalo wants to make the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Heath and Davidson House official landmarks, but the owners say "no thanks." Why the snub? Read about it here.

Image copyright Mark Webster/Buffalo Business First

Fixing Up Florida Southern College

Here's an article discussing what makes Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Florida Southern College so special and also what is being done to fix it up. Read more here.

Image copyright Florida Southern College

Wright Home In Need

Ila Coretti wrote us with info about the endangered Ross House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. She writes: I have a listing for a FLW house for sale in E. Glencoe. The home is listed at $575,000 and it needs work. The home is located on a street with other FLW homes. Please share this info with your readers, it's a great opportunity for someone to save a FLW home.

If you're a house hero looking to take on the "Wright" project, it's listed with Baird & Warner in Highland Park and you can reach Ms. Coretti at  847-432-0500.

Photo copyright Landmarks Illinois

The Goldberg Remedy

Metropolis Magazine recently ran an article exploring the past and unknown future of Bertrand Goldberg's hospital designs--specifically the fate of his elegantly curvaceous Prentice Hospital. Read the article and see some photos here.

Steamboat Springs' Little Mod Wonder

The city of Steamboat Springs, CO has a little modern gem in their midst that has recently been named to the Colorado State Register of Historic Places. Known affectionately as the "Butterfly Building," the town's 1960 Chamber of Commerce Building was designed by modernist architect Eugene Sternberg and has a decidedly Usonian feel to it. Read more about it here.

Image courtesy of The Steamboat Pilot

220 Historic Homes In River Forest

River Forest, IL is a relatively small town on the outskirts of Chicago. However, as was recently reported in the local paper, the Forest Leaves, around 220 homeowners received letters confirming their homes' historical significance. Read more about it here.

Image copyright Rick McNees

Beverly Neighborhood Worries Over Court's Decision

On January 30, The Illinois appellate court found the city of Chicago's landmarks ordinance "unconstitutionally vague," and recommended the circuit court strike it down. This is bad news for historic architecture preservation. The Beverly Neighborhood in Chicago is especially worried about what it might mean for their large concentration of Prairie School architecture. follow the link to read more and to see a video showing some of the buildings.

Image copyright Southtown Star

Wright College Gets A Little More TLC

The Ledger.com reports that Florida Southern College, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed campus in Lakeland, FL recently received a $50,000 grant from the Bureau of Historic Preservation in the Florida Department of State's Division of Historical Resources. The money will be used to repair and restore the Fletcher Theatre, a circular amphitheater in the Lucius Pond Ordway Building. Read all about it here.

Photo copyright The Ledger/Pierre DuCharme

Nickel House Update

We reported recently on the plight of the "Chicago 7" — seven buildings in danger of being lost. Good news came from PrairieMod Reader Debbie B. She wrote us to say that Executive Director of Preservation Chicago, Jonathan Fine, told her that the Richard Nickel home currently has a buyer and they intend to renovate and live in the home. Preservation Chicago is currently working to ensure that this plan comes to fruition. This is great news--1 down, 6 more to go! Thanks Debbie and if anyone else has news to share, please do!

Image copyright Karen Langer

Excercising Poor Judgement

Blair Kamin's blog, The Skyline, ran a post explaining why a recent Illinois Appellate Court's ruling could endanger architectural preservation throghout the state. Read more here.

Image copyright Blair Kamin

Chicago's Most Endangered

Preservation Chicago has posted their 2009 Chicago 7: The Most Endangered Buildings in the City. Among the group is early architecture advocate, photographer and Louis Sullivan champion, Richard Nickel's House. See the list and find out what you can do to help by following the link.

Image copyright Karen Langer

Averting Disaster

File this under the "Close Call" category. Apparently, the new owners of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Little House in Peoria, IL almost radically altered the historic home with an addition before they were stopped by the community. Read about it here.

Photo copyright David Zalaznik/Journal Star

Chicago Bauhaus & Beyond: Membership Renewal

It is time to renew annual memberships (or sign-up for the first time) for Chicago Bauhaus & Beyond. CBB is a non-profit organization which celebrates and promotes 20th century modern architecture and design. The group formed in response to the need for a forum in which to gather information and communicate about architecture and design from the 20th century modernist era.

Image copyright CBB

Gunning House Update

We recently heard from Sandy Byrne, whose husband, Bud Byrne is the listing agent for the imperiled Gunning House or "Glenbrow". This significant work of Ohio Organic Architecture by Theodore van Fossen, Tony Smith and Larry Cuneo is in danger of being torn down. See what Sandy has to say after the jump...

Pfeiffer Chapel Received Funds

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Annie Pfeiffer Chapel in Lakeland, FL was the other Wright building receiving a grant from the Save America's Treasures program. Here's an article discussing the building and what the money will be used for.

A Little More On The Recent Unity Temple News

Here's a follow-up to the story from the Chicago Tribune about Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple receiving some much needed funds via a grant from the Save America's Treasures program. Read about it here.

Image copyright UTRF

Some Good News

The 2008 Save America's Treasures list has been announced and two significant Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings are going to received funds to help in their restoration and preservation. Congratulations to the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel in Lakeland, FL and hometown favorite, Unity Temple in Oak Park, IL. Read more about it and see the entire list by following the link.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Fossen House Info On Prairie Gray

I previously reported on the plight of a Theodore van Fossen House in Ohio. The blog Prairie Gray has more information about this property and a photo of the home in better days. Follow the link to check it out.

P.S. While you're there, read some of the other posts on the ranch home improvement projects--very interesting "PrairieMod-ification" going on there!

Image copyright Tom Hogan

Wright Hotel Will Get Much Needed TLC

It's reported that the Vision Iowa Board will approve a grant for Mason City, Iowa to the tune of $9 million in order to leverage more than $32 million for area projects.  This will help in the renovation of the Wright-designed Park Inn Hotel. Read about it here.

Image courtesy of Wright On The Park

Taliesin Blues

Taliesin in Spring Green Wisconsin has had a rough existence. Burned down twice, ravaged by the elements and under constant siege by the natural world it embraces--it needs some TLC. Read this Wisconsin State Journal article and watch this video to find out what's being done to help this important work of architecture.

Save This House: "Glenbrow"

Here's your chance to save an excellent example of Organic Architecture! The Gunning House (or "Glenbrow") near Columbus, Ohio was designed by Theodore van Fossen in 1939. Fossen is more widely known as the architect behind the Rush Creek subdivision, one of the largest and best collection of homes built around Organic Architecture Principles. Read about the Gunning House's precarious future by following the link.

Freeman House Restoration: What's Taking So Long?

Curbed LA recently asked this question about the Samuel Freeman House, one of the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed textile block houses. Read about it by following the link.

Image copyright Curbed LA

More Van Bergen House Info

We've received more info about the last Prairie School House design that is in danger of being torn down. Read about it after the jump...

Unity Temple In Peril

Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple is falling down. Literally. As this YouTube video shows, a huge section of the building's ceiling recently collapsed, necessitating emergency restoration action. So how did this all happen and what can you do to help? Find out more after the jump...