Wright Plus returns to Oak Park next Saturday.
The housewalk opens eight Oak Park private homes, as well as Wright’s Home and Studio, to a sold-out crowd.
Celebrating its 50th year in the community, Wright Plus is a long-time draw for international visitors, as well as local architecture buffs.
Proceeds of the walk support the restoration, preservation and education programs of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust.
Walk co-chairs Joan Pantsios and Debbie Crouch said that over 1,000 visitors are expected to take part in the walk.
Ashley C. Smith House (Tallmadge and Watson, 1908) | Credit: James Caulfield/Frank Lloyd Wright Trust 
Clyde E. and Elizabeth Shorey House (Max Dunning, 1922) | Credit: James Caulfield/Frank Lloyd Wright Trust 
E.W. Pratt House (E.E. Roberts, 1909) | Credit: James Caulfield/Frank Lloyd Wright Trust 
Foyer, Emma and Peter A. Beachy House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1906) | Credit: James Caulfield/Frank Lloyd Wright Trust 
Emma and Peter A. Beachy House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1906) | Credit: James Caulfield/Frank Lloyd Wright Trust 
Harry S. Adams House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1913) | Credit: James Caulfield/Frank Lloyd Wright Trust
This year’s walk includes three Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes.
The William G. Fricke home was commissioned in 1901. The stucco house showcases Wright’s Prairie Style with its horizontal banding and overhanging roof eaves. The house was designed during Wright’s short partnership with architect Webster Tomlinson. William Fricke was a partner in a school supply firm.
Wright’s Harry S. Adams House, designed in 1913, is Wright’s last Oak Park design. The brick Prairie Style home features a low-hipped roof and a broad, central chimney. It is the only Wright design in Oak Park to include a carport.
The Emma and Peter A. Beachy House, was a renovation of a Gothic cottage in 1906. Wright’s remodeling saved little more than the original home’s foundation. The house features gabled roofs and red brick on the first story, with stucco on the second.
Three E.E. Roberts homes are on the walk this year
The Simpson Dunlop House and Joseph K. Dunlop were designed in 1896 and 1897 for brothers who were the grandsons of Oak Park founder Joseph Kettlestrings.
Both homes have been featured on Wright Plus previously, but the Simpson Dunlop house has not been featured since 1985.
“They homes were built one year apart. It will be really interesting to compare the two the day of the walk,” Pantsios said.
The E.W. Pratt House, designed in 1909 by Roberts is on Wright Plus for the first time. Crouch says the house was moved from its original location on Oak Park Avenue.
“It’s pretty impressive they would move a whole house, but the idea then was that you didn’t spend a lot of money building a new house when you could just move one.”
The Ashley C. Smith House was designed by Tallmadge and Watson in 1908. The stucco home boasts stunning, original leaded glass windows. Visitors to the house will see radiator covers and a bookcase designed by the homeowner. Rumor has it that the Smith House is haunted, so visitors can keep an eye out for ghosts, as well.
The Clyde and Elizabeth Shorey House is also new to Wright Plus. Designed in 1922 by architect N. Max Dunning, the Tudor Revival Style home is one of two Dunning designs in Oak Park. Pantsios says that research revealed interesting facts about Dunning’s life. Dunning was with architect Louis Sullivan when he died. Both were members of a group of arts supporters known as the Cliff Dwellers Club. Dunning notified Frank Lloyd Wright about Sullivan’s death.
Volunteers of utmost importance
Pantsios and Crouch said that Wright Plus would not be possible without the help of almost 350 volunteers.
“What really sets this walk apart is how well-trained the volunteers are and the research they do. I don’t know of any other walk with this level of research into the history of the homes and owners and the architecture,” Pantsios said.
Some volunteers are locals who regularly give time to the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, and others come in from around the country just to take part in Wright Plus. This year, one of the volunteers at the Beachy House will be a former resident of the home.
This year’s volunteers will be wearing shirts emblazoned with the number 50 for the 50th anniversary of the walk. In addition to the Trust-provided training, volunteers also get to take part in Preview Night, in which they get to tour the homes on the walk the night before with a guest. After the walk has ended on Saturday, the volunteers are treated to an after-party with food, drink and raffles.
“We understand it’s a lot of work. They’re making a big sacrifice for us that weekend. We want our volunteers to have a wonderful time. The way they come together is pretty remarkable,” Crouch said.
Plan ahead
Wright Plus 2024 is sold out, but this year’s co-chairs said it’s a good time to pencil in the dates for Wright Plus 2025. Wright Plus is typically held the third weekend in May.
RELATED STORY:
