Requiescat in Pace

  

Fire and natural disasters have always claimed significant architecture, but the end of many Prairie School buildings has come because of greed and ignorance. Most are residences, many in cities and towns without preservation ordinances, and are often set on large lots that make them easy targets of the current teardown mania. Many PS buildings have also been lost because of ignorance of their significance or the vandalism of deferred maintenance.

What follows is a very incomplete listing in no particular order of some of the landmarks that have been lost. While we can’t protect buildings against tornados or earthquakes, we can educate the public about the loss of historic buildings from entirely preventable causes.

• • •

The Larkin Company Administration Building
Buffalo, New York
Frank Lloyd Wright, 1906

After years of neglect and vandalism, sold for $500 and demolished, 1950
http://fixbuffalo.blogspot.com/2006/08/all-thats-left.html

• • •

Sedgwick S. Brinsmaid House
Des Moines, Iowa
Arthur Heun, 1900

Demolished, 1971

• • •

Francis W. Little House
Deephaven, Minnesota

Frank Lloyd Wright, 1912
Demolished and parts dispersed to several museums, 1972
http://www.artsmia.org/unified-vision/architectural-tour/little-1.cfm

• • •

J.S. Marsh House
Winnetka, Illinois

Walter Burley Griffin, 1910
Torn down for new residence, 2002

• • •

Beggs House
Elmhusrt, Illinois

Walter Burley Griffin, 1910
Demolished by local developer, 2002

• • •

Thomas Alva Edison School
Oliver Morton School
Hammond, Indiana
William S. Hutton, Architect
George G. Elmslie, Associate Architect
1935-36

Demolished, 1991
http://www.hhs59.com/edison.htm

• • •

Washington Irving School
Hammond, Indiana
William S. Hutton, Architect
George G. Elmslie, Associate Architect
1935

Demolished, 2003

• • •

W.S. Carr House
Grand Beach, Michigan
Frank Lloyd Wright, 1916

Damaged by insensitive alterations, eventually razed, 2004

• • •

The Livestock National Bank
Sioux City, Iowa
William L. Steele, 1915

Demolished after neglect and fire, 2003

• • •

The Black House
Seattle, Washington
Andrew Willatzen, 1914

Stealthily demolished for as-yet-unbuilt condos, 2004

• • •

First Church of Christ, Scientist
Marshalltown, Iowa
Hugh M.G. Garden, 1903

Demolished, August 1985; now an empty lot.

• • •

Edward W. Decker House
Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota
Purcell & Elmslie, 1913

Razed, 1948
(a service building still exists)
http://www.artsmia.org/unified-vision/architectural-tour/decker-1.cfm

• • •

Madison State Bank Building
Madison, Minnesota
Purcell & Elmslie, 1913

Demolished, 1968
http://www.artsmia.org/unified-vision/architectural-tour/madison-1.cfm

• • •

Hegg Building
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Purcell & Elmslie, 1915

Torn down to make way for Kmart, 1980
http://www.organica.org/pejn296.htm

• • •

E.L. King House, “Rockledge”
Homer, Minnesota
George W. Maher, 1912

Demolished, 1987
http://www.artsmia.org/unified-vision/architectural-tour/king-1.cfm

• • •

Midway Gardens
Chicago, Illinois
Frank Lloyd Wright, 1914

Demolished, 1929

• • •

Wilbur & Etta Wynant House
Gary, Indiana
Frank Lloyd Wright, 1916

Suspected arson, 2006

• • •

Liberty Stake First Ward Chapel
Salt Lake City, Utah
Pope & Burton, 1911

• • •

Ann Arbor Masonic Temple
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Rousseau & McConkey, 1924

Razed for a parking lot, 1975

• • •

Riverside Country Club
(also known as the Zeigan House)
Monroe, Louisiana
Walter Burley Griffin, c. 1913

Demolished, 1930s
http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3807284

• • •

Lincoln School
St. Peter, Minnesota
Designer unknown, c. 1913

Demolished.

• • •

Charles & Josephine Lindsley House
Spokane, Washington
Earl W. Morrison, c. 1914

Demolished.

• • •

A special page of lost Florida buildings can be found here.

  

 

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