Little Loomhouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Little Loomhouses
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Wisteria Cabin
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | Louisville, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1870 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000770 |
| Added to NRHP | June 30, 1975 |
The Little Loomhouse is a special historic place in Louisville, Kentucky. It's located in the Kenwood Hill neighborhood. This site has three old cabins built between 1870 and 1896: Esta Cabin, Tophouse, and Wisteria Cabin.
The Little Loomhouse is more than just old buildings. It shows off beautiful woven art. It also has fun classes and programs where artists can work. The Loomhouse often joins local festivals. They show people how to do spinning, dyeing, and weaving. It holds the largest collection of old and new textile patterns in the United States.
Many important people have visited these cabins, including past First Ladies. The famous song Happy Birthday to You was even created here! However, these old cabins need constant care to stay strong.
Contents
Exploring the Historic Cabins
Esta Cabin: Home of a Famous Song
The Esta Cabin is very important to the history of the Little Loomhouse. This is the cabin where the song "Happy Birthday to You" was first sung. It holds many stories from the past.
Wisteria Cabin: Office and Shop
The Wisteria Cabin was built in 1895. Today, it holds the main office and a gift shop. This cabin faced challenges like damage from erosion. In 1986, Jefferson County Judge/Executive Harvey Sloane helped celebrate its repair. The cabin was closed for years before it could be fixed.
Tophouse Cabin: Weaving Center
The Tophouse was built in 1896. It was a summer home for a wealthy person named Sam Stone Bush. The cabin was made from oak trees found on the very hill where it stands. In 1939, it was bought by a woman named Tate to use for her weaving looms.
The Tophouse has been used for weaving ever since. During World War II, supplies were hard to find. Tate rented out the cabin to a defense worker's family. This helped her get money and gave a home to someone helping the war effort. Even though it was threatened by new buildings in the 1960s and 1970s, the Tophouse still stands. It is still home to the looms that give the Little Loomhouse its name, and where weaving is still taught today.
The Loomhouse's Rich History
For many years, the Loomhouse has sold a small, easy-to-carry table loom. This special loom was designed by Lou Henry Hoover. She was the wife of President Herbert Hoover and a First Lady.
In 1948, a famous architect named Frank Lloyd Wright visited Louisville. He loved the cabins and their natural setting. In 1940, he described them as "board-and-batten summer houses, set down in the dignity of nature." This means he thought they fit perfectly with nature.
The cabins are old and need ongoing care. They were not built to last forever. Problems include trees needing trimming and floors that are starting to sag. Workers also need to make sure the cabins don't slide down the side of Kenwood Hill. Money raised by the Loomhouse usually isn't enough for all the big repairs needed.
Images for kids
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Esta Cabin backside
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The three cabins
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Backside of the three cabins
