Meyer May House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Meyer May House |
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| General information | |
| Type | Brick house |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Location | 450 Madison Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI |
| Coordinates | 42°57′15″N 85°39′33″W / 42.954189°N 85.659189°W |
| Construction started | 1908 |
| Completed | 1909 |
| Governing body | Steelcase |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Frank Lloyd Wright |
The Meyer May House is a special home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was designed by a famous architect named Frank Lloyd Wright. This house was built over 100 years ago, between 1908 and 1909. It's known as a great example of Wright's "Prairie School" style. Many people call it "Michigan's Prairie masterpiece." You can find it at 450 Madison Avenue SE.
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The Story of the Meyer May House
The Meyer May House was ordered in 1908. It was for Meyer S. May and his wife Sophie. Meyer May owned a clothing store in Grand Rapids. This house looked very different from other homes built at that time. Most houses were in the Victorian style. But the Meyer May House had a unique, modern look.
Design and Features
The Meyer May House is a classic example of Wright's Prairie style. It has two floors and is shaped like a "T." The house is made of light-colored brick. It has hip roofs covered with special tiles. These roofs have long, wide eaves that stick out.
The house also has beautiful art glass windows and skylights. The windows on the first floor are tucked under the eaves. They are also raised from the ground. This gives people inside privacy. It also lets light into the staircase and the upstairs hallway.
Wright planned the house carefully. He made sure the living room windows faced south. This allowed for lots of sunlight. He also created a big yard for gardens. Doors with colored glass open to terraces and gardens. Even the garden walls are part of the design.
Inside, you'll find clever details. Wood covers hide the radiators. Shiny gold glass strips are in the brick fireplaces. A soft-colored painting of hollyhock flowers is on a wall. This painting was done by George Mann Niedecken. It separates the living room and dining room. The painting was once covered up, but it has been brought back to life. Niedecken also helped design the inside of the home. This was finished in 1910.
Changes Over Time
In 1922, the house got bigger. Two more bedrooms were added upstairs. Also, servants' quarters were built on the first floor. Meyer May passed away in 1936. The house stayed empty for six years. It was finally sold in 1942. It was sold again in 1945. At that time, carports and extra entrances were added. The new bedrooms were rented out.
The Meyer May House is important to history. It was added to the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites in 1986. It is also part of the Heritage Hill Historic District. This district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Bringing the House Back to Life
Steelcase is a big company that makes office furniture. They are based in Grand Rapids. Steelcase bought the Meyer May House in 1985. They wanted to make it look just like it did when it was new.
Before they started, they did a lot of research. They talked to people who knew the house. They looked at old photos and original drawings. They also read books about Frank Lloyd Wright.
During this restoration, many changes were made. The additions from 1922 were removed. All the plaster ceilings were replaced. The roof was rebuilt. The Niedecken mural was carefully restored. More than 100 windows and skylights were fixed. An enclosed porch was opened up again. New roof tiles were made by the same company that made the original ones in 1909. Even the gardens were brought back to their first design.
The restoration started in 1986. The house opened for visitors in 1987. Today, it is one of Wright's Prairie homes that has been most completely restored.
The rooms in the house are filled with special items. Some are original pieces from the May family. Some are copies of original items. Others are similar Arts and Crafts style pieces from that time. Even the carpets were made to match Wright's original designs and colors.
Visiting the Meyer May House
The Meyer May House opened to the public in 1987. You can take tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 AM to 1 PM. On Sundays, tours are from 1 PM to 4 PM. There is no charge to visit.
Other Wright Work in Grand Rapids
Frank Lloyd Wright also worked on another house in Grand Rapids. It is called the David M. Amberg House. This house was finished in 1910. However, Wright was busy traveling in Europe at the time. So, he gave the project to Marion Mahony and Herman von Holst to finish in 1909.
See also
- List of Frank Lloyd Wright works
