Timeline
Much of the following timeline is borrowed from the chronology compiled by Cheryl Snay in “Affordable Dreams: The Goetsch–Winckler House and Frank Lloyd Wright” (ISBN: 1-879147-12-2), a special issue of Michigan State University’s Kresge Art Museum Bulletin published in 1991 and the definitive treatise on the subject of the Goetsch–Winckler house and its original owners (pp. xix–xxiii).
All events after 1979 were compiled by Nate Meyer.
June 8, 1867
Frank Lloyd Wright born in Richland Center, Wisconsin.
November 11, 1898
Kathrine Winckler born in Madison, Wisconsin, to William R. Winckler and Nancy Ellen Schermerhorn.
May 1, 1901
Alma Minna Goetsch born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Albert William Goetsch and Emily Lutz.
1921
Winckler graduates from the University of Wisconsin and works as a freelance artist in Chicago.
1925–1926
Winckler teaches art and English at Benton Harbor High School in Michigan.
September 1926
Winckler joins the faculty at Michigan State College as an instructor.
1928
Goetsch earned B.A.E. from the Art Institute of Chicago.
September 1928
Goetsch joins the faculty at Michigan State College.
November 18–December 8, 1930
Correspondence between Goetsch and Weight concerning the possibility of a traveling exhibition of Wright’s work to be shown at Michigan State College in January 1931.
1935
Winckler earns M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College.
Completed model of Broadacre City exhibited at Rockefeller Center, New York City.
April 1935
Wright article in Architectural Record details the principles of Broadacre City.
November 26, 1935
Wright speaks at Michigan State College at the invitation of the Department of Landscape Architecture.
1936–1937
Usonian house built by Wright for Herbert Jacobs, Madison, Wisconsin, for $5,500.
1937
Goetsch earns M.A. in art education from Columbia University Teachers College.
January 1, 1938
Fallingwater illustrated in Life magazine to advertise Architectural Forum issue on Wright.
1938
Sidney Newman and Harold Fields purchase forty acres on Mt. Hope Road. Plans for Usonia II begin to take shape.
June 16, 1938
Letter from Newman to Wright expressing delight “that you are interested in our project” and outlining some of the details concerning the plans.
July 1938
Newman and others visit Wright at Taliesen.
August 13, 1938
Letter from Newman to Wright: “I am happy to say that we have been able to agree upon you as the architect for the entire section of our property southeast of the creek. This is an area approximately 17 acres on which we have planned to put about nine houses.
October 25, 1938
By this date, Wright had visited the tract of land planned for Usonia II. Goetsch and Winckler send a letter detailing their idiosyncracies and needs to Wright.
November 9, 1938
Hause writes Wright about needs.
November 12, 1938
Van Dusen write Wright about needs.
1938
Wright invited to deliver series of lectures in London.
April 8, 1939
By this time, the Van Dusens, Goetsch and Winckler, and the Hauses have received plans.
April 10, 1939
The Garrisons join the project, tell Wright that they can spend $7,000.
July 1939
Goetsch and Winckler receive estimate for labor and supplies: $6,811.55.
July 7, 1939
The Panshins join the project, tell Wright that they can spend $6,000.
July 20, 1939
Goetsch and Winckler receive revisions to the original plans for their house.
August 4, 1939
The Newmans, the Hauses, Goetsch and Winckler visit Taliesen and meet with Wright and contractor Harold Turner.
September 4, 1939
Letter from Newman to Wright indicates that the private source of financing for the houses has collapsed.
September 7, 1939
Letter from Newman to Wright explaining that the local lending institutions will not offer mortgages because the plans are “too modern.”
November 20, 1939
Federal Housing Administration (F.H.A.) requests further materials. The Panshins withdraw from the project.
December 15, 1939
Usonia II rejected by the F.H.A. on seven points.
1940
Wright is the subject of a major retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
March 27, 1940
Goetsch and Winckler to Wright: “We have our money. May we start.”
April 1940
Wright expresses bitterness with Newman and Turner, requests return of Usonia II plans from each participant.
April 5, 1940
Goetsch–Winckler problem with adjacent piggery. They tell Wright, “We had approached you before Newman; we have withdrawn and purchased a more attractive plot with a knoll.”
June 4, 1940
Goetsch and Winckler to Wright, “Our house is started!”
June 14, 1940
Goetsch and Winckler to Turner: No cypress, will use redwood.
August 15, 1940
Goetsch and Winckler visit Taliesen. Letter from Wright, “I do not like to give [the Goetsch–Winckler house] up as an authentic work.”
August 20, 1940
Goetsch and Winckler to Wright: “Come and see it for yourself.”
August 23, 1940
Turner goes to Taliesen to explain “disturbing changes” to Wright.
September 18, 1940
Goetsch and Winckler cost is $7,137.23; minus extras, $6,594.73. Wright: “actually $5 below original clients’ price of $6,600.”
1941
Winckler promoted to assistant professor.
Fall 1941
Wright visits Goetsch and Winckler.
July 8, 1942
Goetsch and Winckler to Wright: “As soon as building materials are available, we would like to add a bedroom addition.”
September 13, 1942
Goetsch tells Wright that that the addition is too close to the north property line.
1943
Goetsch promoted to assistant professor.
May 1944
Museum of Modern Art selects Goetsch–Winckler house for exhibition as “outstanding example of American architecture of the past decade,” and includes the original plan and model for the seven Usonia II homes.
July 29, 1947
Goetsch and Winckler ask for another bedroom addition.
November 3–4, 1947
Wright and his wife come to Okemos. Wright lectures at college, sees land for Goetsch–Winckler II.
July 1, 1948
Goetsch–Winckler II contour map completed. Goetsch and Winckler express desire for less square footage, three bedrooms or two bedrooms and studio, storage, and low shelves.
April 11, 1949
Goetsch and Winckler tell Wright that even mortgage brokers are now interested.
July 9, 1949
Goetsch–Winckler II plans completed.
February–March 1953
Goetsch and Winckler finally find builder. Chamberlain Taylor Construction Company, but estimate is far too high, even with substitutions suggested by Chamberlain.
1953
E. Fay Jones Visits Goetsch–Winckler I with family.
December 1954
Goetsch promoted to associate professor.
July 1955
Winckler promoted to associate professor.
April 9, 1959
Wright dies.
By 1961
Goetsch using a converted schoolhouse for her studio.
July 1963
Goetsch promoted to professor.
July 1964
Winckler promoted to professor
1965
Goetsch and Winckler write to E. Fay Jones and meet him in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They immediately hire him to build them a house there.
July 1965
Goetsch and Winckler retire.
August 3, 1965
Goetsch and Winckler buy Lot 8, Tonlyn Valley View Addition, Fayetteville.
Winter 1965–1966
Goetsch–Winckler III built with clients in attendance.
By 1966
Goetsch–Winckler I sold to M. Amalle Vasold.
April 6, 1968
Goetsch dies in Fayetteville.
1969
Goetsch–Winckler I sold to Elizabeth Halsted.
May 6, 1976
Winckler dies in Fayetteville.
June 9, 1977
John and Lois Imhoff purchase Goetsch–Winckler III from estate.
February 1979
Kathrine Winckler–Alma Goetsch Memorial Exhibition, Kresge Art Gallery, Michigan State University.
1990
Roof replaced. Trellises removed, slight grade added to lantern roof, additional steel supports added to carport roof framing.
1992
Goetsch–Winckler I sold to David Greef. Greef was a painter and did not live at the home full time.
December 13, 1995
Goetsch–Winckler I added to the National Register of Historic Places.
1996
Goetsch–Winckler I sold to Brazilian architect Antonio Deandrade.
July 9, 2001
The FLW Building Conservancy receives two unrelated communications from passersby concerned about the state of the house.
July 10, 2001
Conservancy board member Ron Duplack identified and contacted the Brazilian owner’s local attorney who indicated that the owner was making a last-ditch effort to find someone willing to save the house.
The Conservancy’s executive committee holds a lengthy conference call to discuss options, and concluded that all efforts should be made to save the house.
A verbal offer to purchase the house was made to the owner’s attorney.
July 11, 2001
Conservancy board member and restoration architect John Thorpe learned that a local contractor had placed the tarp over the building to protect it.
July 12, 2001
The Conservancy’s offer was accepted, a title search was completed and funds were wired to enable redemption of the mortgage.
July 13, 2001
The seller’s attorney convinces the bank to waive its abandonment claim and accept the Conservancy’s redemption and purchase offer.
August 8, 2001
The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy takes ownership of the property.
November 2002
Goetsch–Winckler I sold to Linda Chambers.
November 26, 2002
Preservation easement drafted and signed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy and owner Linda Chambers.
December 2, 2002
Preservation easement received by the Ingham County Register of Deeds.
March 12, 2003
Preservation easement recorded with the township.
2007
Goetsch–Winckler I sold to Dan and Audrey Seidman.
2020
Goetsch–Winckler I sold to Douglas DelGrosso.
2023
Goetsch–Winckler I sold to Nathaniel (Nate) Meyer and his wife.
November 2024
Goetsch–Winckler house website launched.