Andrew O. Anderson House
Encyclopedia
The Andrew O. Anderson House, also known as the A. O. Anderson House, is a Prairie style house in the city of DeKalb, Illinois
, United States
. The house was designed by American architect John S. Van Bergen
around 1913 and built around 1916. Van Bergen designed many Prairie homes and was an associate of famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright
. Throughout its history the Anderson House has been mistaken for a residence designed by Wright. The Anderson House contains many elements common to both Prairie style in general as well as some of Wright's early Prairie designs. The house was constructed for DeKalb clothing merchant Andrew O. Anderson about 14 years after an original house project on the site fell through.
native John S. Van Bergen
, the house was not built until 1916. The history of the property, on Augusta Avenue in DeKalb, and Prairie style began in 1901 when another Oak Park architect, E.E. Roberts, was commissioned to design a home on the site for A.W. Fisk. Fisk was a business manager for the Ellwood Green Percheron horse business. Local news reports hyped the project, scheduled to be built in 1902, because Roberts was a well-known architect and probably the first of the Prairie School to receive a commission in DeKalb. The project never began, and the property stood empty until 1916.
In 1916 the lot was purchased by a local clothing merchant, Andrew O. Anderson, a Swedish immigrant. Anderson lived in several locations around DeKalb including the Glidden House Hotel before he and his brother Frank decided to build homes for their respective families. Oral tradition has held that the two brothers, and business partners held a friendly wager
based on which brother found a better design for their home. Anderson sought out a noted Prairie style architect after being impressed by such a home in Maywood, Illinois
. The home in Maywood that had impressed Anderson was designed by Van Bergen who had worked and studied under Solon S. Beman, Roberts, and Frank Lloyd Wright
. By 1916, Van Bergen would become the best "imitator" of Wright and was noted for his residential work.
The house is a distinct example of the Prairie style of architecture
first pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright. The design, by Prairie School architect John S. Van Bergen, is nearly identical to one of his early commissions in Wilmette, Illinois, the C. Percy Skillin House. The major difference between the Anderson and Skillin Houses is found on the exterior facades. The Anderson House is clad in a yellow-orange brick
and has stone
sill
s and trim, in contrast with the Skillin House which has stucco
cladding and cypress
sills and trim.
Though the home has had alterations, it looks much the same as it did in a 1924 photograph. Alterations include window replacement; the existing four over four divided windows are out of character in Prairie style designs. On the front of the house the veranda has been enclosed and angled downspouts have been added which detract from the horizontal nature of the building.
The original home, as designed by Van Bergen has long been mistaken for a Frank Lloyd Wright design. The design reflects many elements of Prairie style that Wright was employed during the first decade of the 20th century. The brick clad exterior was one of the exterior coverings Wright used at the time and it is found prominently in the Anderson House. The house sits low to the ground, like many ideal Prairie style structures, and its front door is not immediately visible nor apparent, also common to Prairie homes. Other Prairie style features are found throughout the design: three walls of continuous casement windows, rooms and portions of rooms jut out in a horizontal manner and the living room has an entire wall occupied by a fireplace
. The dominating fireplace is another Wright trademark. The house has distinct horizontal line and a low pitched red clay tile roof accented by Prairie style overhanging eaves. The yellow brick contrasts nicely with the stone and white painted trim.
Van Bergen's design for the Anderson House does deviate from the typical Wright-designed Prairie style house. Wright's early Prairie designs were characterized by the use of cubes and blocks; a good example is the James Charnley House in Chicago, a structure Wright designed while working for Adler
and Sullivan
. These elements are found in the Anderson House's rear elevation but the front of the house lacks these features of mature Prairie style.
DeKalb, Illinois
DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 at the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated German war hero Johann De Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The house was designed by American architect John S. Van Bergen
John S. Van Bergen
John Shellette Van Bergen was an American architect born in Oak Park, Illinois. Van Bergen started his architectural career as an apprentice draftsman in 1907. In 1909 he went to work for Frank Lloyd Wright at his studio in Oak Park. At Wright's studio he did working drawings for and supervised...
around 1913 and built around 1916. Van Bergen designed many Prairie homes and was an associate of famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
. Throughout its history the Anderson House has been mistaken for a residence designed by Wright. The Anderson House contains many elements common to both Prairie style in general as well as some of Wright's early Prairie designs. The house was constructed for DeKalb clothing merchant Andrew O. Anderson about 14 years after an original house project on the site fell through.
History
The Anderson House was probably designed sometime around 1913 by Oak Park, IllinoisOak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb bordering the west side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is the twenty-fifth largest municipality in Illinois. Oak Park has easy access to downtown Chicago due to public transportation such as the Chicago 'L' Blue and Green lines,...
native John S. Van Bergen
John S. Van Bergen
John Shellette Van Bergen was an American architect born in Oak Park, Illinois. Van Bergen started his architectural career as an apprentice draftsman in 1907. In 1909 he went to work for Frank Lloyd Wright at his studio in Oak Park. At Wright's studio he did working drawings for and supervised...
, the house was not built until 1916. The history of the property, on Augusta Avenue in DeKalb, and Prairie style began in 1901 when another Oak Park architect, E.E. Roberts, was commissioned to design a home on the site for A.W. Fisk. Fisk was a business manager for the Ellwood Green Percheron horse business. Local news reports hyped the project, scheduled to be built in 1902, because Roberts was a well-known architect and probably the first of the Prairie School to receive a commission in DeKalb. The project never began, and the property stood empty until 1916.
In 1916 the lot was purchased by a local clothing merchant, Andrew O. Anderson, a Swedish immigrant. Anderson lived in several locations around DeKalb including the Glidden House Hotel before he and his brother Frank decided to build homes for their respective families. Oral tradition has held that the two brothers, and business partners held a friendly wager
Wager
Wager can refer to:* Gambling* A scientific wager* A legal wager under the Roman legal system* WAGR syndrome - a rare genetic syndrome-Given name:*Wager Swayne , American military Governor-Surname:...
based on which brother found a better design for their home. Anderson sought out a noted Prairie style architect after being impressed by such a home in Maywood, Illinois
Maywood, Illinois
Maywood is a village in Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It was founded on April 6, 1869 and organized October 22, 1881. The population was 26,987 at the 2000 census.-Overview:...
. The home in Maywood that had impressed Anderson was designed by Van Bergen who had worked and studied under Solon S. Beman, Roberts, and Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
. By 1916, Van Bergen would become the best "imitator" of Wright and was noted for his residential work.
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
first pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright. The design, by Prairie School architect John S. Van Bergen, is nearly identical to one of his early commissions in Wilmette, Illinois, the C. Percy Skillin House. The major difference between the Anderson and Skillin Houses is found on the exterior facades. The Anderson House is clad in a yellow-orange brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
and has stone
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
sill
Sill plate
A sill plate or sole plate in construction and architecture is the bottom horizontal member of a wall or building to which vertical members are attached. Sill plates are usually composed of lumber. It usually comes in sizes of 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, and 2×10. In the platform framing method the sill plate...
s and trim, in contrast with the Skillin House which has stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
cladding and cypress
Cypress
Cypress is the name applied to many plants in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is a conifer of northern temperate regions. Most cypress species are trees, while a few are shrubs...
sills and trim.
Though the home has had alterations, it looks much the same as it did in a 1924 photograph. Alterations include window replacement; the existing four over four divided windows are out of character in Prairie style designs. On the front of the house the veranda has been enclosed and angled downspouts have been added which detract from the horizontal nature of the building.
The original home, as designed by Van Bergen has long been mistaken for a Frank Lloyd Wright design. The design reflects many elements of Prairie style that Wright was employed during the first decade of the 20th century. The brick clad exterior was one of the exterior coverings Wright used at the time and it is found prominently in the Anderson House. The house sits low to the ground, like many ideal Prairie style structures, and its front door is not immediately visible nor apparent, also common to Prairie homes. Other Prairie style features are found throughout the design: three walls of continuous casement windows, rooms and portions of rooms jut out in a horizontal manner and the living room has an entire wall occupied by a fireplace
Fireplace
A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape...
. The dominating fireplace is another Wright trademark. The house has distinct horizontal line and a low pitched red clay tile roof accented by Prairie style overhanging eaves. The yellow brick contrasts nicely with the stone and white painted trim.
Van Bergen's design for the Anderson House does deviate from the typical Wright-designed Prairie style house. Wright's early Prairie designs were characterized by the use of cubes and blocks; a good example is the James Charnley House in Chicago, a structure Wright designed while working for Adler
Dankmar Adler
Dankmar Adler was a celebrated German-born American architect.-Early years:...
and Sullivan
Louis Sullivan
Louis Henri Sullivan was an American architect, and has been called the "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism" He is considered by many as the creator of the modern skyscraper, was an influential architect and critic of the Chicago School, was a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright, and an...
. These elements are found in the Anderson House's rear elevation but the front of the house lacks these features of mature Prairie style.