An Argument With History

Florence, Alabama is home to the only Frank Lloyd Wright house in the state of Alabama. (Don't worry. This is my last Florence-themed post. Sometimes I can't help myself I have so much to say.) The Wright-Rosenbaum house is also one of only 60 Frank Lloyd Wright houses open to the general public. And, I was already in Florence, so I figured why not take a tour.

The Wright-Rosenbaum house is under 3,000 square feet, so there's not a ton to see, but because it was a Tuesday, and I think our tour guide was bored, the SO and I got a private guided tour that lasted over an hour. (Such details aren't for everyone ...) If I was better at math, I could let you know how much time was spent on each inch of the house. Since I'm not a numbers gal, I'll just estimate that our tour guide left no stone unturned in his description of the home.

I loved being able to see a piece of architectural history. I also like anything that makes me feel smarter, so learning details about Frank Lloyd Wright, Florence history and details of the home was a great time for me. But, what I really took away from the tour is that I could never have had a Frank Lloyd Wright home.

I didn't know about Frank Lloyd Wright's very controlling (and often egotistical) ways. This is how I would imagine our encounters:'

Meeting #1

Me: I really think I need more closet space in the master bedroom.

Darkness and stares from Frank Lloyd Wright.

Me: Maybe a walk-in?

FLW: If you don't like the closets I've provided, what you need is fewer clothes.

Meeting #2

Me: These doors seem small. How big are they?

FLW: 22 inches wide [this is the real number from the Wright-Rosenbaum house].

Me: Honey, my family is Southern. We like the fried foods. I don't think this is the best long-term plan.

More darkness and stares from FLW: I can fit through them, so everyone should be able to.

Meeting #3

Me: I think this chair would look better on the other side of the living room.

FLW: I already bolted it to the floor.

Until the tour, I had no idea that Frank Lloyd Wright wrote contracts preventing occupants of his homes from acquiring new furniture, rearranging rooms or putting art on the walls without his approval. (He didn't like art because his home was the art.) And I didn't make up that detail about him bolting furniture to the floor so that it wouldn't be moved. I don't think Frank Lloyd Wright and I would have even made it to three meetings before the relationship imploded. Pardon the third person, but if Laurel's paying, Laurel gets what she wants.

Frank Lloyd Wright and I would have been like oil and water -- or like matching poles of a magnet that repel each other rather than attract. There can only be one lead dog, after all.

All photos by the great Arik Sokol.