22 Dec three matching frank lloyd wright-designed roloson house (1894) buff-colored terra cotta balusters join bld. 51 museum collection
December 22, 2025
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, New Products, Press, Uncategorized
three largely intact and original early frank lloyd wright-designed buff-colored sullivanesque terra cotta balusters salvaged from the robert roloson row houses (1894) when the front terraces where dismantled/demolished in the early 1970’s were added to the ever-expanding bldg. 51 museum collection.
most of the surviving balusters exhibit some degree of damage, espeically around the necks and bases. a single centrally located iron rod was used to reinforce them. the balusters were executed by the northwestern terra cotta company, chicago, il.
two of the three sullivanesque style balusters contain multiple coats of paint applied to them in the 1960s-1980s.
robert w. roloson houses (also called the roloson rowhouses) are four adjacent homes at 3213–3219 s. calumet avenue in chicago’s bronzeville “gap” neighborhood. designed by frank lloyd wright, these are the only row houses he built. constructed in 1894 and finished in early 1895, they mark a turning point in wright’s career after leaving adler & sullivan. the buildings feature steep gables and rectangular window bands inspired by english tudor revival style.
