Frank-a-palooza: Frank Lloyd Wright and Baseball Across America (Rev. 4.0)

[LongWays]

Over 12,500 Miles, 30 Days, More Than 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Sites, 4 Baseball Landmarks, 2 Motorcycles

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[LongWays]

This year was the 4th iteration of an annual Odyssey in search of Frank Lloyd Wright and baseball landmarks across America - and this time is was to be the Long Ways across. The previous thread (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=13092) I had posted was actually a recap of the 2nd trip we took.
Think this picture pretty much sums it up - it also answers a couple of questions previously posed by some guy calling himself <strike>sausage boy</strike> kbasa "How do you guys find these places?", and "What's In Your Tank Bag?".

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[tessler]

:lurk

Good stuff, LongWays. Really dug the other ride report from 06. Looking forward to seeing some more great images from this recent odyssey. :thumb

[LongWays]

Bellingham WA to Denver CO.

There was some initial confusion as to just when we were leaving but once that was nailed down we had a few days to play with so it was off to North East Oregon (Hell's Canyon)

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And South West Colorado (San Juan Mountains)

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before pulling into Denver and Coors Field

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Built in 1995 it is apparently now the 3rd oldest baseball stadium in the National League after Wrigely Field and Dodger Stadium - kind of sad when you think about it.

[BubbaZanetti]

:lurk

[LongWays]

Denver CO to Kansas City MO

No offense to anyone, but holy crap is Kansas flat. And going through Nebraska just means it takes that much longer to get across it - again no offense.

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Nebraska? Why the heck would anyone go to Nebraska? Well there is a Frank Lloyd Wright house in McCook.

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Built in 1907 for Harvey Sutton who on the flip of coin moved to Nebraska from Chicago and at some point led the Burlington Railroad Band. Recently medical offices but now a private residence it is cared for with obvious pride.

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Stayed at the newly renovated Aladdin Hotel in downtown KCMO - got a love a hotel where the valet greets you with a glass of Champagne. The next afternoon it was out to Kaufman Stadium that is under going some substantial renovation - Brian is hoping they don't ruin the cold aesthetics of the pre-existing cement structure while I'm hoping for shorter lines to get a hat... and beer.

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[lineman126]

:lurk

If you make it to the Burgh to check out PNC Park. Stop by and check out the Frank Loyd Wright style houses built in my neighborhood by one of his apprentices. They are owned by people I know so you could probabley tour them if you like. We all like to :drink also so stop by for a cold one as well. There are no lines to the keg in my basement.:laugh

[LongWays]

Kansas City MO to St. Louis MO

Did I mention that we try to eat well on our trips? Mmmm KC BBQ

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There were a few Franks to drive by on our way out of KCMO.

Bott House designed in 1956 and built in 1961. The original owner lived in it until her death in 1987.

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Sondern House built in 1940 and destined to become the property of a local art gallery.

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Community Christian Church built in 1941, although there is some discussion as to just how much Frank was involved and whether or not he was fired from the project before it was finished - not his best work regardless.

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Once out of Kansas City we headed South West to Wichita and the first of several highlights of this trip. First stop in Wichita (actually a Starbucks was the first stop), was the Corbin Educational Center on the campus of Wichita State University started in 1958 and finished in 1964 when funds became available.

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Next stop was the Allen-Lambe House - a real treasure and its preservation the result of the driving passion of two people. Built in 1917 it is considered to be the last of the Prairie Style houses. Owned by a foundation it is open for tours and highly recommended.

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[LongWays]

We then headed down to Bartlesville OK for a true Frank experience - staying the night in the Price Tower. Originally built in 1952 for the Price Pipeline Company it is now a hotel with a fine restaurant up towards the top.

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And yup the furniture was uncomfortable.

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The next morning we made a quick run down to Tulsa and back so we could get the tour of the tower that was included in the price of the room. The Richard Lloyd Jones House in Tulsa was built in 1929 for a cousin of Wright a successful editor and a prime mover behind the preservation of President Lincoln's birthplace (not sure if this is the same relative that invented Lincoln Logs).

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Before the tour Brian managed to bag one of his specialties - a Frank Lloyd Wright gate... he now has the complete set of Price gates from Oklahoma and Arizona.

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It was then to St. Louis

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and Busch Stadium

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[LongWays]

:lurk

If you make it to the Burgh to check out PNC Park. Stop by and check out the Frank Loyd Wright style houses built in my neighborhood by one of his apprentices. They are owned by people I know so you could probabley tour them if you like. We all like to :drink also so stop by for a cold one as well. There are no lines to the keg in my basement.:laugh

That was Rev. 1.0 4-years ago, and Pittsburgh is on the list of places we would go back to.

[franze]

Ok, I followed the link to your last report as I was waiting for you to continue....... absolutely fantastic photography. When it comes to capturing the angles and framing, you got the Wright stuff:clap :clap :clap :clap

[BubbaZanetti]

yus,

i was waiting for price tower!

i used to live across the street from a FLW house in MA.

[LongWays]

St. Louis MO to Springfield OH

It was non-stop Frank for the next 4 days. As I need to slowly acclimatize myself to the other side of the Mississippi we only spent the morning on the East side for a run up the River Road North into Iowa.

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Oskaloosa has 2 - yes two Franks, both from 1948, both designed and built for WWII veterans.

Alsop House

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Lamberson House

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Last stop of the day was Des Moines and the Trier House from 1957

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It was then up to Mason City (home town of Meredith Wilson and the setting for The Music Man), and the City National Bank and Hotel from 1909.

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We were fortunate enough to run into the director outside and priviledged with a bit of a hard hat tour - rumour has it our visit will be the headlining article of their next newsletter.

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The building is undergoing extensive renovations with the intentions of re-opening it as it originally was - a hotel, and I can't believe I have to come back to Mason City Iowa

The Stockman House is also in Mason City and open for daily tours... except after Labor Day (Labour Day if you are Canadian). Built in 1908 it was moved to its current location in 1989.

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[LongWays]

We continued our "scenic" tour of Iowa as we headed through the endless fields of corn (and I will spare you my Ethanol rant), to Charles City and the Alvin Miller House. Built in 1946, the house was submerged up to its roof line during the recent flooding this June.

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We then reached another highlight of the trip in Quasqueton (Cedar Rock Park), and the Lowell Walter House and River Pavilion. Built in 1948, completed in 1950 for an inventor of some sort of asphalt topping or process. The house was supposed to be a full-time residence but lacking insulation and and an efficient heating source it was subordinated to a summer house role - but a very nice summer house. The property along with a considerable trust were donated to the state and it is immaculately preserved and cared for.

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Now you hear a lot of different stories about Frank when you take these tours, but I think this was the first time I had heard that the infamous red tile was "awarded" to a home owner only after living in the house for 5-years, and that would be living in the house the way Frank intended.

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Frank is also re-known for his art glass (more on that when we get to the Dana House), but guess he had a heart for the working man too as here he used hardened chunks of molten glass back lit in brick niches as a less expensive option - don't think he did it again.

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As dawn broke over Dyersville the next morning we made the pilgrimage out to the last of our baseball landmarks on this trip.

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Unfortunately were a bit early and it was closed, but it looked like a very peaceful place... did I mention there was a gate?

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[LongWays]

Excuse the interuption but I thought I would share with you one of the techniques used in capturing some of the more elusive Franks.

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Not that this technique doesn't have consequences...

Comment #16, In reply to A Traction of Tractors, on Sep 30 2008, 16:42
Author: Richard Herber
IP: 67.86.4.101 URL: www.Hayneshousellc.com
Referer: http://www.savewright.org/wrig...
I am the owner of the John Haynes house. I was informed by my neighbor that you were on my property. You have been reported to the Fort Wayne Police Deptatment.


...we sent him a bumper sticker

[LongWays]

From Dyersville we GPS'ed our way to Peoria (by way of a Starbucks). Now you know you must look really lost when some guy on an R100/7 with a Windjammer fairing and Illinois license plate "BMW" (:wave Tom) pulls up beside you asks where you are going and upon hearing Frank Lloyd Wright replies "Follow me, I live 4-doors down from that house"

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Awww - look how nicely those BMW's are all lined up.

We were then off to Springfield (Illinois), and the Dana House - a true American treasure and unfortunately slated to be closed to the public due to some short sighted political B.S. ...or something.

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Built in 1904 literally around an 1800's Victorian - and there is one room in the house that is anything but Frank. There are hundreds of original art glass panels and pieces of furniture and it is full of remarkable spaces. There is even a bowling alley in the basement and all sorts of "smart house" technology from that era. Again some great stories - especially how all that original furniture remained with the house... apparently when it was put up for sale upon the death of the owner it was so impractical most of it was not sold and returned to the house.

Quick stops in Decatur IL (Irving House 1910)

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Marion IL (Davis House 1950)
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and Fort Wayne IL (Haynes House 1951)
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This part of the trip ended in Springfield (OH), and the Westcott House. Built in 1907 for the founder of the Westcott Motor Car Company (among many things) - a 1911 Westcott was in the first Indianapolis 500. The house has recently been restored (just in time as it was 6-months from demolition), and instead of being a museum piece this is a space that is really used - it was being prepped for a wedding as we wandered through.

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[MLS2GO]

A previous employer of mine, Richard Stern, bought that house from the Adlers and lived there until his death. I have had the pleasure of being there for a party and looking at all the nooks and crannies. I truly appreciate the thought, foresight and architecure in the house, but I wouldn't want to live there. Pretty much all the original built ins are still there and in use. Mr. Wright was an unique man.

[bobs98]

Excellent report! Great photos and narrative.

Thanks for taking us along!

[kbasa]

:clap :clap

Baseball, architecture, motorcycles, food and nice hotels. What could be more fun?

[rmarkr]

Nice!
I really enjoyed your write up
.:clap

[cheesewhiz]

Great stuff!
Thanks for sharing. :bow

Questions:
Any idea what type of car that was parked in the driveway at the Decatur IL (Irving House 1910)?

I'm sure you are aware of all the FLW heritage in Wisconsin (Right?). Is that why you didn't job a bit north to see the Taliesin or the S.C. Johnson sites?

Again, thanks!

[LongWays]

Great stuff!
Thanks for sharing. :bow

Questions:
Any idea what type of car that was parked in the driveway at the Decatur IL (Irving House 1910)?

I'm sure you are aware of all the FLW heritage in Wisconsin (Right?). Is that why you didn't job a bit north to see the Taliesin or the S.C. Johnson sites?

Again, thanks!

Lamborghini. And our first Odyssey 4-years ago took us through Wisconsin, Chicago, Falling Water, Yankee Stadium, Fenway, Buffalo... - not posted here but it is buried somewhere on the longwayshome.net website (http://www.longwayshome.net)

As there are new stadiums now in Washington and New York and with the restoration of the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo nearing completion we are planning a fifth (and final), Odyssey back to the upper mid-west and east coast in a couple of years.

[Beemer01]

:lurk :lurk

[LongWays]

With baseball done with for this trip and a few Franks yet to come, but a-way to the South it was time to get in some riding.. but first we had to get the heck out of Ohio. I have come to the conclusion that corn is bad - wherever there is corn the roads are straight and flat and the scenery sucks (once again I will spare you my Ethanol rant).

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As we headed South East towards Virginia the corn disappeared and the vistas opened up around each and ever increasing corner in the road.

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And as we rode down the spine of Shenandoah to the Blue Ridge it just kept getting better.

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After the bikes where serviced at Destination in Knoxville it was up to Jonesborough TN for the National Storytelling Festival - and a parking spot on Main Street. If it is all about the stories this is the place to be the first weekend of October.

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[LongWays]

After a great few days off of the bikes it was back on and heading South. First stop (after finding a Starbucks of course), was Chattanooga and the Shavin House. Built in 1950 and apparently still owned and lived in by the original owners.

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Next stop Florence Alabama. The Rosenbaum House was first built in 1939 then later almost doubled in size to make room for 4 sons. It is owned by the City, has been completely restored and open for tours - it was crawling with Auburn students as we arrived.

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And since we were in Alabama - well y'all know what's there...

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Our last Frank (as it turned out), of the trip was in Lakeland and Florida Southern College - second only to Oak Park in both concentratino and numbers of Wright designs. Dating form 1938 to 1958 a total of 8 buildings and 1.5 miles of interconnecting covered walkways it is under rated and under appreciated. Most of the structures are under restoration work and a lot of the newer construction has ties back to Frank through Taliesin.

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And seeing as we made it that far, figured we might as well go all the way.

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5-days later (and 4000 some odd miles), it was back to the West Coast where you can get to 4 Starbucks without shifting gears or hopping cell towers.

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[KGT1200]

Wow!

Wow!

One of the best ride reports EVER!! This has my son and me dreaming of where we will go in a few years!

Thanks for sharing this great trip!

Dale and Sam

[Rapid_Roy]

Excellent report, if I may speak Frankly.:clap

[BubbaZanetti]

Excellent report, if I may speak Frankly.:clap

no, you may not.:laugh


well done, interesting themes make the ride all that much better!

[tessler]

LongWays for President!*


* of the Frank-a-palooza Architecture and Baseball Appreciation Society

[LongWays]

LongWays for President!*


* of the Frank-a-palooza Architecture and Baseball Appreciation Society

If nominated I won't run, if elected I won't sit*







*being a green-carded Canadian probably disqualifies me anyways

[SIBUD]

I live 120 miles south of the Dana-Thomas house. A college classmate is in charge of the site. The previous Gov of Illinois spent tens of thousands of dollars to bring original pieces back to the house. It is a treasure. Thanks for including it in your tour. What a great idea and I see from your tank bag that a STL Cardinals hat somehow got aboard. :whistle

Now, our goofy Gov. Blow-go-vich, (under investigation by the Fed's) has run the state dry of funds and threating everyone with doom and gloom if he dosen't get his way when he stamps his little feet and has a hissy fit.

He is as short sighted as he is short.

Oh, sorry, TOTG isn't open yet!!!!!!!!!:bolt

Wonderful thread. Great pics. Love trips with a theme and anytime you can include Ouray and the Million $ highway, you have a winner.

[LongWays]

I live 120 miles south of the Dana-Thomas house. A college classmate is in charge of the site. The previous Gov of Illinois spent tens of thousands of dollars to bring original pieces back to the house. It is a treasure. Thanks for including it in your tour.


Another of the great stories from that house. Apparently he is a real fan and whenever Dana House artifacts come up for auction he bids with private money and donates the piece(s) back to the house. There is a double pedestal art glass desk lamp (ala Tiffany), that is worth millions that was acquired that way. The place really is extraordinary.