Our Blog To Date

                                                  


I thought it would be interesting to do a status report on the blog since it is now about six months old. 

In that time period I/we have published 55 separate postings. 

The blog has been viewed 3,294 times.

There have been a total of 33 comments by volunteers on blog postings, unfortunately 7 of that number have been mine.

Three other volunteers have contacted me with suggestions for blog postings.

To the blog posting asking why we volunteer at Graycliff, the blog received a total of  9 responses (7 of which count toward the above total of 33 comments.)

The blog has been viewed by 158 different people in the US, 7 from the Phillipines, 8 from Germany, 7 from France, 5 from Mexico, 4 from Columbia, 4 from Japan, 4 from Russia, and I from Brazil.

Right now we seem to be averaging about 20 views a day.

I hope to continue to serve the Graycliff volunteers by creating posts of interest and information to our volunteers.  I wish for more contact and communication with other members to make this blog more responsive to volunteers' needs.  You can do that by accessing the blog and clicking on  "comment" at the end of any blog post you wish to comment on.  Or you can send any other communication or posting suggestions to me at   gds2146@hotmail.com  .  I am still feeling my way around with this as is the Conservancy;  we want to make the blog a useful tool for all of you.  I hope you let me know if I am doing it right or/and point me in other directions to make it better.  The purpose of the blog is communication and communication, in order to work best, needs to be two way.  So, I hope these statistics have been of interest and I hope this blog is serving you well.

Thank you,  George Struebel, Blogger and Docent

                                                  

Renovation Update

                                 


If you have not been to the Estate lately, you may appreciate an update on the progress of the work.  First, the bridge to the tower is still in place.  The contractor is having some difficulty in arranging for the large crane necessary to do the job, but it is hoped to be accomplished by the end of the work week, maybe.  The pond in front of the house has been completely removed, new plumbing installed to keep a water flow in the new pond and a new concrete liner with 18" depth has been constructed. The elevation of the yard in front of the house will next be lowered to its original level in relation to the house and the Foster House.  Then the rest of the circular driveway can be completed.

The area on the front of the house is very torn up and care needs to be extended when walking guests anywhere in this area . The driveway surface is chewed up and muddy; there are level lines and stakes all around; and if you can run your tours by using the new concrete and sidewalk to the rear of the Foster House, it may be advantageous.  Docents are advised to arrive earlier than their scheduled tour and scout out the area first to be familiar with what the correct situation is. I had a woman on one of my tours fall today on a loose piece of flagstone knocked out of place by a construction vehicle, so be extremely watchful and at the start of tours at the model advise guests of the need to be careful on their tour.

Despite all the torn earth and construction debris, the house looked gorgeous in the setting late afternoon sun when I left at 4 pm.   And, when all is done, it will look even better.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE LEAD VISITORS TO THE RIGHT OF THE FOSTER HOUSE (IF YOU ARE FACING THE LAKE,) ON THE NEW SIDEWALKS, TO GET TO THE HOUSE.

ALSO IMPORTANT:  THIS RESTORATION PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF JUNE AT THE VERY LATEST...MORE LIKELY,WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.  PLEASE MAKE SURE TO MENTION THIS--PERHAPS A COUPLE OF TIMES--DURING YOUR TOURS.  (Otherwise, word will spread that the grounds are all torn up, and people will think it will be like that all season.)  Thanks!

                                              
                                                          

Why you don't want a Frank Lloyd Wright house

The below linked article showed up on the MSN news feed today.  It happens to reference the Delaware House in the blog entry made  yesterday as well as cites problems with owning FLW houses.  Personally, I don't care; I still want one.


Why you don't want a Frank Lloyd Wright house

Upcoming lecture

 

Tuesday May 28, 2013 at 7 pm

Ten Best Buildings in Buffalo

Orchard Park Library

The above presentation will be made by Chuck LaChuisa  who is one of the area's authorities on local architecture and is already a well respected local tour guide and speaker on the subject.  He is known also  for his photography which includes local architecture.  If you wish to view his work you can go to:

                                                            http://buffaloah.com/.

It is his web site and contains a wealth of information and photos of all things architecturally Buffalo.

Sad and Glad

There are two announcement to make that may be of interest to fellow Graycliffians.   One sad and one glad.

First, long time docent Joanne Barba's father has recently passed. Salvatore G. Barba.  Our heart felt condolences  are offered to Joanne and her family during this difficult time.  He passed in Clearwater Fl.  and a memorial service will be held for him locally at a future date yet to be announced.

Next, Ingrid Luongo has rejoined the Graycliff staff after an absence of some time, although she graciously filled in here and there when needed on an irregular basis.  She will be working in the Guest Pavilion three days a week this season.  Please make a point of introducing yourselves and welcoming her back if you encounter her at the site. 

Wanna Buy An FLW House in Delaware?

                                             


The link below is for an ad to one of FLW's last commissioned house designs and the only FLW house in the State of Delaware.  It is for sale.  I think we ought to pool our pennies and buy it; it is a deal at 1.35 million.  We could work it like a timeshare!  What do you think?  I figure 30 of us at only 50 k each would do it.  Who's in?  Kidding of course, but interesting to note that FLW houses are still in private hands and still do come up for sale.

If you go from the link to the listing, you will see 20 other pics of the house.  If you scroll a little farther down the original link, you will find a number of other short FLW related videos to view.  We again owe thanks to Kathy Mehltretter for sending us this one.


http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/05/19/frank-lloyd-wright-dudley-spencer-house/?icid=maing-grid7%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl6%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D315431#photoID-5892120

The Graycliff Fairy

                                                                                                               

     Our Executive Director, Reine Hauser, is always out there promoting the organization and pushing the PR envelope.  This afternoon I was at a meeting at Spot Coffee on Elmwood Avenue which she had called for the new Graycliff Digital Squad (all of us involved in promoting through electronic media.) The meeting was over and she and I were walking for the door when she kind of bumped into a guy carrying a TV camera and tripod.  She joked; "Oh, are you here to do an interview with me?" 

     He replied that if she waited a minute he would.  He was a reporter for YNN and once he set up the camera he asked her how she would like to see the one billion dollars of state money the governor promised WNY to be spent.  Without missing a beat she informed the reporter that she was Director at Graycliff, explained what it was and that she would like to see the money spent on renovating the estate as well as other cultural and historical venues in the area.  She nudges a guy in a restaurant and manages to get in a plug for Graycliff and a request for state funds that will air on TV. And she does it as naturally as if she rehearsed it a half dozen times.

      No wonder she is the Director (She probably has a large picture of FLW over her mantle and gives out memberships to Graycliff as Christmas and birthday gifts too!)   Always on the job!  Cheers to Reine!