Timeline of Sturges House Development

Timeline of Events

1938 Jan George and Selma Sturges read about FLW's Usonians in January issue of Architectural Forum magazine

Feb Sturgeses correspond with Wright and commission project

Mar John Lautner leaves Wisconsin for Los Angeles, relocating his family

Sep In consultation with Lautner, Sturgeses purchase lot for $10 on Sept 1

1939 Jan Wright draws initial designs of the residence

Feb Wright sends plans to Lautner, declaring it "one of the simplest things we have done and one of the best"

Spring Designs are refined:

-- Supports for cantilever are eliminated

-- Terrace Pergola extended to the South, creating compositional tension

June Wright visits site for pre-construction meeting with Lautner

Aug 21 Lautner writes, "We will start the Sturges house next week, should finish in three months"

Aug 29 Building permit issued

Oct 3 Second permit issued (likely adding steel)

Nov 15 Third permit issues (adding more steel)

Dec House largely completed, after about 4 months

1941 Repairs made (such as leaky roof)

1942 March Wright and Taliesin apprentices make "final" repairs (such as leaky roof)

March While visiting, Wright designs and sketches addition to house (never built)

1951 Strugeses sell house to Edward Scofield (aka: Henry Schwartz) on September 11, moving into a bigger house they constructed in the neighborhood to accommodate their second child (notably nearby house is not designed by Wright)

1962 Elaine Pike acquires from the above on July 23

1964 Linguistic scholars Paul L. Garvin and Madeleine Mathoit Garvin acquire from the above on Jan. 16

'1967 James Bridges and Jack Larson purchase house in November for $60,000, inclusive of the furniture

1968-9 Bridges and Larson hire John Lautner to perform restorations. The house had been painted black and orange and required sandblasting.

1979 Lautner returns to oversee reconstrcution of north east deck, which was damaged by a fallen eucalyptus tree

1981 August: Lautner conducts studies for proposed addition (2 plans), located somewhat near FLW's proposals

1993 May 25: Los Angeles Historical-Cultural Monument status adopted

2015 Jack Larson passes; Foundation lists property for sale

2016 Sturges House acquired by non profit organization for the purpose of preservation and education

Sturgeses create replica FLW living room for new home at 714 Tigertail