Mid Century Modern

Speaking Of “Time Capsules”, “Decor Warps” And Retro

June 25th, 2009 Categories: Mid Century Modern

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Most of the folks that are looking for Mid Century Modern homes, are also looking to furnish them “retro”. Our friend Pam Kueber, is the queen of Mid Mod Blogs at RetroRenovation. She got quoted in a fun article in the New York Times this morning about “Time Capsule Homes”.

 

 

 

 

 

The part of the article where Pam’s quoted:

Identifying exactly when a home became stuck is easier. “Pink-tile bathrooms, Dishmaster faucets, colors like aquamarine and sunbeam yellow — all very 1950s,” said Pam Kueber, who runs retrorenovation.com, a Web site devoted to midcentury design. Shag carpet and avocado appliances indicate the ’70s. Lava rock and ultrasuede? As ’80s as a Rubik’s Cube.

Ms. Kueber posts midcentury time capsules on her site, with photos provided by readers, often taken from real estate listings. In many cases, she said, the homes were occupied by elderly couples who were immensely proud of them. “I think the owners of these homes were tremendously invested in them emotionally, as well as financially,” she said. “They came from an era where a house was very hard won.”

As a rule, she said, the homes were well cared for, and the belief was “Why change something if it’s not worn out?” (read the whole NYT’s Article – “Time Capsule Homes”)

That’s one of the reasons we tend to cherish the “pink bathrooms”. Of course, Save the Pink Bathroom is just symbolic for all the great Mid Mod colors. Why do one over as Retro When the original colorful tile work is in great shape? Often I see such a mishmosh of eras in the Vintage homes of Las Vegas. The kitchen was remodeled in the 70’s, the bathrooms in the 80’s. The floorings were changed and mismatched room by room. I’ll take a period time capsule any day over a mixing of decor trends.

It’s funny that when I started in Real Estate in 1990 we used the word dated to describe the colorful kitchens and baths of the Mid Mod Era. Now we use the terms retro and vintage. What’s dated now are the horrible 70’s and 80’s cultured marbles, earthtones, and the ubiquitous beige on beige on beige. For an amusing look at the difference between retro, vintage and antique, we can turn again to a “vintage 2008” post that Pam did on the subject.

 

 

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The “Ferris Bueller” House Is Really “The Ben Rose Home” In Highland Park, Illinois

June 2nd, 2009 Categories: Mid Century Modern

Other than “overload” there’s no excuse I have for having stopped looking at “Cool Hunting” on a regular basis. Since two of you, (thank you Buddah and VegasJudy) sent me links, I can’t help but share with you the modernist steel and glass masterpiece that was featured in the “Ferris Bueller” movie. Cool Hunting posted about it here which is where we saw it first.

It’s now for sale for a cool 3.2 Million. Meladee Hughes at Sotheby’s International has the listing. There’s many more pictures on her Realtor.com listing.

 

Cool Hunting aptly makes the comparison to the famous Philip Johnson “Glass House” in Connecticut. It’s now owned by the National Trust For Historic Preservation. I’ve discussed it before, and this post that I did on it has a different video in it than the one the Cool Hunting has. Both are well worth watching if you want to learn more about the simplicity, openness and timelessness of the modernist movement. I’ve added both videos below.

In that same post that I wrote on May 13, 2008, I explained why Modernism is intrinsically entwined with our neighborhood preservation efforts.

The vast majority of the pre-1970 homes in Las Vegas are Mid Century Modern. I can’t help but to be fighting to preserve the historic and classic neighborhoods of Las Vegas without a total dedication to preserving modernist architecture, and the lifestyle it was designed to promote. .

Modernist architecture required big lots. One of the hallmarks of modernist architecture  is exemplified in the Glass House. Bring the outdoors in, and let the indoors get out. That’s why we find the walls of glass, the clerestory windows, and the use of natural materials. That’s why we cherish our big trees and big yards.

Education about modernism is the most important part of my efforts. I meet a lot of people who are shopping for a home. Whether they buy a home or not, they can’t help but to leave me with at least a new found, or a heightened appreciation  for all the amazing elements of modernism that just can’t be found out in the suburbs. I’m hoping that that appreciation is also realized among my many readers.

Some of our homes are absolutely terrific, and some of them have been absolutely butchered.  The biggest tragedy, and the one that I want to help to correct is the lack of knowledge among the CURRENT owners of the mid century modern homes of Las Vegas. The new breed of mid century modern home buyer is aware of the architectural significance, the advantages of modernism, and appreciate its characteristics. But most of our effort has to be given to educating the current owners.

Once again, for your viewing pleasure, this is the video that I captured from the Glass House Website a year ago. It’s from a channel 13 New York City news report.

 

Below is the video that Cool Hunting posted to YouTube on the Philip Johnson Glass House.

Though the Ben Rose Home and The Philip Johnson Glass House are the iconic examples of modernism in the extreme, the elements can be reproduced or saved in any mid century modern home. There’s NOTHING in Las Vegas that compares to these homes, but the concepts, the thinking and the elements can be adapted or preserved in any Mid Mod.

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Speaking Of Mid Century Modern Preservation In Las Vegas

May 19th, 2009 Categories: Mid Century Modern

I’m tired of the history stuff for the moment. Let’s talk about Mid Century Modern homes from the 50’s and 60’s. They about clean lines. Lack of ornamentation. The merging of indoor and outdoor living spaces. The opening up of the space between rooms.

Mid Century Modern wasn’t necessarily a particular style or design, but instead a whole new way of thinking about how we live in our homes. That’s why the sliding glass door was a revolutionary idea. So was the living room and kitchen combined. That new way of thinking is what caused the family space to get moved to the rear of the home to allow backyard to be an expansion of the living area.

The ranch house was the most common design from the street. This one is a foreclosure in McNeil. I took lots of pictures last night to use in this article as a “fun features found in foreclosures” but alas, it sold this morning. Sorry! That’s how fast the really good houses are selling. The only thing moving faster than the “good” ones, are the bombed out wrecks.

 

 

From the outside….it’s a ranch, but all the design concepts of mid century modern are intact on the inside. In fact the new kitchen (including granite, which I have no problem with, as it’s as natural of a material as there is) is a big improvement over the original.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “Desert Modern” or Palm Springs Modern was common, and most frequently found in the Southwest and South of the United States. They tended to have low slope or flat roofs (which wouldn’t work very well where it snows). The roof lines of the different parts of the house often overlapped. They were perfect for the desert, and usually had broad overhangs to protect from the sun.

There’s an amazingly good restoration that I’ve been watching at 821 Kenny in the Rancho Alta Historic Neighborhood area. It looks like a desert modern home did in the 50’s and 60’s, and how they can look if the owners are educated about Mid Century Modern Design and Architecture. Take a drive by sometime. You’ll be as impressed as I am.

 

 

 

 

 

I can think of a hundred ways this home could have been butchered or screwed up. Thankfully, the new owners seem to “get it”.

I had the chance to peek inside, but didn’t get permission to take pictures of the inside. Trust me, they paid as close attention to detail on the inside as they did on the outside.

Anyone can do it right. The most important thing is to know what “right” is.

 

 

 

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The Cultural Heritage And Historic Preservation Fair AND Morelli House Open House

May 4th, 2009 Categories: Historic Preservation, Mid Century Modern

This Saturday is a big day for the Historic Preservation Community. Both events are Saturday May 9, as part of “Historic Preservation Month”, which is every May. We’ve published the link before, but here it is again for the entire calendar of events this month

Culture and History Fair At Springs Preserve

Come explore culture, performing arts, visual arts, archaeology and historic preservation – more hidden treasures to discover than you ever imagined.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Springs Preserve will host the Culture & History Fair, providing amazing access to the wealth of cultural and historical organizations that are part of the Southern Nevada community. Join us for a day of live entertainment, hands-on activities.

Admission to the exhibition and performances are free to the public, standard ticket prices apply for admission to museums and galleries.

The Springs Preserve thanks its event partners City of Las Vegas Historic Preservation Commission, City of Las Vegas Office of Cultural Affairs, and IMPACT.

Morelli House – Open To The Public

The Morelli House is the Iconic Crown Jewel of Mid Century Modern Preservation. The former home of Sands Band Director Antonio Morelli was moved from the Desert Inn Golf Club to its present location at the corner of Bridger and 9^th Street in Downtown Las Vegas. It now serves as the offices and headquarters of the Junior League of Las Vegas.

The Open House Hours are from 3 to 6 PM May 9th

There’s many more pictures and information on the Junior Leagues Website about the Morelli House 

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Mid Century Modern Inspires The Arts District

May 4th, 2009 Categories: Arts District, Downtown Las Vegas, Mid Century Modern

Atomic Passage

I attended the unveiling of some some of the street art that’s been incorporated into the design elements of the new Casino Center Streetscape in the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District.

The 4 artists, Aaron Sheppard, Erin Stellmon, Danielle Kelly, Adam Morey all mentioned in their comments the timeless Mid Century Modern Heritage of Las Vegas, and it’s influence on their designs for the Streetscape.

 

 

 

 

Atomic Passage is the first public art project in the history of the city of Las Vegas where artists’ concepts have been integrated into the engineering infrastructure of a Public Works Streetscape enhancement. Please join us for the dedication of this unique and original work of art that embraces and references the city of Las Vegas signage and nuclear history.

 

 

 

 

ACE Transit Shelters

Another major improvement to the downtown will be the ACE Transit System. Maps and details are here, but this month you can see the artists concepts in the Stop and Glo exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Center which is located in the Arts Factory at Main and Charleston. All the shelters and the wind screens will me Mid Century Modern in their basic design.

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, in conjunction with the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, worked with local artists to add artistic enhancements to the new ACE transit shelters at seven locations in the City of Las Vegas, and one in Clark County (a total of eight locations) for the Las Vegas Resort Corridor Downtown Connector project.

Each stop consists of two shelters, one on each side of the street, so that together they serve buses traveling in both directions. Eight artists created work: Catherine Borg, Evan Dent, Stephen Hendee, Danielle Kelly, Sean Russell, Eric Pawloski, Brian Porray, and Todd Von Bastiaans. Their imagery evokes ideas about Las Vegas history and iconography and is being implemented into the wind screens of each transit shelter and will be lit.

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Fun Features Found In Foreclosures - Mid Century Modern Paradise Palms

April 13th, 2009 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures, Mid Century Modern

You’ll remember this house, because I used the original MLS Picutes for a WMLSPOTD post last week. I also mentioned it in the big rant I did last week, since it went into the MLS as ALREADY UNDER CONTRACT, which really ticked me off. However, it’s back on the market, but offered for cash only, (sorry FHA buyer’s). It’s pretty rough, but not nearly as rough as the Johnny Carson house which is the same design.

 Bill Krisel has personally verified that this is NOT one of the many homes he designed in Paradise Palms, and I’m still trying to find out who the architect was from Irwin Molasky.

It’s ridiculously low priced, even for it’s condition at 119,900.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Johnny Carson House is still available as well, and so is the butterfly roof, Palmer and Krisel on Commanche Circle. All 3 required cash or large down payment buyers, and lots of money to restore them to their former glory.

I know there’s someone out there who’s up to the task. I’d really like these three homes to be restored.

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Fun Features Found In Foreclosures - A McNeil Mid Mod

March 23rd, 2009 Categories: Mid Century Modern

Tongue and Groove, beamed ceilings though the entire house would certainly qualify as fun features. Exposed beam ceilings are one of the most sought after (and fairly rare) features of Mid Mod architecture.

 I’m pretty sure the rest of the stone fireplace is hiding behind someone’s ill-thought attempt to drywall over it. Fireplace walls of stone and brick should not be covered over.

 

 

 

 

 

A 2 sided clerestory windowed entry qualifies as well.

Clerestory windows are on just about everyone’s favorite features list.

Clerestory windows are above eye level. They allow for lots of light, and maximum privacy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So would the unique weeping brick stone work.

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of unfinished projects that had been started that need to be completed, or un-done, an empty pool that needs re-plastering and someone needs to pay some close attention to the details. But there’s some terrific bones to work around.

This one’s on Sherman Way at the corner of Buehler in McNeil. It’s one of the earliest sections of McNeil and has several very nice desert modern homes.  There’s almost 2700 sf, with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. AND it’s one of the lowest priced home we’ve seen in McNeil for the last 5 years, at 209,500.

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Rockabilly Is More Than Just A Musical Genre - It Was (And Is) A Mid Century Modern Way Of Living

March 19th, 2009 Categories: Mid Century Modern

Will Lizarraga and his sister Yocelin moved into Paradise Palms a few months ago. They had me scratching my head when I first met them to show them homes. Here was a living breathing paradox. Second generation Hispanic American kids who were in love with all things 50’s. I just didn’t get it.

Will’s restoring a 54 Ford. They’d been regular readers of VeryVintageVegas for months. They wanted a mid mod, and ONLY a mid mod. Ranch Modern was fine, as long as it had a big wall of glass, and a really cool fireplace. The got everything they wanted. Their fathers been helping them with the painting and fixing and redecorating. I just got invited to the house warming party.

I’ve mentioned will before, because he’s the lead singer of “Will and The High Rollers”, which is one of the great local rockabilly bands. I went to see them at Fremont Street Experience last fall and had a rockin good time.

But, I still didn’t get the connection. My MID MOD frame of reference screams RAT PACK, not Rockabilly. But connected they are. Where do Rat Pack and Rockabillly merge, you ask? In the architecture and the furniture and the clothes. Will sent me over the video below to tell us how and why.

From watching this video, I learned a few new expressions, and it all finally clicked into place for me. I think it will for you as well.

If you actually click on this link and watch it at YouTube, you’ll find that it’s part of a whole series telling the Rockabilly story. They’re all right there in the related video section. Start with chapter one, turn up the volume and just keep on rockin.

Viva Las Vegas 12 Rockabilly Weekend

If you really want to get it into it, VivaLasVegas 12 is coming April 9–12  . It’s a whole weekend of everything Rockabilly. All events for the entire weekend will be at the ORLEANS. Will and the Hi-Rollers are playing, as well as an ALL-STAR LINE-UP.

Saturday is a 1950 to 1963 car show. This should be a gas.

But wait, there’s more….Charles Phoenix is doing a slide show! and there’s going to be a burleseque competition and show!  

Make sure you get your tickets early. It should be quite a shin-dig.

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A Mystery Mid Mod In Las Vegas

March 17th, 2009 Categories: Architecture, Mid Century Modern

One of our readers found this Architect’s drawing at a garage sale in Westleigh the other day.

I can’t for the life of me recall ever seeing this building. Do any of you have a clue?

Maybe it never got built? Maybe it’s in some other city?

I’m hoping it didn’t get torn down before we were paying attention to such things.

 

 

George G. Tate is the architect. I started googling and found that his firm was founded in 1960 in Las Vegas. It later became Tate Snyder Kimsey and is still in operation. George’s Biography on the website is worth looking at also, but it’s a flash site so I can’t copy and paste it. It does say that he retired in 1995.

I’m also curious as to what the phone number exchang DU– stood for. When I was kid our number was Belmont 5–1169. Anyone remember the exchange abreviations for Las Vegas?

It’s always fun to look at the websites of the various architects as there’s alway interesting things to see and history to be uncovered. On the TSK site I found the coolest modernist project that’s dated 2007. This was just as the market was turning, and I’ve never heard of “The Enchantment Way” as ever having been built. Even the website for it seems to be frozen in time at 2007.

So once again, I just spent a pleasant hour googling, when I was supposed to be catching up on paperwork.

 

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The Anthony Marnell II Home Is The Ultimate In Mid Century Modern Las Vegas

March 12th, 2009 Categories: Mid Century Modern

I had the fortune this weekend to show the ULTIMATE in Mid Century Modern Las Vegas living. This is the Anthony Marnell II house on Viking. I’ve been driving people by it for 20 years and it has never failed to inspire me.

 

 

 

 

 

Tony Marnell Jr. Built it in 1980 for his family.

The current owners have it on the market now for just a hair under 2 million dollars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s truly breathtaking and invokes all the best of what we talk about when we talk “Desert” Mid Century Modern: The merging of indoor and outdoor living, the use of natural materials (there’s hardly ANY drywall in the house); the broad overhangs; the overlapping roof lines; the clerestory windows. The openness and the drama are awe inspiring.

 

 

 

 

The home is just over 6600 sf and sports 4 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. It’s a brick home that was built with incredible skill and attention to detail. It even has a round basement gameroom.

 

 

 

 

 

There’s 47 pictures on my facebook page. (I do that to keep the load time at VVV as fast as possible). Here’s a few of the highlites, and a not very good video that will serve the purpose of showing you the drama of the living room, dining room and entrance.

I’m truly in love with this home, and am happy that Tom Lucas, who is the owner and listing agent were kind enough to allow me to share it with you.

Tony Marnell is an architect by trade, but truly one of the important greats of the gaming and hospitality industry. For a few years prior to building this home, he was MaryJOY’s next door neighbor on 16th Street. His father built the icon brick mid mod on 15th Street with the Nuclear Power Plant Tower roof.

Of course, the Marnell’s are back in the news this last few weeks with the opening of the “M Resort” at the furthest south edge of the valley. No matter what they do, they never seem to lose track of their Mid Century Modern roots.

Naturally, if you know a buyer in the 2 million dollar price bracket….I’d LOVE TO BE INTRODUCED! Introductions to budget conscious buyers and realistic sellers are also welcome, btw.
 

 

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Spreading The Word - Neighborhood View Newspaper Tells The Vintage Vegas Story

March 10th, 2009 Categories: Mid Century Modern

A huge thank you to Andy Taylor (no not Opie’s dad) from the View newspaper that arrived in today’s RJ.

We spent 2 afternoons together last month. I showed him the Vintage Vegas neighborhoods; the differences between “ranch modern” and “desert modern” and introduced him to the whole concept that we call VeryVintageVegas.

I think he nailed it. There’s little in the article that you haven’t read or seen discussed at length on VeryVintageVegas, but there’s a MULTITUDE of people living in Vintage Vegas that have never heard of me or VeryVintageVegas, and certainly have no clue about the architecture, style or concept of Mid Century Modern. Hopefully we reached a lot of them with this article.

It was supposed to only be in the Whitney View, which is distributed east of Eastern Avenue, but it ended up in the Downtown View as well, so it got even greater coverage.

Here’s the beginning of the article, in the online version. You’ll see why I’m so happy with it.

Las Vegans celebrate and work to preserve vintage architecture

Jack LeVine is a man who knows his local history, architecture and real estate and isn’t shy about expressing his opinions on the subjects. As he peeked into a 50-year-old home for sale on a recent excursion, he pointed out a newly remodeled kitchen.

“Look at that,” he said. “Crown molding and granite-topped island. They’re idiots. They think they’re fixing it up, but in the long run, they’re just lowering the value of it.”

LeVine is a real estate agent who specializes in mid-century modern homes. His Web site, VeryVintageVegas.com, is a combination real estate sales tool and love letter to classic Las Vegas architecture and the lifestyle of Vegas in the days of the Rat Pack.

“Mid-century modern is a catch-all phrase for post-war housing from about 1950 to 1970,” LeVine said.

Read the rest of the article here, in the Downtown View

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The Flamingo Club Coctail Party Circuit Visits The Flora Dungan House - A Spectacular Desert Mid Mod In Downtown Las Vegas

March 1st, 2009 Categories: Mid Century Modern

We’ve been after Steve Evans to show off the “Flora Dungan” home for years. We FINALLY got our wish! 

Last night the Flamingo Club (motto – building community one cocktail party at a time), held it’s monthly cocktail party. Steve graciously hosted with eats from Tinocco’s.

(We learned last night that Tinocco’s has moved out of the arts factory, and are now open in the Vegas Club on Fremont Street.)

 

 

Flora Dungan was a state assemblywoman, and a University Regent. Flora Dungan Humanities Building at UNLV is named after her. It’s one of the wonderful Mid Mod buildings on the campus, (and designed by Zick and Sharp, the architects about whom we never finished our series).

 

 

The 1964 home that Flora built for herself in Downtown Las Vegas is even more spectacular. It’s one of the very FINEST and best preserved of all the “desert” styled Mid Mods In Downtown Las Vegas.

ALL OF THE PICTURES from the party are in an album on my facebook page, but here on VVV I’m only going to share the ones that show off our “outfits” and some of the totally swanky mid century modern fabulousness of the Flora Dungan Home.

If there’d been a contest, MaryMargaret’s (Paradise Palms) Green on Green on Green Ensemble would have won hands down!

Of course, my plaid 60’s jacket and yellow shirt with martini glass buttons was a big hit as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heidi’s on the left. She and husband Scott started the Flamingo Club as a way to meet neighborhs in the Beverly Green Neighborhood. Bill’s on the right. He and his wife Lauren are both teachers, and live in Beverly Green. Meg’s in the back. She’s in the “Dean Martin’s Cousin’s House on 6th Street, where we held the October FC. The man in the front is a suburban guest, but I didn’t catch his name.

 

 

Everyone had a great time. There was close to 100 guests, including County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani and her husband Gary Gray, who live in Marycrest. 

In this photo left to right is my brother Joe who just closed on his first home in Huntridge, MaryJOY, who lives in the Mayme Stocker home, Rachel, who lives in the Marshall/Russo home, MaryMargaret, who along with husband Cary, (he’s the leader of the Thirston Howlies) who restored the caddyshack in Paradise Palms, and of course, yours truly….Uncle Jack.

Now, some more on the Flora Dungan Home

 

The house is the epitome of the great home concept, with the merging of the indoor and outdoor living space with 10 foot high walls of glass.

 

The dining area is surrounded by a U shaped buffet of white formica.

 

 

 

All the bedrooms have clerestory windows  above the closet nooks. There’s an outdoor ledge above the closets with a wide overhang.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, no mid mod is complete without a fabulous original bathroom. Here’s the step down tub/shower in 2 inch tile.

 

 

 

 

 

Even though the cook top’s been modernized Steve kept the original GE control panel that’s built into the wall above the stove.

 

 

 

And last but not least, the floor to ceiling fireplace with cantilevered floating hearth is just simply killer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Where Vintage Is Modern

February 25th, 2009 Categories: Mid Century Modern

Vintage Vegas got a nice write-up in an article by Tami Cowden on the “Living Las Vegas” ezine.

Tami discusses the Mid Century Modern Homes and Neighborhoods of Las Vegas.

One of the best kept secrets in Las Vegas is that the city has several vintage neighborhoods containing a treasure trove of “Modern”-style houses. Most houses built between about 1940 and 1980 fit into this category, whether they are called ranches, ramblers, Desert Modern, Palm Springs Modern or simply Mid-Century Modern. Together these houses define a style of architecture that emphasized open floor plans and ample windows, with the goal of opening up interior spaces and bringing the outdoors inside.

Here’s the full story. Tami and her husband Steve are currently negotiating on the home that I used as a “fun features found in foreclosures” piece from a month or so ago. You’ll remember it, I think. It was the “Beige on Beige” house. Tami’s been seen hanging out in the paint department at Home Depot ever since I first showed it to her.

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60’s Spy Movies Give Us A Great Library Of Modernism

February 23rd, 2009 Categories: Mid Century Modern

Last night was all about the movies. The Acadamy Awards show was one of the best that I’ve ever seen. I guess I’m just going to HAVE to go see Slumdog Millionaire.

But the real topic is a terrific site that I found. I regularly read The MidCenturyModernest blog. There I found a link to a site I think you’ll love, and there’s certainly a movie connection. The website is called SpyVibe. There’s a sister blog that goes with it. I kept bouncing back and forth. You will, as well. It’s a lot of fun.

There’s some great discussions of the style and aesthetic of the spy era. It coincided with the “Rat Pack” era and the Playboy era. All of them led the way in showing modernism to the masses. When it came to cool, it’s certainly Sinatra and Martin and Bond and Hefner who first come to mind. Oh how I always wanted to be like them.

Currently, SpyVibe is doing a series on the sets of the great spy vs. spy and sci-fi movies and TV shows such as In Like Flint, James Bond, Avengers, U.N.C.L.E and Captain Scarlet.

Don’t start reading these sites at work. We don’t need anyone else to be unemployed.

 

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Mormon Church In John S. Park Historic Neighborhood To Be Demolished

February 20th, 2009 Categories: John S Park Historic Neighborhood, Las Vegas History, Mid Century Modern

First I they stopped using it because the roof was leaking. Now I’m hearing rumors that the Morman Church at 8^th Street and Franklin is going to be razed.

The building was built in 1953 as a “Stake House”. For many years now it was just used for the Ward. That’s the entirety of what I know about it.

 

It does however have some great Mid Century Modern features, and is a centerpiece of the John S. Park Historic Neighborhood.

It’s built of slumpstone in the era where we had real stonemasons who actually knew how to lay block, and create great design from it.

 

 

 

 

Drive by and check out the craftsmanship and design. Get out and walk up to the front door. The hand combed terrazzo finish on the columns is really gorgeous.

 

 

(Click on this picture to see the detail of the hand combed terrazzo. Just about EVERY picture on VVV is a clickable thumbnail if you want to see a bigger image)

 

 

All I can see of the inside is the beamed ceilings. I’m betting (since I’m not Mormon) that there’s a lot more to see on the inside.

If any of you know someone that could get me access…I’d love to get some interior pictures if there’s some interesting architectural and design elements that we should all see.

Anyone with out there who can get me access?

 

 

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