j. willis hughes house (fountainhead)

[Pat Mahoney]

I have seen this house twice, it has always been one of my favorites, although difficult to photograph.
Pat Mahoney

[Tom]

I'm going to Jackson. Anybody have advice on seeing this house? I read somewhere that an architect lives there.

[Matt]

My only quibble with the design is having to walk through the carport to reach the front door. Something bout having to step around oil stains sullies the experience.

[Paul Ringstrom]

I find it is aways better to write ahead rather than call.

Owner:
Robert Parker Adams, Architect

Home:
306 Glenway Dr
Jackson, MS 39216-4105
601-982-3410

Office:
219 North Lamar Street
Jackson, MS 39201
601-948-7722

Age: 65+

Corporate Website:
http://www.robertparkeradams.com

Let us know if you go it and what you thought of it.

[Tom]

Great. Thank you. I'll write him.

[SDR]

Mr Wright seems to have taken his own counsel on the matter of "front door/side door/back door." Perhaps the most one can say is that he explored all the options. The ceremonial entrance is given full play in many a residence throughout the career (but surely not at Robie), while a "kitchen door" is often present as well -- regardless of date. But compare two iconic Usonians: At Sturges the visitor passes a service door on his way to the breezeway at the far edge of the structure, where he finds the main entrance. At Goetsch-Winckler there is no identifiable entry door (either major or minor) at all: one chooses a french door at random from the row present beyond the carport.

SDR

[Tom]

Would like to run this by all here. Tell me how it sounds. Should I cut things out? Are there certain things I might say that I don't etc. ...

Mr Parker,
I am a 55 year old follower of Frank Lloyd Wright who will be in Jackson the first weekend of this coming May.
I am writing to inquire if I might meet you, see your house, and talk with you about your experience living there. I have no camera.
Enclosed I have included a photo-copy of a personal photograph of my family and a copy of my driver's license.
Should you be inclined to receive me at your home I have included my email address for our convenience with communication. If I do not hear from you I will assume you are not able to work this out.
You must get many of these requests. After a point I am sure they become tiresome so I would like to thank you ahead for even considering my request.

Yours
Respectfully

[Paul Ringstrom]

Tom,
I usually include a stamped postcard where they can check a box, yes or no, and then, if yes, indicate the date and time that they will be available.

This requires minimal effort on their part and helps to insure that you get some kind of response fairly promptly.

He may choose to email you but don't request it, just make put your email below your signature.

Otherwise a nice solicitous letter.

Paul

[Tom]

Good advice. I'll take it. Thank you.

[jim]

There is fine coverage of this house in the December 1982-January 1983 issue of Fine Homebuilding, No. 12. Seven pages, 12 large photos; wood joinery details, and full page plan-isometric and a floorplan. "Restoring Fountainhead", by Tim Snyder.

According to the article Hughes was a wildcat oil speculator who lived in the house until 1979 when he sold to Robert Adams. The house had serious foundation problems which Adams attempted to correct. However, as photos taken from the driveway entrance show, the roof ridgeline shows a bit of a camelback. Nonetheless its a wonderful house on a wonderful site.

[Tom]

Well I really dropped the ball on this one and didn't get the letter out. Went to Jackson but missed the house. You know when you can't manage to fit a Wright house in you've got too many things going on and need to slow down.

[juankbedoya]

I see that this is one of those "hard to catch" houses. Very few information, very few exterior shots, no interior shots (only one of the fireplace)..? Does anyone know its today status..? At least we have its floor plan, and yeah, similar to Lamberson but very different.

[SDR]

Perhaps some Wright owners engage in a private contest: "My house has been photographed less that your house . . ." ?


Here is material found in Storrer, in Monograph 7 and in Taschen III---preceded by the Lamberson as-built and preliminary plans:








Lamberson and Hughes as-built plans © 1993 by William Allin Storrer






© The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives (The Museum of Modern Art | Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York), except as noted

[Roderick Grant]

At some point in the past, Hughes was bought by an architect who undertook a massive restoration.

[SDR]

Storrer (1993) writes "Architect Robert Parker Adams restored the Hughes residence in the 80s. This included leveling of the original concrete mat floor and resurfacing it with a special paint used by the Navy on ships, installation of a well-concealed air conditioning system, and completion of the pool below the foiuntain head."

You jogged my memory: I recalled an article on a restoration of the house, with color pics. But I don't seem to have such an article in my possession.

S