On April
16, 1966, twenty individuals signed a resolution creating the Chicago School of
Architecture Foundation. Out of that
organization evolved both Glessner House Museum and the Chicago Architecture
Foundation, entities that champion and celebrate the rich architectural
tradition in Chicago, past and present.
As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of that milestone
event this week, we pause to honor those individuals whose foresight and vision
saved H. H. Richardson’s iconic Glessner house, launched the successful
preservation movement in our city, and made Chicago a destination for
architectural enthusiasts from around the world.
Glessner House is Threatened
For twenty
years, Glessner house was occupied by the Lithographic Technical Foundation,
but by early 1965 that organization had relocated to Pittsburgh and the
building was put up for sale. The early
1960s had been a period of extraordinary challenge and frustration for those
attempting to preserve Chicago’s rich architectural heritage. Among the chief losses was Adler &
Sullivan’s Garrick Theater on Randolph Street, demolished in 1961.
The fate
of the Glessner house was known as early as November 1963, when several
individuals met with representatives from the Foundation to discuss the future
of the building. Among those at the
meeting were Wilbert Hasbrouck, chairman of the Preservation Committee of the
Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (CCAIA); Joseph Benson,
Secretary of the Commission on Chicago Architectural Landmarks; and Marian
Despres, wife of Alderman Leon Despres, and the daughter of architect Alfred
Alschuler. Hasbrouck reported back to
Jack Train, president of CCAIA:
“Regardless of what final use is made of this
building, I feel the AIA must take a major advisory role in its
disposition. The Glessner House is too
important a structure to go the way of the Garrick.”
On January
31, 1965, the Chicago Tribune
published an article noting that the future of the house was in jeopardy, but
quoted several individuals who recognized that the house was simply too important
to lose. Wilbert Hasbrouck noted that
the building would make a perfect museum of Chicago architecture. Joseph Benson also expressed concern and
noted that it was one of 38 buildings in the city to be designated a
landmark. But Marian Despres noted that
the landmark designation was purely honorary, and did nothing to protect the building
from demolition.
Individuals Come Together
Many of
those involved in saving Glessner house were well acquainted with each other by
the time the house went up for sale.
Leon and Marian Despres and others had rallied together to save Frank
Lloyd Wright’s Robie House when it came under threat of demolition in
1957. That successful effort led to the
formation of Chicago’s first preservation group, the Chicago Heritage
Committee, co-founded by architect Ben Weese.
Soon after, Alderman Despres proposed an ordinance creating an
historical and architectural landmark commission which awarded landmark status
to 38 buildings in 1960, including Glessner house.
In 1960,
Weese, Despres, and Hasbrouck joined others, including photographer Richard
Nickel and architect John Vinci, to march together in a picket line to save the
Garrick Theater. Although their efforts
proved unsuccessful, it brought these like-minded individuals together and the
preservation movement gained momentum.
Worthy of Architects’ Praise
Ben Weese
recalled that in the early 1960s, he spent the day escorting the world famous
architect Alvar Aalto around Chicago, showing him the buildings of Louis
Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. Aalto appeared
only mildly interested. But when the two
pulled up in front of Glessner house, Aalto stepped out onto the sidewalk and
stood transfixed, studying the building for over an hour.
In March
1965, Weese and his brother Harry took architect Philip Johnson to see Glessner
house. Johnson praised the building, and
was especially taken by the floor plan which oriented the major rooms toward
the private south-facing courtyard. He
offered to pay half of the purchase price of $70,000 if those in Chicago could
raise the other half, but later rescinded the offer when “the horrid question
of maintenance came up.” In spite of
that, however, Johnson was quoted in June 1966 as saying “Glessner House is the
most important house in the country to me.”
The Weeses Search for Funds
Ben and
Harry Weese continued to search for funds to purchase and maintain the house
throughout 1965 and into early 1966. In
a letter to selected Chicago architects, Harry Weese laid out the purposes of
the proposed organization that would acquire Glessner house:
“To establish the first architectural
organization in the country, at the birthplace of modern architecture, in a
historic and architecturally significant building.
“To create a unique institution to become the center
of architectural history, a staging point for tours, a place to sell books and
literature, a gallery, a museum for artifacts in the courtyard.”
Others Express Interest
At the
same time that these architects and preservationists were attempting to raise
the funds to purchase the house, four young men, working independently, had
also learned of the house and decided to find a way to purchase it. Richard Wintergreen and Jim Schultz were
draftsmen in the office of Mies van der Rohe.
Wayne Benjamin, a businessman in finance, had met Wintergreen at the
University of Illinois, and Paul Lurie, an attorney, became acquainted with
Wintergreen through his fiancée. The
four men formulated their idea to save the house over dinner at Pizzeria Due,
ironically housed in a late 19th century mansion.
CSAF meeting, August 18, 1966
The Chicago School of Architecture Foundation is
Organized
On April
6, 1966, the Weese brothers announced publicly that they would pledge $10,000
toward the purchase of Glessner house.
The same day, Richard Wintergreen wrote to Philip Johnson alerting him
to the fact that he and his three friends had formed a group to purchase the
house. Johnson suggested that
Wintergreen’s group coordinate their plans with the Weeses, and from that point
on, all those working to save Glessner house worked together.
On
Saturday April 16, 1966, a resolution was signed by twenty individuals creating
the Chicago School of Architecture Foundation.
Those signing were: Carl Condit,
Richard Nickel, Herman Pundt, Earl Reed, Wilbert Hasbrouck, James Speyer,
Joseph Benson, Clement Sylvestro, George Danforth, Maurice English, Phyllis
Lambert, Dirk Lohan, Paul Lurie, Wayne Benjamin, Richard Wintergreen, James
Schultz, Dan Murphy, Ben Weese, Harry Weese, and Irving Berman.
The first
order of business was to raise the funds needed to purchase the Glessner
house.
Additional articles will be posted throughout
our anniversary year highlighting the efforts of our founders in purchasing and
preserving what survives today as Glessner House Museum.
Photos by Richard Nickel
