eBay: Pictures of Lake Geneva Hotel

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Wed Sep 05, 2018 3:58 pm

Anyone know if these are known photos of the Hotel?

David

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Wed Sep 05, 2018 4:33 pm

Well, there's very little out there; Taschen could only come up with a similar photo, tilted and not showing the entire facade, which nevertheless offers a useful comparison to the eBay offering. The Monograph presents
Wright's aerial view, not finished, evidently.

eBay photo

Taschen I (undated; photographer unknown)

Taschen I and Monograph 3

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 12:06 pm

Thomas Heinz published an article about the hotel in the FLW Newsletter, V 4, #2, 2nd Qtr., 1981, pp 6-9. There are a few photos, including some interiors by Richard Nickel, taken in 1967 for HABS. The huge lobby had a large (24'x24') art glass lay light, some terrific pendant ceiling fixtures, simple but elegant art glass windows (no colored glass) and a large fireplace with square opening topped by a stone mantel, above which was Roman-arched brickwork framing some sort of decorative plaque. At the time of its demolition in 1970, Robert Sweeney bought 3 art glass panels for less than it cost him to ship them to California. There are probably a multitude of bits and pieces floating around Wisconsin that will eventually show up on eBay.

In 1911, the building was described as "360 feet long with 90 rooms ... and a three story section of suites at one end." It was that 3-story section that was not built.

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 12:20 pm

In the fireplace were fire dogs similar to, but not quite the same as, those FLW designed for B. Harley Bradley (Ausge book, 1911, pg 83) and for E. Arthur Davenport (Decorative Designs of FLW, David Hanks, pg 76): a pair of cast iron spheres, nestled into iron cubes. I imagine the point would be to heat up the spheres to radiate warmth into the room.

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 1:21 pm

Ah -- that aspect of the spheres hadn't occurred to me. Clever . . .

I assume that the structure closest to the viewer in Wright's (?) perspective drawing was not built.

SDR

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 1:26 pm

That's right. It was to be a boat house.

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 1:30 pm

Wish we had drawings of that piece. I find it quite interesting: clearly it provides a path from the elevated shore to the level of the lake, as well as continuous openings at the tops of three matching slab-like solids.

SDR

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Fri Sep 07, 2018 12:21 pm

Another factoid that may or may not be true ... it could be a constructed memory on my failing brain's part:
The grand fireplace was salvaged and installed in a fraternity house nearby.

Paul Ringstrom · Post by **Paul Ringstrom** » Fri Sep 07, 2018 8:47 pm

Roderick Grant wrote:Another factoid that may or may not be true ... it could be a constructed memory on my failing brain's part:
The grand fireplace was salvaged and installed in a fraternity house nearby.

I don't believe there are any nearby colleges with fraternities.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sat Sep 08, 2018 10:39 am

Not familiar with this project at all. So there are no drawings? That may explain why I've never seen it in various books.

Question...the second floor is stepped back form the first, so there are two bands of roofing separated by windows that are as tall as the band of wall between the bands of roofing. Was this a popular design attribute of the period? Was it used on other projects?

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Sat Sep 08, 2018 10:52 am

Matt, FLW often used that device to accentuate horizontality, starting with B. Harley Bradley.

Meisolus · Post by **Meisolus** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 7:35 pm

I have always found it fascinating that there is so little information on this building. It was torn down in 1970, well within living memory, and well after Wright was well known. It seems incredible that someone, somewhere, didn't photograph the heck out of it before it was demolished. There should still be plenty of people who either worked there or stayed as guests who are still alive. There seems to be more information on Midway Gardens than on this one.

Aaradhya · Post by **Aaradhya** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:18 am

Awesome share

Randolph C. Henning · Post by **Randolph C. Henning** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 7:09 am

Patrick Meehan has been researching the Lake Geneva Hotel project for years for eventual publication.

DRN · Post by **DRN** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 9:17 am

If anyone is curious, a 1955 aerial photo is available of Lake Geneva, WI at this site:

https://www.historicaerials.com/viewer

1. Enter "Lake Geneva, WI" into the search text box.
2. Click on the map setting at the box to the left of the viewer
3. Zoom in to the corner of Williams Street and Wrigley Drive
4. Click on 1955
5. The hotel is the long building to the right of the intersection on an east/west axis

Wright Chat

eBay: Pictures of Lake Geneva Hotel

eBay: Pictures of Lake Geneva Hotel

Nce