Westcott House

The Westcott House is a Frank Lloyd Wright designed Prairie Style house in Springfield, Ohio. The house was built in 1908 for Mr. Burton J. Westcott and his wife Orpha. The Westcott property is the only Prairie Style house designed by Wright in the state of Ohio. The grounds include the main house, and a carriage house connected by a pergola.

Related Topics:
Frank Lloyd Wright - Springfield, Ohio - Burton J. Westcott - Prairie Style - Ohio - Carriage house

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In 1903, as part of a merger, Burton J. Westcott came to Springfield, Ohio as Treasurer of The American Seeding Company. He would hold the position for 21 years.

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In 1916, Burton brought the Westcott Motor Car Company to Springfield, Ohio from Richmond, Indiana. He was president of the company until 1924. Wright designed a detached garage which included a design for a large turntable because the cars at that time did not have a reverse gear, a car driven into a garage had to be turned around manually. The garage also included 2 horse stables and was connected to the main house by a pergola.

Related Topics:
Westcott Motor Car Company - Turntable

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Orpha L. Westcott was considered one of Springfield, Ohio's most prominent and progressive women, and is credited with suggesting the selection of Frank Lloyd Wright as the architect for their new home. The Westcott's had 2 children, John and Jean. Orpha died in 1923 following a minor sinus surgery in Philidelphia.

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Following the death of Burton in 1926 the Westcott House was sold to Roscoe Pierce and he lived in the house until 1941. Eva Linton bought the house in 1944 and sub-divided it into 5 apartments. Over the next 37 years the house fell into a state of decline. Dorothy Snyder inherited the property in 1981 and maintained it until 1988 when she sold it to her son Ken and wife Sherri Snyder. In 1991 Ken died suddenly in a car accident. Sherri sold the house in 2000 to the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, and as part of the purchase arrangement the house was subsequently sold on May 11, 2001 to the newly formed non-profit The Westcott House Foundation.

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The home, which is undergoing a complete restoration, is scheduled to be finished and opened to the public in the October of 2005.

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