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Owner of Frank Lloyd Wright home calls discovery an 'overwhelming' reward Retired teacher discovers her home was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
(35 minutes later)
A retired teacher in Madison, Wisconsin, discovered this week that her house, which she bought for $100,000, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.A retired teacher in Madison, Wisconsin, discovered this week that her house, which she bought for $100,000, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Wright experts announced on Tuesday that Linda McQuillen’s home is an American System-Built house, built as part of the great American architect’s effort to develop and market well-designed homes at an affordable level.Wright experts announced on Tuesday that Linda McQuillen’s home is an American System-Built house, built as part of the great American architect’s effort to develop and market well-designed homes at an affordable level.
It is the second such house to be identified in the past four months, one of 16 ever built. Fourteen are still standing.It is the second such house to be identified in the past four months, one of 16 ever built. Fourteen are still standing.
McQuillen, 69, who works part-time for the University of Wisconsin, bought the run-down house in 1989, knowing only that it was built in 1917 and that an addition was built in 1924.McQuillen, 69, who works part-time for the University of Wisconsin, bought the run-down house in 1989, knowing only that it was built in 1917 and that an addition was built in 1924.
Finding out that it was designed by Wright was “pretty exciting”, she said, and “pretty overwhelming”.Finding out that it was designed by Wright was “pretty exciting”, she said, and “pretty overwhelming”.
“Over time we have completely redone the house without any indication it was a significant house,” McQuillen told the Associated Press. “I didn’t know it was a Frank Lloyd Wright home and had no imagination it would be.”“Over time we have completely redone the house without any indication it was a significant house,” McQuillen told the Associated Press. “I didn’t know it was a Frank Lloyd Wright home and had no imagination it would be.”
Wright scholar Mary Jane Hamilton spent years unearthing evidence about McQuillen’s home, which is less than half a mile away from the University of Wisconsin, where Wright attended school in the 1880s. Rumors about a connection to Wright had been circulating for years, but evidence was scant.Wright scholar Mary Jane Hamilton spent years unearthing evidence about McQuillen’s home, which is less than half a mile away from the University of Wisconsin, where Wright attended school in the 1880s. Rumors about a connection to Wright had been circulating for years, but evidence was scant.
Eventually, Hamilton found a 1917 Wisconsin State Journal newspaper advertisement by a Madison building company, offering American System-Built Homes. The same company was named on the 1917 building permit for McQuillen’s home, which indicated it was building a spec house.Eventually, Hamilton found a 1917 Wisconsin State Journal newspaper advertisement by a Madison building company, offering American System-Built Homes. The same company was named on the 1917 building permit for McQuillen’s home, which indicated it was building a spec house.
Other indications that the home was designed by Wright included a custom-designed window pattern and framing studs that were 24 inches on center, a known Wright touch.Other indications that the home was designed by Wright included a custom-designed window pattern and framing studs that were 24 inches on center, a known Wright touch.
Other famous buildings by Wright include Fallingwater, a house built over a waterfall in Bear Run, Pennsylvania, and the Guggenheim museum in New York City.Other famous buildings by Wright include Fallingwater, a house built over a waterfall in Bear Run, Pennsylvania, and the Guggenheim museum in New York City.
The house is now valued at more than $480,000, and the money initially invested was worth it, McQuillen said.The house is now valued at more than $480,000, and the money initially invested was worth it, McQuillen said.
“It does feel like a reward, a vindication that when I saw the house, and could see beyond the disrepair that I knew there was something substantive,” she said. “The house really spoke to me.”“It does feel like a reward, a vindication that when I saw the house, and could see beyond the disrepair that I knew there was something substantive,” she said. “The house really spoke to me.”