Louise Lincoln Kerr House and Studio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Louise Lincoln Kerr House and Studio
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Location | 6110 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, Arizona |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1948–1969 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Mission/Spanish Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000173 |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 2010 |
The Louise Lincoln Kerr House and Studio is a special place in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is now run by Arizona State University (ASU). This building was once the home of a famous musician named Louise Lincoln Kerr. When she passed away in 1977, she left her house to the university.
In 2010, this historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important part of American history.
Contents
The Story of the Kerr House
Who Was Louise Lincoln Kerr?
Louise Lincoln was born in Cleveland in 1892. She loved music from a young age. Her mother taught her to play the piano and viola. Later, Louise studied music at Barnard College in New York.
In 1936, she married Peter Kjer. Their family name was later changed to Kerr. They had eight children together. One of her children had breathing problems. Because of this, the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1936. Louise bought a large piece of land in Scottsdale. It was along Lincoln Drive, which was named after her father.
After Peter passed away, Louise started writing music again. She also helped many musical groups in the Phoenix area. These included the Phoenix Symphony and the ASU School of Music. Other music groups also met at her house. Her studio was the main place for music shows in Scottsdale. This was true until the Scottsdale Center for the Arts opened in 1975.
The House Becomes Part of ASU
Louise Kerr passed away on December 10, 1977. Her property then went to Arizona State University. In 1981, the Gammage Memorial Auditorium took over managing the center.
The university made many updates to the house. They added a lighted parking lot. New heating and air conditioning were put in. They also made sure the building followed safety rules. More changes happened in 1988. These included fixing the studio roof and repairing its walls.
What Does the House Look Like?
The main house has five rooms and was built in 1948. It is built in the Spanish Colonial style. The walls are made of adobe bricks. These bricks were actually made right on the property!
On one side of the house, there is a simple shaded area called a ramada. In the corner, a wooden staircase leads up to the flat roof. The entry doors are very special. They were carved from sugar pine wood by Charles Bolsius. He was an artist from Tucson and a friend of Louise Kerr. The windows are plain squares. They have brick sills and large wooden frames.
The music studio was finished in 1959. It is located north of the house. An extra part was added to the studio in 1969. The studio also uses the same natural adobe bricks as the house. It has a low, flat roof. This roof extends out to cover patios on both sides. Inside the studio, you can see the wooden rafters. There is also a brick chimney in one corner.
Charles Bolsius also carved the entry doors for the studio. The main entrance has a unique doorframe. It is decorated with empty beer bottles set into the brick! The 1969 addition was designed by architect Fred Fleenor. This part included built-in seats for 100 people. It also had better lighting, a kitchen, and restrooms. Great care was taken to make this new part match the old building perfectly. The floor tiles are very rare today. They are made from a mix of cement and white marble dust.
There were also small guest cottages on the property. These were called "The Shacks." Famous musicians like Pablo Casals and Isaac Stern stayed in these cottages. These cottages were removed sometime after Louise Kerr's death.
What Is It Used For Today?
The Kerr Cultural Center is still used often today. People love its cozy setting. Many also think it is the best place in Phoenix for chamber music. Chamber music is played by a small group of musicians.
The center is used for many things. It hosts musical performances and small meetings. People also rent it for private parties.
