KCRag Forum

Louis Curtiss: The Frank Lloyd Wright of Kansas City

http://www.kclibrary.org/blog/week-kans ... ansas-city

While clearly some of his residential works bear a influence of FLW, I would not compare the two. Curtiss was truly unique. 

There's a house at 61st Terrace and Woodson in Countryside.  It's on the southeast corner, and Google streetview really doesn't do it justice, but it's a very distinctive house.  Reminds me of Wright, I don't know Curtiss, but I wonder if there's any where to check the architect of a house (or look up the architect and see if it's theirs).  Anyone know?

My grandparents owned the Louis Curtiss-designed Jesse Hoel house in KCK from the late 1930's to 1989.  It's a wonderful house and was the center of life for the extended family.  It was even featured on the HGTV series "If Walls Could Talk" and is a city landmark. 

We lived nearby in a 'regular' house and my friends were always impressed that my grandparents lived in the house with a tennis court (now gone).

http://www.kchistory.org/cdm4/item_view ... OX=1&REC=3

Good article: http://places.designobserver.com/featur ... ion/29428/

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moderne wrote:Good article: http://places.designobserver.com/featur ... ion/29428/

Great article, thanks for posting.

Was just reading this morning an article about Wichita's Union Station redevelopment efforts - the station was desgined by Curtiss.

http://www.kansas.com/2012/02/09/220886 ... ngers.html

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I wish Joplin would get their Union Depot restored--another Louis Curtiss design.

FangKC wrote:I wish Joplin would get their Union Depot restored--another Louis Curtiss design.

Had no idea that one even existed. Hopefully, with the still considerable energy turned to that city for the rebuilding process, there will be some attention placed on it.

The Joplin one is awesome! Hope it gets a new life.

The other one really looks like a mini-KC Union Station on the front. A shrunken version.

Plan to redevelop Joplin Union Station as a musuem.

http://www.cornergreer.com/Joplin_Union ... ation.html

Our neighborhood just got the word that KCMO's new building demolition initiative will include the Curtiss-designed house at 1311 Manheim Rd (39th at Manheim/Virginia). Not a done deal yet, but the vultures are circling. It's currently for sale but the current owners inherited the property, don't reside there, and don't respond to phone calls. The house is in a NR district and would be eligible for historic tax credits, but it needs a ton of work.

I'm afraid there are many historically important structures on that list and we will consequently loose them forever. You would think there would be a way for the City to secure and mothball those structures until another solution could be sought.

taxi wrote:I'm afraid there are many historically important structures on that list and we will consequently loose them forever. You would think there would be a way for the City to secure and mothball those structures until another solution could be sought.

For what it's worth, here's the list (I assume this is what the program is based off of).

longviewmo wrote:

taxi wrote:I'm afraid there are many historically important structures on that list and we will consequently loose them forever. You would think there would be a way for the City to secure and mothball those structures until another solution could be sought.

For what it's worth, here's the list (I assume this is what the program is based off of).

Thanks for posting that. 1311 Manheim.

Thanks, but jeesh. I understand the need for action on a lot of this, but that list makes me sad.
The Busy Bee bldg. is on there, as are a lot of buildings that should not be wiped off the earth. I would think there is another way to stabilize some of them and offer incentives or financing options for owner/occupiers. If only I were da mayor.

1311 Manheim is not at the top of the list at all (not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing), but after randomly checking some other ones, they seem to really like to write violations for it.

longviewmo wrote:1311 Manheim is not at the top of the list at all (not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing), but after randomly checking some other ones, they seem to really like to write violations for it.

I hadn't seen the list when I first posted. We got a list of addresses without the accompanying scores.

The house has been vacant for several years and in probate for almost as long. Originally the house had several dozen heirs, and while that got sorted out, it just rotted. The yard has been maintained for the last year or 2. I've heard horror stories about the inside. At some point the longtime owner of the house sold off all the stained glass to salvage guys. It needs a buyer who has a ton of cash ($150k-$200k for reno), cares deeply about the house, and doesn't mind that so much original work is missing/broken/rotted away. All they would be getting is a very cool shell.