A Letter from our President/CEO
Dear Wright and Westcott Enthusiasts,
The Westcott House Celebrates its 100th Anniversary!
This is a very special year for us as we are celebrating the 100th Anniversary of The Westcott House! 100 years is quite a milestone. When you pause to think about 100 years ago and compare it to today – it’s simply hard to believe how far we have come. Looking back, it was the dawn of the “progressive era,” a marvelous time of invention and industrial progress. The Wright brother’s invention of the airplane, Marconi’s wireless radio, the world’s first automobiles were being designed and manufactured, what an exciting time it must have been. The agricultural industry was booming and Springfield, Ohio, was a city “on-the-move.”
Richmond, Indiana native, Burton J. Westcott, just appointed Treasurer of the newly formed American Seeding Machine Company, arrived in Springfield in 1903. That same year the windshield wiper and crayons were invented. We don’t know exactly how the Westcott’s decided to select Frank Lloyd Wright as the architect for their new home in Springfield. But today, we are now reaping the benefits of that decision -- for what a fortunate choice they made. Wright began work on the Westcott design in 1906, the same year that William Kellogg invented Cornflakes. Construction began in 1907, the year that the Lumiere brothers invented color photography. In 1908, the year the house is completed, Cellophane was introduced to the world.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recognized Frank Lloyd Wright as the most significant American architect of the Twentieth Century and The Westcott House now restored stands as a testament to his genius as a designer. And although Springfield has been blessed by many distinguished architects and their distinctive architectural contributions, The Westcott House sets itself apart as its crown jewel.
We look forward to celebrating with you throughout the coming year - we’ve planned a series of exciting Centennial events. In March, Think TV, regional PBS station Channel 16 will premier the documentary created by filmmaker Kerry Rasikas, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House during its annual fund drive. We will once again dance under the stars in The Westcott House gardens at our FLW Birthday Celebration event in May, and in September we will celebrate with a special Centennial Tribute performance that includes a keynote address by Eric Lloyd Wright, grandson of Frank Lloyd Wright, and will feature a collaboration with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, The Now Device featuring The Westcott House. You can enjoy a preview of this event at the Springfield Arts Council’s Summer Arts Festival in June. We hope that you will join us as we celebrate our 100th Anniversary this year!
Thank you for your continued support – with your help The Westcott House Foundation will continue to serve for another 100 years!
Sincerely,
Robert R. Kearns
The Westcott House Foundation, President/CEO