Dr. G.C. Stockman House
Encyclopedia
The Dr. G.C. Stockman House, also known as Mrs. Evangeline Skarlis House, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
and built in 1908 for Dr. George C. and Eleanor Stockman in Mason City, Iowa
. The home was originally located at 311 1st St. SE, but was moved to 530 1st St. NE to evade demolition. It has been fully restored as a public museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It features numerous authentic period furnishings and reproduction pieces.
for Mason City attorneys, James E.E. Markley and James E. Blythe. Construction on what became known as the Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank Building
did not begin until April 1909, but Wright made many visits to the site during the 1907–1908 design period. While on one of these visits in 1908, Wright was contracted by Markley's neighbor George Stockman and his artist wife Eleanor to design a house on a small lot within blocks of his hotel and bank project.
For the design of the Stockman House, Wright adapted a plan he had published in the Ladies' Home Journal
in 1907. Titled "A Fireproof House for $5000
," it re-envisioned Wright's Prairie Style in a smaller, more compact dwelling that was more affordable for a family of medium income. The Stockman House was Wright's third constructed version of the "Fireproof House" after completing both Tan-Y-Deri (the Andrew T. Porter House) and the Stephen M. B. Hunt House I in 1907.
Stockman owned the house until 1924, after which the house passed through at least six owners, including one who used it for a photography studio. Although the house became dilapidated, very few alterations were ever made. Following the death of the final occupant in 1987, the house was put up at auction. The only bidder was the neighboring First United Methodist Church, which desired the land for a parking lot. The offer was below the minimum bid and hence rejected. Subsequently, a group of Mason City volunteers formed the River City Society for Historic Preservation in hopes of saving the house. Local inventor and entrepreneur, David Murphy (1918–1999), stepped in to satisfy both groups by donating an additional $20,000 to towards the Methodist Church's purchase under the agreement that the Stockman House would be donated to the city instead of being demolished.
Ownership was transferred to the River City Society, and two years later the house was moved roughly two blocks east and two blocks north to its present location at the end of 1st St. NE. The restoration that followed included a new roof, repair of exterior stucco
and interior plaster
, new wiring and plumbing, and refurbishing of most other finishes inside and out. Original materials and architectural integrity were maintained as much as possible, but in some cases the Society substituted less costly, modern products for missing or damaged material. For instance, the roof was resurfaced in asphalt shingle
s instead of replicating the long-removed oak shingles.
The Stockman house was opened to the public in 1992 upon the completion of most restoration work. It was addded to the National Register of Historic Places
in the same year. After four years of design and fund raising, the River City Society for Historic Preservation broke ground in September 2009 for the Mason City Architectural Interpretive Center to replace a non-historical duplex apartment
to the north of the house. The building, which will contain an auditorium and gallery space, is loosely based on a design by Prairie School architect Walter Burley Griffin
. This learning and research facility was expected to open in August 2010.
was exchanged for a cantilever
ed roof, a covered veranda (now enclosed) was adjoined to the north side, and the flat roof was replaced by a shallow hip roof
.
While almost all original furnishings were lost as the house transferred owners, three built-in bookcases and a dining room sideboard
remain. The house is now furnished with period Arts and Crafts
furniture — many designed by Gustav Stickley
— oriental rugs, and a few Frank Lloyd Wright originals and reproductions. Among the latter are gold and white china from the 1922 Imperial Hotel
and a dresser which was crafted from Wright drawings.
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...
and built in 1908 for Dr. George C. and Eleanor Stockman in Mason City, Iowa
Mason City, Iowa
Mason City is the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 28,079 in the 2010 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census. The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth counties....
. The home was originally located at 311 1st St. SE, but was moved to 530 1st St. NE to evade demolition. It has been fully restored as a public museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It features numerous authentic period furnishings and reproduction pieces.
History
In 1907, Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned to design a mixed-use buildingMixed-use development
Mixed-use development is the use of a building, set of buildings, or neighborhood for more than one purpose. Since the 1920s, zoning in some countries has required uses to be separated. However, when jobs, housing, and commercial activities are located close together, a community's transportation...
for Mason City attorneys, James E.E. Markley and James E. Blythe. Construction on what became known as the Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank Building
Park Inn Hotel
Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank are two adjacent commercial buildings located in downtown Mason City, Iowa which were designed in the Prairie School style by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Completed in 1910, the Park Inn Hotel is the last remaining Frank Lloyd Wright designed...
did not begin until April 1909, but Wright made many visits to the site during the 1907–1908 design period. While on one of these visits in 1908, Wright was contracted by Markley's neighbor George Stockman and his artist wife Eleanor to design a house on a small lot within blocks of his hotel and bank project.
For the design of the Stockman House, Wright adapted a plan he had published in the Ladies' Home Journal
Ladies' Home Journal
Ladies' Home Journal is an American magazine which first appeared on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States...
in 1907. Titled "A Fireproof House for $5000
A Fireproof House for $5000
"A Fireproof House for $5000" was an article and house design by Frank Lloyd Wright which was published in the Ladies' Home Journal in April 1907. This was Wright's third and final publication in the journal following "A Home in a Prairie Town" and "A Small House with 'Lots of Room in It'" from...
," it re-envisioned Wright's Prairie Style in a smaller, more compact dwelling that was more affordable for a family of medium income. The Stockman House was Wright's third constructed version of the "Fireproof House" after completing both Tan-Y-Deri (the Andrew T. Porter House) and the Stephen M. B. Hunt House I in 1907.
Stockman owned the house until 1924, after which the house passed through at least six owners, including one who used it for a photography studio. Although the house became dilapidated, very few alterations were ever made. Following the death of the final occupant in 1987, the house was put up at auction. The only bidder was the neighboring First United Methodist Church, which desired the land for a parking lot. The offer was below the minimum bid and hence rejected. Subsequently, a group of Mason City volunteers formed the River City Society for Historic Preservation in hopes of saving the house. Local inventor and entrepreneur, David Murphy (1918–1999), stepped in to satisfy both groups by donating an additional $20,000 to towards the Methodist Church's purchase under the agreement that the Stockman House would be donated to the city instead of being demolished.
Ownership was transferred to the River City Society, and two years later the house was moved roughly two blocks east and two blocks north to its present location at the end of 1st St. NE. The restoration that followed included a new roof, repair of exterior 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...
and interior plaster
Plaster
Plaster is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster starts as a dry powder similar to mortar or cement and like those materials it is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after setting,...
, new wiring and plumbing, and refurbishing of most other finishes inside and out. Original materials and architectural integrity were maintained as much as possible, but in some cases the Society substituted less costly, modern products for missing or damaged material. For instance, the roof was resurfaced in asphalt shingle
Asphalt shingle
An asphalt shingle is a type of roof shingle. They are one of the most widely used roofing covers because they are relatively inexpensive and fairly simple to install.-Types:...
s instead of replicating the long-removed oak shingles.
The Stockman house was opened to the public in 1992 upon the completion of most restoration work. It was addded to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places listings in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States...
in the same year. After four years of design and fund raising, the River City Society for Historic Preservation broke ground in September 2009 for the Mason City Architectural Interpretive Center to replace a non-historical duplex apartment
Duplex (building)
The term duplex can be used to describe several different dwelling unit configurations:A duplex house is defined as a dwelling having apartments with separate entrances for two families. This includes two-story houses having a complete apartment on each floor and also side-by-side apartments on a...
to the north of the house. The building, which will contain an auditorium and gallery space, is loosely based on a design by Prairie School architect Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect, who is best known for his role in designing Canberra, Australia's capital city...
. This learning and research facility was expected to open in August 2010.
Architecture
Like the other known instances of the "Fireproof House" — including the Hunt House I (1907) and Zeigler House (1909) — the Stockman House was constructed with slight variations from the original design. For instance, the entrance was enlarged, the specified entrance trellisTrellis
Trellis may refer to:* Trellis Drainage System* Trellis , an architectural structure often used to support plants* Trellis , a special kind of graph, often used in coding...
was exchanged for a cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
ed roof, a covered veranda (now enclosed) was adjoined to the north side, and the flat roof was replaced by a shallow hip roof
Hip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
.
While almost all original furnishings were lost as the house transferred owners, three built-in bookcases and a dining room sideboard
Sideboard
A sideboard is an item of furniture traditionally used in the dining room for serving food, for displaying serving dishes such as silver, and for storage. It usually consists of a set of cabinets, or cupboards, and one or more drawers, all topped by a flat display surface for conveniently holding...
remain. The house is now furnished with period Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
furniture — many designed by Gustav Stickley
Gustav Stickley
Gustav Stickley was a manufacturer of furniture and the leading proselytizer for the American Arts and Crafts movement, an extension of the British Arts and Crafts movement.-Biography:...
— oriental rugs, and a few Frank Lloyd Wright originals and reproductions. Among the latter are gold and white china from the 1922 Imperial Hotel
Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
The Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, was created in the late 1880s at the request of the Japanese aristocracy to cater to the increasing number of western visitors to Japan. The hotel site is located just south of the Imperial Palace grounds, next to the previous location of the Palace moat...
and a dresser which was crafted from Wright drawings.