Azara Blog: Frank Lloyd Wright and Kentuck Knob

Date published: 2005/09/17

Kentuck Knob, in southwestern Pennsylvania, is one of the later Frank Lloyd Wright houses (built 1954-1956). It was built for I.N. and Bernardine Hagan (of the Hagan Ice Cream Company). It is less than ten miles from the far more famous Wright house at Fallingwater, built two decades earlier. Fallingwater is a technical and artistic triumph, but as a house Kentuck Knob is nicer (for one thing, the ceilings are higher).

The Hagans sold Kentuck Knob to (now Lord) Peter Palumbo in 1986 because of the failing health of Mr. Hagan, who subsequently died in 1992. But Mrs. Hagan is still going strong, and this year she has published an interesting memoir of the house ("Kentuck Knob: Frank Lloyd Wright's House for I.N. and Bernardine Hagan", 2005, ISBN 0971183554), a good read for all Frank Lloyd Wright fans.

Of course she has various Frank Lloyd Wright anecdotes. Now Wright has the reputation of being a bit of a prima donna (e.g. allegedly going into client's houses without permission, even after the houses were built, and moving or removing furniture as he saw fit). So one knows what to expect. Some quotes from the book:

I am not certain of the date the first drawing arrived, but I do know that in November of 1953, we traveled to Taliesin West in Arizona to go over the original plans with Mr. Wright. Since we were guests at Taliesin, we met Mr. Wright in the living room where he was playing the piano. Always colorful, he had us wait until he decided to stop playing. As he concluded, he remarked, "If I wasn't the world's greatest architect, I would have been another Beethoven." (page 14)
We made at least three more visits to Taliesin West before the final plans arrived in early 1954. On one of these visits, I asked Mr. Wright if we were staying within our $60,000 budget, to which he replied, "My dear lady, I have no idea." (page 16)
When we asked Taliesin how the outside wood should be finished we received a note from Mr. Wright saying, "Nothing but the weather." (page 55)
As we thought of spring approaching, we suddenly realized that we had received no plans to screen our many doors and windows. When we called about this problem, Mr. Wright casually said, "Oh, just leave them open." (page 56)
On a succeeding visit by two more apprentices, we were told that Gene [ Eugene Masselink ] had made a screen for us using parts of our house plan in the design. We heard nothing more about it until finally I.N. wrote to Gene to ask what had happened to the screen. Gene's answer back -- he was very sorry, but Mr. Wright had seen and liked the screen and had kept it. Once, on visiting Taliesin West, we saw our screen in Mr. Wright's living room. It was very beautiful, but we gave up hope of ever owning it. However, after Mr. Wright's death [ in 1959 ], Mrs. Wright wrote to say we could have the screen and stated a price. We mailed a check immediately, and the screen became ours! I continue to receive compliments on its beauty -- it enhances any room in which it has been placed, and it graces my home still. (page 102)
[ In response to a letter from Mr. Hagan with detailed questions about cost and when the house would be finished and other matters, Wright writes: ] My dear Mr. Hagan: Thanks for sending additional pictures and material. We will be at work upon your plans soon as possible. Be a little patient. Faithfully, Frank Lloyd Wright (page 168)

In spite of all this (and a relatively small -- for Frank Lloyd Wright -- cost overrun) the Hagans obviously loved and appreciated Kentuck Knob. Palumbo has opened it to the public so anyone visiting Fallingwater also ought to visit Kentuck Knob.

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