This complex of buildings has not been open to the public for long, so I feel fortunate. In 1992 the Martin House Restoration Corporation was created to raise funds for its restoration. Two of the buildings had been demolished by a developer who replaced them with an apartment building. The apartment building, through funding by the Corporation, was demolished and the original buildings have been reconstructed according to original drawings and specifications. The main house is currently being restored, but the first portion of the tour goes through the first floor, and one does get an idea of how the space is used. I would love to return when the project is finished. The main house includes a fireplace with a glass mosaic of wisteria around it. It must have been magnificent.
Many Wright scholars believe this to be Wright's finest example of his Prairie House style. It is identifiable by its strong horizontal lines.
The back of the main house includes a pergola, or walkway, that connects to a conservatory for plants. Next to the conservatory is a carriage house, which includes horse stables. The pergola and carriage house are the two buildings that were rebuilt from scratch.
Below is another view of the carriage house. Do you see the two small towers on the pergola to the right? They were meant to be bird houses for purple martins, but birds don't seem to like them. They have never been occupied!
Below is a view of the back of the main house, with the pergola extension:
There are two other buildings in the compound. One was a home built for Darwin Martin's sister and her husband and children. The other is a small home of a simpler design in which the gardener lived. Although Frank Lloyd Wright designed many homes, only three were complexes like this one.
Tomorrow we start home. We will stop, for a day, just outside Williamsport PA. Lee's dentist appointment is on Wednesday morning. I am anxious to start west - I feel summer slipping away!
