Comments on: Frank Lloyd Wright and His Forgotten Larkin Building

By: elZaphod

elZaphod — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:02:35 +0000

Interesting photos. I love Wright, but the exterior has a very oppressive look, possessing equal parts mausoleum and Reichstag. Nice interior flourishes on the columns and skylights though.

By: Jonathan Haeber

Jonathan Haeber — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:55:58 +0000

Thanks Micheal. I appreciate the added history. I’m always elated to hear about the personal stories of places. Thank you.

By: Michael Ralph

Michael Ralph — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:02:04 +0000

Hello,
I stumbled on this site, while trying to research the Larkin Building fire in 1949- 1950. My father was a Fire Fighter, and was injured during the blaze. His name was Glenn Russel Ralph. I had a photo my mother gave me as a child, of my Dad being assisted from the area. It was front page news in either the Courier Express, or the Buffalo Evening News. I have since lost the photo, and wanted to pass it on to my son. I had no idea of the relationship of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Larkin Building until this day. It’s a wonderful web-site!
Michael Ralph

By: TravellerSu

TravellerSu — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:26:42 +0000

So sad that this building was lost but Buffalo remains a great place to visit for FLW and other architecture.

http://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2007/12/01/frank-lloyd-wright-in-buffalo–who-knew.aspx

http://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2007/12/03/frank-lloyd-wright-and-the-martin-house.aspx

By: Jonathan Haeber

Jonathan Haeber — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:02:28 +0000

Thanks Dave. I didn’t know about Midtown Plaza. Such a shame… Things like that seem to be happening more and more these days. I think we’ve also lost more than one Kirkbride in the past few years.

By: David Buonaugurio

David Buonaugurio — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:09:58 +0000

Great pictures on your site. I live in Rochester, NY. The Larkin building was destroyed the year I was born. As I write, the last tenants are moving out of Midtown Plaza, the masterfull 1960 creation of Victor Gruen, so that it can be destroyed to make way for a corporate headquarters. It was the second enclosed mall in the country. Stupidity never ends.

Dave

By: Blaize

Blaize — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:10:45 +0000

I’m glad you liked it! I’ve been to the National Building Museum, and found it very interesting. And I do have Netflix, so I’ll check that documentary out soon.

P.S. I really enjoy your web log and your flickr photostream.

By: Jonathan Haeber

Jonathan Haeber — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:23:25 +0000

Thanks so much for that photo, Blaize! That seriously made my day. You’ll love the documentary. It’s available on Netflix watch now if you have that.

By: Blaize

Blaize — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 01:26:35 +0000

The photo of the workers at their desks on the floor of the atrium reminds me strongly of photos I have seen of workers at the old Federal Pension Bureau (now the National Building Museum) in D.C. To wit: http://www.gao.gov/about/history/articles/images/greathall_flag.jpg

Thanks for the recommendation of the documentary.