u

The Floors Unveiled u Sleuthing Graycliff’s InteriorsInterior Restoration Work is Underway u Before & After

Graycliff Fast Facts u Volunteer Spotlight Q&A

PHOTO BY PATRICK MAHONEY, AIA

Now and Then...When Wright first designed Graycliff in the late1920s, the porte-cochère was quite prominent, withfew plantings and strong, clean lines (top photo).

As time went on, the roof of the porte-cochère wasreplaced with black asphalt shingles by the secondowners, the Piarist Fathers, and plantings hadobscured the structure (middle photo).

In recent years, with the help of members anddonors, the Conservancy restored the roof with red-stained cedar shingles, as it had been originally,and removed non-original plant materials (bottom photo).

BOARD OF D IRECTORSDiane Schrenk, PresidentJim Charlier, Vice PresidentBarbara A. Seals Nevergold, PhDVice PresidentDiane Chrisman, Secretary

Kevin J. ChristnerLarry CobadoBenjamin Christy, Ph.D.Kenneth Graham, Esq.Susan J. HeroldDarice Hickey, Esq.Kevin HoffmanCharles Le Fevre, ASA

HONORARY BOARD MEMBERSThe Reverend Margaret R. FosterDarwin Martin FosterClifford E. Whitman

ADVISORSJason AronoffCarol BronnenkantJohn Conlin

EXECUT IVE D IRECTORReine Hauser

STRATEGIC PARTNERSNew York State Office of Parks,

Recreation and Historic PreservationEvans-Brant Chamber of CommerceThe Preservation League of New YorkThe Cultural Landscape FoundationThe Alliance of American MuseumsThe Frank Lloyd Wright FoundationThe Frank Lloyd Wright

Building ConservancyThe National Trust for Historic PreservationNewsletter design by JCharlier Communication Design,JCharlier.com, (716) 884-3274

A Special Note of ThanksThe Graycliff Conservancy appreciates the generous support of:

Introducing...We hope you like the new format of the Graycliff newsletter. We’ve opted for one issueper year in color, rather than two black & white issues...so you can see our progress

more clearly thru photos. For more frequent updateson all things Graycliff, subscribe to our eNewsletter(send your email address to Graycliff@verizon.net)and “like” us at Facebook.com/Graycliffestate

New York State,Andrew Cuomo,Governor and the NYS Legislature

The New York StateCouncil on the Arts

The County of Erie,County ExecutiveMark Polancarz andthe Erie CountyLegislature

The Town of EvansThe Baird FoundationThe Balbach Family Foundation

The Cameron Brown Fund

The CommunityFoundation for GreaterBuffalo

James H. CummingsFoundation

The East HillFoundation

First Niagara BankGannett FoundationHooper FamilyFoundation

Key BankSeymour H. KnoxFoundation

Samuel H. KressFoundation

M&T BankLouise Y. MokadamTrust

Preservation League ofNew York

John R. OisheiFoundation

Dorothy Payne FundPhyllis W. Pierce TrustSaperston FamilyFoundation

Simple Gifts FundThe Western New YorkFoundation

Estate of MarionZimmerman

The Margaret L. WendtFoundation.

Thank you also to:Alpha Contract FlooringBuffalo and Erie CountyBotanical Gardens

BotanicusTed CatalanoBuffalo Museum ofScience

Burchfield Penney Art Center

Business FirstChaintreuil Jensen Stark Architects

Concrete AppliedTechnologies/CATCO

Darwin Martin HouseDessert DeliDundee AlesEBS Engineering;Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce

EntercomEvenhouse Printing

Excuria Salon and SpaFallsview CasinoField Service, Inc.Fontana Rowing Boat House

Forest LawnGarman FamilyFoundation

Graycliff Hotel andResort, The Bahamas

Herschell CarrouselMuseum

The History MuseumHull HouseJohn and MarieHutchins

Dr. Thomas JambroKrog CorporationKROMACLarkin Center ofCommerce

Larkin DevelopmentGroup

Liberty LiquorM&T BankRussell MaxwellMerk Blasting Services, Inc.

Mulberry’s RestaurantMusicalFare TheaterNational FuelNational GridNew Era CapsParty SquadPonds UnlimitedPremiere Wine and Spirits

Quaker Boy Turkey Calls

Richardson RestorationCorp.

Roycroft InnSeneca Larkin Holdings LLC

The Shaw FestivalSienna EnvironmentalTechnologiesSimoncelli ElectricThe Slater Law FirmSonoma GrillRestaurant

Sterling Inn and SpaStratford TourismAlliance

Tantalo PhotographyTrillium CourtyardFlowers

Merk BlastingThe Mansion onDelaware Avenue

Theodore RooseveltInaugural NationalHistoric Site

Trillium CourtyardFlorists

UnilandVerizonVintage Hotels ofNiagara-on-the-Lake

Visit Buffalo NiagaraWanakah Country ClubWaterbourneZarcone Electric

Photo by Jim Charlier

Photos: T

op a

nd m

iddl

e:Graycliff A

rchives

Botto

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Cha

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Jeffrey ManhardtSharon MetzMichael McGuiganPatrick MahoneyTerrence RobinsonCatherine SchweitzerDeborah Lynn WilliamsMary F. Young

Jack QuinanDouglas SwiftWilliam Wisniewski

1

We’re

FLOOREDBy your generosity!

You’d think it would berelatively simple to refinishoriginal floors. But no–the

project encompassed careful removalof a concrete floor thathad been installed in the 1940s. Seven longdecades ago, the woodliving room floorcollapsed. The problem?Moisture in the dampbasement below. Martinfamily membersinstalled a concretefloor–functional butneither attractive, nor what Wright haddesigned. Thanks toyour support, the wetness wascorrected a few years ago by theConservancy. The dirt floor of thebasement was dug out, drainageadded, and a concrete basement floorpoured. Only then was it safe toundertake this project.

First, the concrete floor was painstakinglyremoved, section by section. Next, new subflooring, withtemporary supports, was installed.

Then wide plank cypresswas delivered, fromsouthern forests–just as Wright had specified.After settling andadjusting to the coolertemperatures ofnorthern climes, thewide planks of cypresswere installed...asWright had specified.

The next step was fascinating.

It seems Frank Lloyd Wright (alwaysahead of his time) designed heatingbeneath the floors. Nestled into thefloor, grates are placed strategically at the coolest parts of the rooms.Beneath them are heating units, just asWright intended. Finally, to protect theinvestment of members like yourself,

a state-of-the-art “misting” firesuppression system was added, too.

With the wood floors now gleaming,the return of under-floor heating, and fire suppression, your support and encouragement have made anenormous impact. Do see it for yourself.

“Oohs and aahsfilled the rooms

as donors,supporters and local politicians

walked around thefirst floor of the

Isabelle R.MartinHouse...”

- The Buffalo News, June 6, 2014

The floors are now returned to their original wide-planked cypress,

as Wright intended.

PHOTO

BY JIM

CHARLIER

Photo by

Jim

Cha

rlier

You were there to rescueGraycliff fifteen years ago,when it was slated for

demolition. Success after each success,you’ve continued your support. Andnow Graycliff’s restoration is nearingcompletion! Exteriors are restored,

structural repairscompleted, and

the Pavilionwelcomesnearly10,000visitors

each year.

Now on to the interiors! Thrillingly, thanks to supporters likeyou, we’ve restored the Family SunRoom. A local family, theHoopers, offered to assistin returning the originalLibrary Table, whichgraced the Sun Room.Once the table wassuccessfully moved fromColorado to its rightfulplace at Graycliff, theHoopers were inspired to undertake a largerproject...the room itself. The walls andceiling were repaired, and a rubber tilefloor, just as Wright designed,returned the room to its former glory.

Next up: floors in the entry way, livingroom and dining room gleam onceagain (see article, page 1). Protecting

these restored areas is a “misting” firesuppression system –the first of its kind in the area.

Now the most dramatictransformation awaits!Imagine the kitchen as it was when the cook brewed iced tea to serve on the terrace.

Or gaze at the turquoise lake fromIsabelle’s bedroom, through the French door and graceful windows. Or heroically, help protect these rooms

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But we’ve only just The Hooper family,offered to assist in

returning theoriginal Library

Table...they werethen inspired to undertake a larger project...the room itself!

A thoughtful restoration of the building to its 1929 state is the work of hundreds of specialists – architects, historians, curators, carpenters, scholars, electricians, plumbers, painters, volunteers, and donors like you.

With your help, we can finish the interior restoration

Photo co

urtesy UB Archives

Isabelle Martin wrote to Wright “Are you entirely free and fully disposed to design severelysimple two story house for lake shore for Martin Family for early construction and occupancy.Specifications not important. No superintendent required...”

Photo co

urtesy W

ikiped

ia

begun!

U P N E X THistoric Furnishings Report

A comprehensive study of Graycliff Estate furnishings is in progress. Usingoriginal photographs, correspondence,

diaries, memories of Martin familymembers, and historic archives,

professional curators/Wright scholars arecreating an Historic Furnishings Report to guide the Conservancy in its efforts.

Funding for the Historic Furnishings Report was generously provided by the

National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Floors? Check! Fire suppression system? Check! Walls and ceilings? We need your help!

Photo by

Jim

Cha

rlier

Wright was embroiled personal difficulties consuming his attention–the letter wentunanswered. Weeks later Darwin wrote requesting a reply. Wright responded: “Free and fully disposed to serve you to the best of my ability, terms regular.” Darwin wrote back: “Your client is Mrs. Martin..”

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with a state-of-the-art misting fireprotection system.

Explore Darwin’s manly Suite, with bedroom, sleepingporch and private balcony. Or walk the upper arcade,with its ribbon of windowscascading sunlight acrossthe floor.

Frank Lloyd Wrightimbued Graycliff with a feeling of “repose,” the joy of friends andfamily relaxing at the lake.Each room at Graycliff issuffused with just this sense oftranquility. A sink designed just forflower arranging in the pantry. Frenchdoors opening to graceful terraces.

A bedroom awaiting your guests,opening to the cantilevered balcony. A warm glow as you gather at thehearth.

We need your help toreturn the living quartersto this gracious splendor. Each room has its ownspecial charms. Isabelle’sbathroom, where sheinsisted on a view of thelake, even from thebathtub. The Cook’sroom, with views ofcourtyard, gardens and

lake from all sides. The extra largecloset just for the Maid. The DiningRoom, where the family gathered forsupper. Discover your own particular

favorite. Your contribution willaccomplish all of this, and more.

With architectural drawings andspecifications in hand (see article page4), we’re all set to begin! Already, theHooper family has stepped up to kickoff the effort, as has the Louise Y. Mokadam Trust. Are you ready? With your help, the drama of each room will unfold...can’t hardly wait!

Each room has its own specialcharms, like

Isabelle’s bathroom,where she insisted

on a view of the lake – even

from the bathtub.

Photo co

urtesy UB Archives

Next on slate is the restoration of interior rooms.

First Floor: Gathering SpacesAs you enter the house, you immediatelynote the lovely floor of the entry way, but then notice the walls, ceiling, as well as an adjacent hallway and bath requirerestoration, and protective fire suppression.

Like the entry way, the walls and ceiling of the gracious living room need a greatdeal of attention, although fire suppressionis already installed in this large area...surrounding the lustrous restored floor.The dining room, too, has fire suppressionand shining floor, but walls and ceilingsmust be addressed before we can imaginethe Martin family at supper.

Through a door leading from the diningroom are very important areas. The Pantry,with partially restored cabinets...but rawfloor, walls and ceiling. We’ve recentlydiscovered an original cabinet for thepantry, simply in need of restoration andproper placement. The Servant’s Sun Roomechoes that of the family on the oppositeend of the house. With views of the lake

and the kitchen courtyard, a servant atGraycliff enjoyed tranquil relaxation, buttheir Sun Room is awaiting restoration of walls, ceiling and flooring.

The light and airy Kitchen, with flowerboxes and French doors to a terrace, ismissing some of its cabinets, which mustbe re-created; while remaining cabinetryrequires removal of an unfortunatecovering of paint. Walls, ceiling and floors,too, call out for restoration, as does theearly refrigerator (see “The Mysterious

Refrigerator,” page 7) Also on tap are a sink matching the original, as well as a six burner electric stove. Can’t you just see them at the ready?

Second Floor: Sweet DreamsBedrooms and baths for the cook, themaid, Isabelle and her guests – each, withyour help, will inspire sweet reveries of lifeat Graycliff a century ago. Floors, ceilings,fire suppression in each of these areas arebut a dream away.

The Darwin SuiteThis manly suite of three rooms: bed, bathand sleeping porch, need the masculineapproach, with major repairs to the bath,as well as restoration of ceilings and floorsthroughout...not to mention installation of fire suppression as well.

The Upper GalleryAwash with windows, the sun castsshadows on un-restored walls and floors.With your help, this graceful passage,replete with Wright-designed radiatorcovers, and the missing 1920s telephone, can once again draw admiration.

The Wright StairwayThe magnificent staircase designed byWright is central to the design of the home.The landing is cramped, due to ill-advisedheating ducts. Once removed, and withwalls, ceilings and reception area restored,the Wright flight will soar once more.

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FamilySun RoomThe first interiorroom restored,thanks to theHooper Family. Get a glimpse of what yourcontribution can mean.

Fern RoomFerns inlimestone planterson the interior ofthe room, withwindows openingwide to lake viewsand a mirror toreflect the lake.

Dining RoomImagine diningwith views ofthe lake as yougather with thefamily forsupper.

Kitchen/PantryA cutting sink for flowers,cabinets for china, and a call box for servants grace the pantry. The airykitchen, with flower boxesseen through the windows,and state of the art for the1920s –an electric stoveand refrigerator.

Servant’s Sun RoomThe Martins didn’tstint when it came to servants, who hadtheir own lovely SunRoom for meals andrelaxation, with lakeand courtyard views.

Living RoomThe heart of the home, the Living Room was thegathering place for thefamily, their friends andrelatives. With your help,restore this central spot toits rightful grandeur.

Darwin’s SuiteThis masculine retreatfeatures a bedroom,bath and sleeping porch,leading to a private,cantilevered balcony tosurvey your domain

Upper GalleryFlooded with light, anddramatic patterns castby a ribbon of windowsas you stroll the UpperGallery, to answer the1920s telephone

Guest RoomAs a guest of theMartins youwould haveenjoyed lakeviews and thebalcony,

Isabelle’s RoomA fireplace, a walk-incloset, and a doorleading to a spaciousbalcony are the featuresof the room for thelady of the house.

Aunt Polly’s RoomAunt Polly, Isabelle’s trustyaide, had an adjacent roomto provide Isabelle withmuch needed assistance –and they shared a bathwith lake views.

Staff SuiteA spacious room forthe maid, and perhapsthe nicest bedroom inthe house– for thecook! And theirshared bath.

The Family Sun RoomThe Martin Family often gathered in the SunRoom on rainy days, to play board games,listen to the piano or stories on the radio.Thanks to the Hooper family, this room hasbeen restored, with ceilings and walls theiroriginal ginger colored stucco, and a rubbertile floor, impervious to the weather and thegames of young children. With your help, the remaining rooms, each by each, can re-acquire their original splendor.

Photo by

Jim

Cha

rlier

Room byroom...

National Register of Historical PlacesNew York State LandmarkRATED ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Frank Lloyd Wright Field GuideRATED ★ ★ ★ ★ 1⁄2 Trip Advisor

Oscar-winning actress Anne Baxter was Frank Lloyd

Wright’s granddaughter? Her mother was Catherine

(Wright) Baxter, Frank’s daughter.

Wright used copper window screens at Graycliff? They cast a gold hue inside the house

whenever the sun shined.

The leading female landscapearchitect of the 20th century had a

hand in Graycliff’s landscape? Known as the “Dean of American WomenLandscape Architects,” Ellen Biddle Shipman

designed gardens for Graycliff.

Lincoln Logs were invented by Frank Lloyd Wright’s son,

John Lloyd Wright? He named them in honor of his father, who was born Frank Lincoln Wright.

You can leave something to Graycliff in your will?

Join the Isabelle R. Martin Society and ensure Graycliff will continue to flourish, byleaving a legacy for generations to come.

Photo co

urtesy UB Archives.

Photos by Jim

Cha

rlier.

Photo by

Patric

k Mah

oney, A

IA

Perched on the cliffs above Lake Erie,with a sweeping view of the shores ofCanada, this summer retreat for Buffalo’sMartin family, Graycliff is the realizationof Wright’s “Natural House” – built ofindigenous rock from the property andintegrated into the landscape.

Graycliff was designed to be light and airy, and flooded with sunshine. Youexperience Wright’s innovativetransparent design blurring distinctionsbetween building and the landscape ofexpansive lawns, tennis court, irregularlyshaped pool, built-in planters and thatsweeping Lake Erie vista.

Nearly demolished–and the property soldoff to developers–community activistssaved the estate and started a restorationsuccess story.

Year-round guided tours give anestimated 10,000 visitors a year a rarefront-row seat to ongoing restoration ofthis lakeside jewel.

T I M E L I N E

u 1926 Construction begins. Client of record is Isabelle R. Martin,wife of industrialist Darwin D. Martin.

u 1950 After the deaths of Isabelle and Darwin Martin, theproperty was sold to the PiaristFathers, an order of Roman Catholic Priests from Hungary, for their motherhouse.

u 1997 The Graycliff Conservancywas formed and purchased theestate, to restore and preserve it.

F E A T U R E S

u A complex of 3 Wright-designedbuildings set within a Wright-designed landscape

u A transparent building that allowsviews through the house to Lake Erie

u A restored historic landscape– one of the few landscape designs createdin Wright’s own hand, augmented byEllen Biddle Shipman, a pioneeringfemale Landscape designer of the 1920s and 1930s

u Six of Wright’s famed cantileveredbalconies, and terraces that extendtoward the lake and the landscape.

1940s

2013

DID YOU KNOW?

5

Sleuthing Graycliff’s InteriorsHow do you know what your home

looked like when it was first built?Especially when other owners made

changes over the years? That was thechallenge facing Chaintreuil Jensen StarkArchitects, when asked to make detailedinterior drawings for Graycliff.

Architects Dirk Schneider and Scott Selinexamined old records at the BuffaloHistory Museum. They revieweddocuments and sources online. They spent countless hours at Graycliff,measuring, examining and poking into the backs of closets.

Schneider and Selin frequently consultedSweet’s Architectural Catalogue, firstpublished in 1904 (and annually eversince) which lists thousands of items from leading building productmanufacturers. Flooring, brick, glass, paint, windows, appliances...everything a builder might need.

And they consulted the University atBuffalo Archives, discovering sketches and perhaps most intriguing, DarwinMartin’s Memo Book from 1927/28. This small, 3"x5" graph paper pad is filledwith Martin’s notes – people’s names,various notes, and much info aboutGraycliff during construction.

Here are some of the fascinating things Chaintreuil Jensen Stark Architects discovered:n The old “bureau” in the Servant’s Sun

Room is actually a cabinet that belongsin the pantry.• The measurements allow it to fit

perfectly near the Servant Call box,and there are cut-outs in the pantrysubfloor in that corner that align perfectly.

n A second old “bureau” in the Servant’sSun Room actually belongs in the Foster House.• Cabinetry in the Isabelle Martin House

all has inset doors.• The cabinetry in the Foster House

has overlay doors.

n The hand rail currently in themagnificent Wright-design frontstairway was a later addition. • In the UB Archives, they discovered a

sketch for a round, 21⁄8" handrail...rather than the one there presently.

• The handrail to the basement stairs isidentical to that in the sketch.

• Now we know what the handrail inthe front stairway looked like!

n A big surprise to Schneider and Selin:the floors in the kitchen and pantrywere rubber tile.• Not wood as is found in the Servant’s

Sun Room

Notes from Martin’s MemoBooks such as “Cypress flr10" board, blind nailed?” and “Maple register 13⁄4" x 3⁄8"spaced 3⁄8" apart all parallel”are invaluable in therestoration.

Analyzing paint layers, notches in plasterand trim, floor indentations, materialchemical makeup, and hundreds ofother clues, help in piecing togetherwhat was where originally.

Rubber tiles werediscovered underthe kitchen stoveand cabinets.Could they besimilar to thosein the FamilySun Room (shown right)?

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Photos of Memo Books by Scott Selin.

The MysteriousRefrigerator

How do you determine if a piece offurniture or another item is original to your house? Is that just a cabinet,

or was it originally an ice box? Whatwere the appliances like?

We asked the same questions about alarge wooden cabinet at Graycliff, whichwe thought might be an early refrigerator.To solve the mystery of the Graycliffrefrigerator, Chaintreuil Jensen StarkArchitects first determined:n It was on the property when theConservancy purchased the property in 1997.

n A line in a letter from Darwin D. Martin to Frank Lloyd Wright in June 1926states, “We will install in NE cornerenlarged kitchen a readymaderefrigerator with Servel electriccooling.”

n The cabinet has a tag on it that says,“The Jewett Refrigerator Company–Buffalo NY”

The architects’ further research uncovered the following:n The Jewett Refrigerator Company wasestablished in Buffalo in1849 andspecialized in making refrigeratorcabinets that could “be used with anytype or make of electric freezing unit”–such as the Servel system mentioned inDarwin Martin’s letter.

n The compressor for the cooling could be located in a cabinet above, below,adjacent to the unit or even remotely in the basement.

n These refrigerators were often built intoother cabinets and were not always thefreestanding units we usually see today.

n They discovered a catalog in theBuffalo History Museum library thatshow this type of installation, as doesthe background image in a 1927 adfor Jewett refrigerators.• The ads from 1926 and 1927 alsoshow freestanding units with sometype of feet.

n At Graycliff, the architects lookedbehind the refrigerator, to see if therewas an electric outlet. What they sawinstead were hinges behind theunit...there are doors on both the frontand the back of the refrigerator!

n Based on more correspondencebetween Darwin Martin and FrankLloyd Wright, and Darwin Martin’sMemo Book, its current location seemsto be where it has always beenlocated.

• This is corroborated with physicalevidence such as historic plumbinglocations–or the lack thereof elsewhere.

• They found remnants of rubber tilesbehind the stove and beneathbaseboards, and thus determined theexact color, size and depth of theoriginal rubber tiles.

n The refrigerator was “state-of-the-art” forthe late 1920s• The refrigerator was never an icebox

(see The Mysterious Refrigerator, in thesidebar)

n They studied Darwin Martin’s MemoBook from 1927-28 in the UB Archives.

n A six burner electric stove–the height ofmodern living!• From the Martin Memo Book 1927/28:

“Range will be electric neverthelessrequiring the vent...Range with uprightbroiler betw double oven. Six burners...”

n They determined the salmon-coloredtiles in the bathrooms are original. In theMemo Book, Martin writes: “BachelderWilson will send tiles, Los Angeles.” • Selin found a catalog for this firm

online, from the 1920s.

• The catalog reads: “A Bathroom in ourtiles appeals to those who seek relieffrom the white glazed, colorless materialgenerally associated with sanitaryrequirements. Soft, warm colors in abathroom are in no sense inconsistentwith the demands of sanitation.https://archive.org/details/TheBatchelderTilesACatalogOfTileProductsMadeInLosAngelesByThe

How do you investigate your own house?Consult sources similar to those above:

n Your local historical society

n Any architectural drawings for yourresidence you can find

n City or town records.

n Look online. Determine the year yourhome was constructed, and look at oldcatalogs for similar fixtures, cabinets and the like.

And perhaps most importantly, as Agatha Christie said, “Everything must be taken into account. If the fact will not fit the theory–let the theory go.”

The basementhandrail, andnotes found inthe UB Archives,gives clues thatthe main stairwellhandrail mayhave matched it. Buffalo’s own Jewett Refrigerator

Company’s catalogs, ads, alongwith Martin’s Memo Book noteshelped establish that the currentrefrigerator is original to the home.

The bathroom tiles match up to notes from Martin’s Memo.They’ve been found to be original.

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Photos by Jim

Cha

rlier.

Funding for the interior drawings was generously provided by the New York State Council on the Arts, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature; and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.

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2015 CALENDARJANUARYMaster Architectural Tour

FEBRUARYValentines ToursMaster Architectural Tour

MARCHGraycliff Gala Friday, March 27Master Architectural Tour

APRILTours Daily except WednesdaysEaster Tours

MAYMother’s Day ToursTours Daily except Wednesdays Extended Tour Schedule

for Memorial Day

JUNETours Daily

JULYTours DailyExtended Tour Schedule for

Canada Day and 4th of July Summer Twilight Tours

AUGUSTTours DailySummer Twilight Tours

SEPTEMBERTours DailySunday in the Country Tours

OCTOBERTours DailySunday in the Country Tours

NOVEMBERTours Daily except WednesdayExtended Tour Schedule

for Thanksgiving Weekend

DECEMBERYuletide Tours

Private, group, school tours, and Combination Graycliff and Darwin D. Martin HouseComplex Tours can be arranged all year round.

All tours requirereservations. For more tour information, or to reserve a tour, visitGraycliffEstate.org, call (716) 947.9217 or emailstaff@GraycliffEstate.org.

V O L U N T E E R S P O T L I G H T

Q&A: Stacy Tuberdyke

Special thanks to the Volunteers at Graycliff: The Heart, Soul and Muscle of the Conservancy It has been a very busy year for Graycliff’s volunteers. Many, many thanks to all of the docents whohave led tours, to the chaperones, the Green Team that has cared for our grounds, the HousekeepingTeams that have kept the house clean and tidy, the volunteers who have assisted in the gift shop andwith mailings, those presenting the Wright on the Road program to groups – and also to the volunteerswho have helped with special events in 2014. Interested in volunteering? Tell us what skills you have and enjoy doing, and we’re bound to find an area where we could useyour help! Call Graycliff at 947-9217, or email Graycliff@verizon.net.

What inspired you to volunteer?I bought a house in Derby and I like Frank Lloyd Wrightand Buffalo history. Thatinspired me to do more thanjust visit, but to volunteer.After I moved out of Derby,and into Buffalo, I continuedto volunteer.

What do you do for fun, other than Graycliff?I’m a member of Queen CityRoller Girls...I’m on thetraining committee and ajunior training coach andskate with the travel team.And I volunteer with Re-treeBuffalo

What has been your most memorableexperience as a volunteer?My “holy smokes” experiencewas the first time I gave a tour

and saw the restored redroofs, after they had beenblack asphalt for so long.Because it was dramatic,highly visual progress–it was a huge–a significantimprovement in therestoration...and a positivepush toward the remainder of the restoration.

What do you do, professionally?I’m a police officer and I workfor NYS University Police atthe University at Buffalo.

What is your favorite part of volunteering?At the very end of each tour,seeing the smiles on people’sfaces and knowing theyenjoyed learning about FLW,Buffalo history and Graycliff.

Who are your heroes?The Hulk, Buddha, Cyndi Lauper

What’s something that most people don’t know about you?I speak Japanese. I used to live in Japan...where I taught English.

Leave aLegacyLeave a bequest to Graycliff in your will – become amember of the Isabelle R.Martin Society...

As a member of the Society, your gift madethrough estate planning will allow you to join aselect group of individuals who are committedto helping the Graycliff Conservancy to preserveand restore the Graycliff Estate through theyears to come. Your contribution will providean enduring legacy and will ensure Graycliff’scontinued success.

Please help assure our future by making your estate plans today. Anyone can leave a legacy as a member of theIsabelle R. Martin Society. Meaningful donationscan come from anyone, not just the verywealthy, and in any size. Members of theSociety, regardless of means, include charitable

requests when they draw up a will.

Some Society members specify a certain dollaramount to leave toGraycliff, and others leavea percentage of their estate or a specific asset. In addition to leavingmoney, you can leave such things as personalproperty, real estate, lifeinsurance, retirementfunds, stocks, bonds orpart or all of your IRA.

The decision to tell us that you have includedthe Graycliff Conservancy, Inc. in your will, andmembership in the Society is up to you. Butwe’d like to know, so that we can express ourappreciation during your lifetime throughSociety events and offerings.

We invite you to consider joining the Society,and join other like-minded individuals in thisimportant mission. Please call (716) 947-9217for details.

The Isabelle R. Martin

Society

Photo co

urtesy U

B Archive

s

Returning Graycliff to its 1931 landscape, somemature trees were eliminated. These hand-crafted,numbered, and signed bowls –made from thosetrees – are available while supplies last.

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A Great GraycliffGalaOur best Gala yet...The Saturn Club ofBuffalo was THE place to be on Friday, April 28,2014. The Graycliff Galafeatured drinks anddinner, a silent auction,and a basket raffle.

Then the live auction began, with livelybidding on stellar – and very exclusive –offerings. The Graycliff Diamond Windowawards were presented, followed by music by The Party Squad and dancing. Join us onFriday, March 27 for the 2015 Graycliff Gala–you won’t want to miss it!

Graycliff has gasA natural gas well on the property will beheating the M&T Pavilion this winter... Graycliff has long had an inactive gas well,behind utility sheds near the parking lot.With the cost of fuel on the rise, and thanksto Field Services, we had the well inspected.Turns out it produces enough natural gas tomake it worthwhile to re-activate it. In latesummer, new gas lines were installed. TheConservancy, thrifty as always, will now beheating the Pavilion for free!

We have the Wrightmerchandise for youVisit the M&T Pavilion Gift Shop or our online store for...All kinds of new products...most availablenowhere else. Jewelry, lamps, ornaments, Arts & Crafts design, stuffed animals...evencustomized Graycliff Gift baskets! Somethingfor you, your home and that special someone.Stop by the shop – open daily (exceptWednesdays) 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or visit the online store at GraycliffEstate.org.

What would we do withoutthem?In-kind donors of goods and servicesThe year began with a donation of paint andlabor from Uniland, and flooring, includingcarpeting and tiles throughout the Pavilionfrom Alpha Contract Flooring. Then othercompanies stepped up...wines from Premier Wines and Spirits and ale from Dundee Ales for the Gala; Catco and Merk Blasting for a parking lot update; and asthe season got underway, a large donation offerns from Botanicus. Zarcone Electric repairedan historic light fixture, and then by mailcame home movies from the Martin familyitself. A hearty thank you to each and everyone of you who donated products, expertise,and more. We couldn’t do it without you!

Let us bringGraycliff to youWright on the Road FREE lecture program...a one hour show of beautiful photos andcommentary that explains the history of Graycliff and the historical restorationprocess. To arrange a free presentation for your organization, contact us atgraycliff@verizon.

Your donation is an investment, and crucial to secure Graycliff’s future.

NAME

ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP

E-MAIL PHONE

n Graycliff Circle $1,000+

n Wright Square $500+

n Diamond $250+

n Triangle $150

n Hexagon $75

n Octagon $60

If you are interested in more information about other gift opportunities at the Graycliff Estate, call 716-947-9217 or email GraycliffEstate@verizon.net.

Contributions of $250 or moreinclude Conservancy Membership(Leadership Level) for one year.

Please mail this form, along with payment, to:Graycliff Estate6472 Old Lake Shore Road, PO Box 823Derby, NY 14047

Your donation is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Thank you for your support!

PAYMENTn Check Enclosed Made payable to:

Graycliff Conservancy

n Credit Card nMastercard nVisa

CARD NO.

EXP. DATE SEC. CODE

SIGNATURE

n Yes! I’d like to increase the momentum of restoration with a gift to the Graycliff Conservancy.

4

n Other $________________

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“It’s wonderful being back here...it’s marvelous to see the progress in the work. It’s really exciting...each time I come the building gets more beautiful...”

- Eric Lloyd Wright on his third visit to the Graycliff Estate

6472 Old Lake Shore RoadP.O. Box 823, Derby, NY 14047

National Register of Historical Places u New York State LandmarkRATED ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Frank Lloyd Wright Field Guide

Marcy and Jerry Workman enjoy aSummer Solstice event at Graycliff.

Graycliff Conservancy founder CarolBronnenkant and architectural historianJohn Conlin at the 2014 Graycliff Gala.

Volunteers (left to right)Gail Solowski,BarbaraAbbatoy, MaryKay DiPaolo,and dozens of others helpthroughout the year.

Nearly 10,000 visitors, from all overthe world, visited Graycliff in 2014.

The 2014 Graycliff Awards: (left to right)recipient Patrick Mahoney, presenterBarbara Rickard, recipients Dirk Schneider, Chuck LaChiusa,Anthony Bannon, and Wendy Pierce.

Graycliff Conservancy President Diane Schrenk speaks at the unveiling of the Isabelle R. Martin floor restorationpress event, with, left to right: SenatorMark Grisanti, Lynn Marinelli of EmpireState Development and Legislator Lynne Dixon.

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