Saturday, August 7, 2010

Preservationist Buy Wright Home

From the July 2nd Chicago Tribune "Preservationists buy Wright home" by Blair Kamin, architecture critic.

Historic preservationists have bought a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Kankakee, about 60miles south of Chicago with the intentions of opening the home for tours and perhaps turn it into an arts education center.

The seven-room B. Harley Brady House is regarded by some as being the first example of Wright's Prairie Style architecture. In addition, it has more than 100 of Wright's striking art glass windows. It has a storied and tragic past, at one time the site of the popular Yesteryear restaurant. Also, in 1987, media heir Stephen Small was abducted from the house and died after being buried alive.

The Wright in Kankakee organization bought the house June 30th for $1.7 million, $200,000 less than the asking price. Former owner, architecture professor at the University of Illinois, and his wife had spent $1 million restoring the house and are happy that it will be maintained and open to the public.

The organization plans to rent the house out for events to help pay off the mortgage.

I am a big Frank Lloyd Wright fan so will have to make sure I get to Kankakee for a visit. It is definitely great news to hear that another Wright house has been saved.

Way to Go. --DaCoot

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