Posted July 4, 200915 yr Here is a summary of the Estate provided by the Stan Hywet website: Construction of the Estate In 1907, F.A. Seiberling began buying the land, originally farmland and cornfields, that would become Stan Hywet Hall. After holding a competition, the Seiberling family chose architect Charles S. Schneider to design the home at a cost of $150,000. Because they wanted it to be in the Tudor style, Schneider and the Seiberlings visited England, where they saw famous homes such as Ockwell’s Manor in Berkshire, Compton Wynyates in Warwickshire and Haddon Hall in Derbyshire. While not directly copied, these houses influenced the creation of Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. An enormous amount of detail went into the building of the mansion. In fact, there were 3,000 separate blueprints and architectural drawings for its design. The groundbreaking took place in early 1912 and the house foundation was begun in November. In order to facilitate the delivery of massive quantities of building supplies, a railroad spur was created for transport onto the property. During construction, unwanted visitors were a constant problem and architect Charles Schneider even provided F.A. Seiberling with printed passes onto the property that could be handed out to the welcome and authorized visitor. The Seiberlings also hired Boston landscape architect Warren H. Manning and New York interior decorator Hugo F. Huber to round out the project. Huber purchased many of the furniture and artwork in New York, but he and the Seiberlings traveled to England in 1915 to obtain additional furnishings. Manning sought inspiration from the natural topography and wanted the landscape and house to compliment each other. He worked with Schneider to ensure that the house would be built on a location that would provide five different overlooks of the valley and that allees would extend to allow views of the old lagoon and the surrounding foliage. The architect of the estate, Charles Schneider is also very well know from across the Cleveland area. Some of his more notable works include: -Cleveland Trust Building -The Williamson Building (this was demolished when the BP Building was built) -Wade Park Manor -Fenn Tower -Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (over on Superior and W 9th) -Shaker Heights City Hall -A large number of homes in Cleveland Heights This guy was basically a giant when it comes to Cleveland Architecture!! One of the employees from the Estate, James Urban, gave me a pamphlet of some of the works of Charles S. Schneider. He did a tour of some of his architecture back in 2004. Alright now to the Photos... This isn't even the main buildings.. Some funky displays on the lawn... Frank Loyd Wright Dog House!! Now here's the real thing! Unfortunately I couldn't take any interior shots. Its prohibited by the Museum. But I do recommend it. It incredible!! The Gardens are also well worth the trip...
July 4, 200915 yr Great place! I visit it a lot. Please will someone tell management to rid the property of that offensive Pepsi machine near the beginning of the Birch Alley!
July 4, 200915 yr Any idea how many people it took to keep that place running when the Sieberlings lived there? It's quite a remarkable place.
July 5, 200915 yr Wonderful house. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 5, 200915 yr Never been there. Drove past the place all the time going to sand run. I should go check it out. Would be a great place for engagement photos..
July 5, 200915 yr My favorite house ever in my favorite style, tudor revival. My wife an I often talk that if we had tons of money, we would build a tudor home. I also believe the Seiberlings owned much of the land that is now the Cuyahoga National Recreation Area. There are also many impressive homes in the Tudor Revival style on the way to Stan Hywet. Yet another reason to love Akron.
July 6, 200915 yr My favorite house ever in my favorite style, tudor revival. My wife an I often talk that if we had tons of money, we would build a tudor home. I also believe the Seiberlings owned much of the land that is now the Cuyahoga National Recreation Area. There are also many impressive homes in the Tudor Revival style on the way to Stan Hywet. Yet another reason to love Akron. Yes, they did. They had a master plan of their area done by Frederick Law Olmstead, the same person who did Central Park in NYC.
July 7, 200915 yr What is this place now? A museum? Is it still privately owned? Yes and yes. Its on the Historical Register so they get grant money for restoration work along with fundraisers and donations. Its run by a non-profit.
July 7, 200915 yr I have really enjoyed my trips to Stan Hywet in the past, last time we were the the plain tree alley was being reworked. The view out the back of the house is amazing, the architect seemed to position the house perfectly. The indoor pool is really cool too. There is another building too, the gate house. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in the gate house, quirky bit of history.
July 7, 200915 yr Any idea how many people it took to keep that place running when the Sieberlings lived there? It's quite a remarkable place. Statistics: Acreage ~ Approximately 3,000 originally (1916). 70 acres today Rooms (Manor House) ~ 65 Bedrooms (Manor House) ~ 18 total-5 guest bedrooms, 5 family bedrooms, 8 servants bedrooms, along with 2 sleeping porches, a Nursery and Dormitory Bathrooms (Manor House) ~ 23 total- 14 complete baths, 9 half baths (lavatories) Fireplaces (Manor House) ~ 23 Chimneys (Manor House) ~ 12 Doors (Manor House) ~ 273 doors plus 20 sets of French Doors Windows (Manor House) ~ 21,455 panes of glass Heating/Cooling ~ Coal boilers originally located in the Manor House and all support buildings except the Gate Lodge which used coal fired forced air. Domestic Staff ~ 22-24, & the Gate Lodge, Gardener's Cottage, Carriage House, and Poultry Manager's House on Reynolds Avenue were also homes for domestics and their families. http://www.stanhywet.org/article/item-e36342aa-ac39-42bf-ac9e-c0845520f5f6.aspx I have really enjoyed my trips to Stan Hywet in the past, last time we were the the plain tree alley was being reworked. The view out the back of the house is amazing, the architect seemed to position the house perfectly. The indoor pool is really cool too. "The position of the glass was so carefully articulated by architect Charles Schneider that on the summer solstice, the sun sets directly in the middle of the window." http://wp2.medina-gazette.com/2008/07/01/accent/discover-new-views-at-stan-hywet/ The 'Plane Tree Allee' is complete and they have moved onto the back terraced areas and Japanese Garden. They are restoring it to its original condition when it was first built. Over the years, maintenance and otherwise has distorted the original design. Here is what the Japanese Garden originally looked like: check out all the people on the terrace!
July 8, 200915 yr Wow, what a difference! I do like the "hidden" feeling that the Japanese garden has today compared to the old photos. Great pictures, thanks!
July 11, 200915 yr Gorgeous. Sort of reminds me of my house. Just what you need. You could move your parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, and the rest of your entourage in there and make it a family compound. They'd all be right where you could keep an eye on 'em!
July 11, 200915 yr Gorgeous. Sort of reminds me of my house. Just what you need. You could move your parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, and the rest of your entourage in there and make it a family compound. They'd all be right where you could keep an eye on 'em! We can do that at the house now. When the black out occurred, my brother, skank-in-law, their five kids and my fathers parents all chilled out at the house. During the holiday's there is always someone staying there. And although I've lived in my own house for years, i've yet to fully move out of my bedroom at my parents house. :evil:
June 11, 201015 yr The 20 Worst Charities in America http://www.mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/news/20-worst-charities-america?page=4 12. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens Administrative expenses: 45.8% Like many historical landmarks, the Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, Ohio is a window into the past. The former home of one of the founders of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, it was built in 1915 and was turned over to a nonprofit organization in 1957. The site exists to educate the public about itself: the history of the land, the owners, and the local rubber industry. Maintenance of the property, as well as the $150,000 paid to its president and CEO, Harry Lynch, ate into the home’s budget of over four and a half million dollars in fiscal year 2007, which goes to educational programs for schoolchildren as well as the local population. Being the only historical landmark in Akron, known at one time as the “Rubber Capital of the World”, the Stan Hywet house is an important local resource whose impact would surely be even more substantial if it could reduce its administrative overhead.
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