Wright Studies

Robert W. Roloson Rowhouses, Chicago, IL (1894) (S.026)

Robert W. Roloson was a successful grain merchant, a member of the Chicago Stock Exchange, and Director of the Diamond Match Company according to Eaton. When he acquired property on Calumet Avenue in 1892 he asked Wright to design the rowhouses. Robert’s son, Robert Marshall was married to Edward C. Waller Sr.’s daughter. Waller Sr. was very involved with Wright (S.030, 031, 047, 065, 066, 166), and Waller Jr's involvement included Midway Gardens (S.180). Whether Waller influence Roloson’s selection of Wright, or visa versa, Roloson was first to use Wright. In 1893 after Sullivan discovered that Wright was “bootlegging”, Wright left Sullivan’s office.        By the late 30s these houses had long been forgotten as Wright's work. They were rediscovered in 1940 when Grant Manson "happened upon them while driving along Calumet Avenue looking for some early Adler and Sullivan buildings".        But there is some confusion as to whether Wright designed and built the four homes, or simply remodeled them.        In "Frank Lloyd Wright to 1910, The First Golden Age", 1958, page 69-70, Manson wrote: ...the Roloson houses were “...an executed design...”; “The commission to design the houses...”; “The idea of erecting four identical row houses...”. He concludes “From the premise onward, however, all is Wright”.        “Robert W. Roloson Houses” 1979, page 2, Barton wrote: “In 1892, Roloson acquired a react of land on Calumet Avenue just south of 32nd Street. When, in 1894, he decided to improve this property with the addition of four single-family dwellings, he asked Frank Lloyd Wright to design them.”        "Frank Lloyd Wright Monograph 1887-1901" Vol. 1, 1991, page 55: Pfeiffer indicates that Roloson purchased a group of four row houses and commissioned Wright to remodel them.        In "The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion" 1993, page 25, Storrer wrote “Roloson purchased four rowhouses and Wright remodeled them.” I had the opportunity to contact Dr. Storrer and ask if he discovered additional information that indicated the buildings were preexisting and if Wright only remodeled them? In August of 2008, he responded, “In simple terms, no. As far as I can know, they were designed from scratch. The property Roloson wanted to improve, though I have no specific location, was apparently another property.” WA Storrer.          "Frank Lloyd Wright, American Architect for the Twentieth Century", 1993, page 36. Sommer writes "Roloson wanted to improve his property... and increase the income from it."        "Frank Lloyd Wright", 1997, page 232. McCarter indicates that this design was "for four houses remodeled for Robert Roloson..."        "Frank Lloyd Wright's Chicago", O'Gorman, 2004, page 66. "After Roloson purchased them, he asked Wright to oversee their renovation."        Each home was approximately 3,000 square feet. After the turn of the century, the Douglas Community began to decline and after just a few short years, the Roloson Houses were subdivided and used as apartments. Even though listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 (#77000479), changing neighborhoods, neglect, misuse, and fire have greatly altered the interior.        In the early 1890's Wright began experimenting with his Prairie style on the interiors of the homes he designed. 1893 Wright designed the Mendota Boathouse (S.022) his first Prairie styled structure.  One year later Wright designed his first Prairie styled home, the Winslow Residence (S.024). There are many similarities between Winslow and Roloson. He even designed one option for the Roloson houses without Gables, giving Roloson a Prairie styled option (Monograph, page 56). But there are also design element similarities that are visible in some of his other work: Charnley (1891); Winslow (1894); Moore (1895); Heller (1896); and others during that time period.         For five years (1888-93), Wright was Sullivan’s right hand. Some of the Sullivanesque details are visible in the terra-cotta spandrel between the second and third level windows and are similar to the panel in the Winslow front door (1984). The terra-cotta balusters are similar to those used in the Moore residence (1895). But there are other details that are “Wright” designs. The front doors are recessed and the limestone window casing are very consistent with the Winslow House. The interior woodwork trim and diamond patterned leaded glass windows are preludes to Wright’s Prairie styled homes.        After extensive examination, I would have to agree with Manson, Barton and Storrer’s response.  There are far to many Wright details to consider this a remodel, and not a complete design.        For additional information see the Roloson Baluster.                           Copyright August 2008

Comparing two Robert Roloson (1894) balusters on the left with the Nathan G. Moore Residence (1895) balusters on the right:  A) Roloson Orbs are about 75% smaller than the Moore Orbs.  B) Neck has pedestal and is much taller than Moore.  C) Moore has horizontal center line.

In 1894, Wright designed his first Prairie styled home, the Winslow Residence. There are many similarities between the Winslow Residence (S.024) and Roloson (S.026).  He even designed one option for the Roloson houses without Gables, giving Roloson a Prairie styled option (Monograph, page 56).

Some Sullivanesque details are visible in the Roloson (1894) terra-cotta spandrel between the second and third level windows and are similar to the panel in the Winslow front door (1984).

Images By Grant Carpenter Manson, Circa 1940

Grant Carpenter Manson (1904-1997). Architectural historian Grant Manson first met Mr. Wright in 1938. He had decided to make Wright the subject of his doctoral dissertation while at Harvard. He felt it essential to meet Wright and so in September he headed toward Spring Green from Massachusetts.  Upon reaching Chicago, he placed a call to Spring Green and asked the operator “to put him through to Mr. Wright”. He heard his voice for the first time. Manson took photographs between 1937 and 1941 while researching for his doctoral dissertation titled “Frank Lloyd Wright's Work Before 1910". While a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, he elaborated his thesis and published his book “Frank Lloyd Wright to 1910: The First Golden   Age" in 1958. Upon publication, Manson hand delivered a copy of the book to Wright in New York.        Manson “rediscovered” the Roloson Rowhouse in 1940 when he "happened upon them while driving along Calumet Avenue looking for some early Adler and Sullivan buildings". This collection of photographs are courtesy of the Oak Park Public Library, Grant Manson Collection. My assumption is that he photographed these in the winter upon discovering them, and then went back in the summer to photograph them again, or visa versa.        These images by Manson and Gilman are an invaluable record and are the most complete and only historic record of  Wright's Roloson Rowhouses.

1: Viewed from the West. Approximately 45 years after completion. Units pretty much unchanged. Balusters in front of unit three and four have been removed. Down spout between the third and fourth unit has been moved. The building on the left is now demolished. The building on the right is still existing. Photographed in the winter. 1a: Detail of the three left units. 1b: Detail of the three right units. 2: Detail of unit two, viewed from the West. One concept Wright used was to hide the entrance. Here he offsets the entrance through the balustrade so that it is not directly in front of the entrance. His drawings also indicates that he designed the front door to be deeply inset, the appearance of being hidden. Photographed in the winter. 3: Detail of unit one and two, viewed from the South West. Balusters still exist. Photographed in the winter. 4: Detail of balusters in front of unit one and two. Viewed from the South West. Photographed in the winter. 4a: Detail of balusters in front of unit two. The corner of the balustrade appears to be finished off, not cut, which would give the impression that the balusters in front of units three and four may never have been installed. But two extra corner squares that set off the entry in the balustrades are visible in image 5 in front of unit three and four. They are set at a different level which indicates they were salvaged and moved during the removal of the balusters in front of units three and four. 5: Similar to image 1 but photographed in the summer from the South West. 5a: Detail of image 5. Two extra balustrades corner squares are visible in front of unit three and four. 6: One of only a few interior images known to exist. Wright’s prairie style is evident and consistent with homes he designed during that time period. Horizontal trim, tight vertical spindles, the use of leaded glass windows. 6a: Interior detail. 6b: Interior detail. 7: Interior detail of fireplace. 7a: Detail of fireplace. . 1: Viewed from the West. Approximately 45 years after completion. Units pretty much unchanged. Balusters in front of unit three and four have been removed. Down spout between the third and fourth unit has been moved. The building on the left is now demolished. The building on the right is still existing. Photographed in the winter.

Grant Manson images courtesy of the Oak Park Public Library, Grant Manson Collection.

Text by Douglas M. Steiner, Copyright 2008

Images By Gilman Lane, Circa 1940-01

Little can be found about Gilman Lane. He photographed building in the Chicago area including many of Wright’s work. His photographs were given to the Oak Park Public Library after his death in 1961.  These Lane images were photographed after the Manson images, but at the most a year or two. If you look at image #2 from both collections, you will notice   that the tree trunk painted white in the Manson image #2 has faded in the Lane #2. Other similarities include the size of the trees, the flower pots sitting on the balustrades are in the same place, the 55 gallon drums are still there. A minor change is the one house number 3215 on unit two that is visible in this set.

1: Viewed from the North West. Approximately 45 years after completion. Units have basically remained unchanged on the outside. Balusters in front of unit three and four have been removed. Down spout between the third and fourth unit has been moved. The building on the right is still existing. Photographed in the spring or early summer. 1a: Detail of three left units. Unit number 3215 is visible on unit two. 2: Detail of the four entries, viewed from the West. 2a: Detail of the entry to units one and two. One concept Wright used was to hide the entrance. Here he offsets the entrance through the balustrade so that it is not directly in front of the entrance. His drawings also indicates that he designed the front door to be deeply inset, the appearance of being hidden. 2b: Detail of the entry to units three and four. Two extra corner squares that set off the entry in the balustrades are visible in front of unit three. They are set at a different level which indicates they were salvaged and moved during the removal of the balusters in front of units three and four. 3: Viewed from the South West. 4: Detail of unit three and four. Viewed from the South West. 5: Units viewed from the South West. 6: Detail of unit three and four. Viewed from the South West. . 1: Viewed from the North West. Approximately 45 years after completion. Units have basically remained unchanged on the outside. Balusters in front of unit three and four have been removed. Down spout between the third and fourth unit has been moved. The building on the right is still existing. Photographed in the spring or early summer.

Gilman Lane images courtesy of the Oak Park Public Library, Gilman Lane Collection.

Text by Douglas M. Steiner, Copyright 2008

Floor plan copyright "Frank Lloyd Wright to 1910, The First Golden Age", 1958, Manson, Grant, page 70.

Related Books "The Nature of Materials: 1887 - 1941", Hitchcock, 1942, pages 25, 105, plates 23-34. "Frank Lloyd Wright to 1910, The First Golden Age", Manson, Grant, 1958, page 69-71. "Two Chicago Architects and Their Clients", Eaton, Leonard, 1969, page 93.   “Robert W. Roloson Houses”, Barton, Timothy, 1979. "Frank Lloyd Wright" Heinz, 1982, page 13, 24. "Frank Lloyd Wright Monograph 1887-1901",  Vol. 1, Text: Pfeiffer, Bruce Brooks; Edited and Photographed: Futagawa, Yukio, 1991, page 55-57. "Frank Lloyd Wright, A Primer on Architectural Principles" McCarter, 1991, 38. “The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion”, Storrer, William Allin, 1993, page 25. "Frank Lloyd Wright, American Architect for the Twentieth Century", Sommer, Robin, 1993, page 36-37. "Frank Lloyd Wright and the Meaning of Material" Patterson, 1994, page 69, 79, 105, 207. "Frank Lloyd Wright", McCarter, Robert, 1997, page 232. "Frank Lloyd Wright" McCarter, 1999, page 232. "Frank Lloyd Wright - A Visual Encyclopedia" Thomson, 1999, page 280-281. "The Vision of Frank Lloyd Wright" Heinz, 2000, page 61, 63. "Frank Lloyd Wright’s Houses" Heinz, 2002, page 16. "Life & Works of Frank Lloyd Wright" Heinz, 2002, page 66-67. "Frank Lloyd Wright Field Guide" Clayton, 2002, page 84-86. "Frank Lloyd Wright's Chicago", O'Gorman, Thomas J., 2004, page 66-69.

Related Images and Articles (Note, due to the fact that the internet is constantly changing, and items that are posted change, I have copied the text, but give all the credits available.) A) Roloson Balusters by Douglas Steiner. B) Wisconsin Magazine of History - Autumn 1989.  Written by Grant Manson. C) Two images by Rick McNees, 2008.

Brandes Residence (S.350)    Gordon Residence (S.419)    Griggs Residence (S.290)    Lake Geneva Hotel (S.171)    Lamp Cottage, Rocky Roost (S.021)    Lockridge Medical Clinic (S.425)     Midway Gardens (S.180)    Roloson Rowhouse (S.026)    Shavin Residence (S.339)     Tracy Residence (S.389)    Zimmerman Residence, (S.333)

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