Meado'cots: 425 - 447 Rosedale Street and 7817 - 1823 Madiera Street, group cottages

Visiting the Meado'cots, which are nestled in the neighborhood of Homewood, took me out of my comfort zone today!  This article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette references both Homewood's historic architecture and its history of violence.

So, when I first found Scheibler's Meado'cots in Homewood, it was dark outside, so I stayed in my car.  They're amazing, though, and they're also on the historic landmark registry, so I was dying to explore them.

So this morning at 6am, I enlisted my most fearless friend and headed over.

Ken, maybe hamming it up just a little.

I knew to take Ken seriously when, after a few minutes, he cheerfully urged me to hurry, and to try not to draw too much attention to myself.

I hurried and snapped my photos while Ken gallantly explained to an angry resident that I was only interested in "Frederick G. Scheibler, the architect."

Okay!

Back to the Meado'cots. They are amazing. Scheibler originally designed 20 cottages in 1912. Sixteen were built. This schematic plan is from (where else?!) Martin Aurand's book:

I actually managed to stumble into them the first time by complete accident while I was coming home from the Singer Place rowhouses. I recognized the Meado'cots instantly by two signature Scheibler elements: the corner windows and diagonal doors. It was them! The Meado'cots!!!

The Beacon Street houses, designed in the same year (1912) also have the diagonally-placed doors. See?

And, in another signature move, Scheibler makes great use of the outside, with a winding walkway through a sprawling yard.

The cluster seems, like the Old Heidelberg, both meticulously planned and delightfully random. Aurand writes about the "freedom of composition" here.

This photo didn't turn out very well but I include it to show you how walls join each group of cottages. 

However, the Meado'cots are not looking well these days. Another Scheibler fan  told me that the Meado'cots are being restored.

Ken with Meado'cots trash heap.

Aurand writes that Scheibler designed Meado'cots for middle class tenants. The fact that he created such aesthetically pleasing group homes (they may even have originally had tennis courts!) with the economy in mind made him truly progressive and even unique in America.

Once again, I'd love to see inside these homes... but this time, I'm pretty sure I never will!

So long, Meado'cots!

P.S. You can see even more photos over here! 

1330 - 1366 Singer Place, row houses

Tonight, we headed into Wilkinsburg, which is just brimming with Scheibler buildings. 

Porter hitches a ride.

The Singer Place row houses (or "group cottages," as Scheibler called them) sit perched on a grassy hill.
These 19 homes were designed in 1914. They have lovely windowed sun porches and make great use of the yard. In his book Life and Architecture in Pittsburgh, James Van D. Trump writes that Frederick Scheibler had "an almost unearthly sense of the connection between the house and the land." He writes of these homes:

"The long terraces of row houses in the 1300 block of Singer Place are good examples of the designer's middle period- beautifully simple, they seem like strata of brick and glass emerging from the wooded hillside."

Each pair of homes also has its own tile on the front.

Frederick G. Scheibler was among the progressive architects of his time who sought to improve living for the working and middle class.

Just another reason why I love him!

7521 Graymore Road, House

We recently looked at the very memorable Parkstone Dwellings, which were commissioned by siblings Harry and Rose Rubins. 

Rose commissioned 7521 Graymore Road, and there's a hint of the Parkstone Dwellings in them -- a slight nod to the tiled "Oriental rugs" that hang over the side. This tiled design spruces (Scheiblers!) up a two-story window seat on an otherwise plainer house. 

There is also an original tile over the front door.

Graymore Road is a treasure hunt in itself. It's just steps off of Braddock Avenue, across from the Old Heidelberg, and borders the eastern edge of Frick Park. The little cluster of out-of-the-way homes is quiet and hilly.

The winding road down to the noise and traffic of Braddock Avenue. 

Graymore Road is a private road, the kind where people look out from their yards as though to say, "How did you even find us?" But Porter and I headed that way anyway. I can't imagine a girl with a camera can look very threatening with this face in tow.

225 - 233 Hay Street, townhouses - Scheibler-like?

We met some friendly cats on today's treasure hunt.

Without planning it, a side effect of this project has been that Porter has peed on every Scheibler home in Pittsburgh! 

I originally posted these townhouses as Scheibler buildings, but now, I'm not convinced. They are not listed in Martin Aurand's catalogue in The Progressive Architecture of Frederick G. Scheibler. On closer inspection, I'm not sure that they are Scheiblers, even though Regent Square Rentals claims that they are.

Here's what I captured, anyway:

Approaching Hay Street from Biddle...

These properties have basements that exit into the back lawn.

Hey kitties!

Regent Square Rentals posted these photos of the interior. I did not take these photos.

Harter House, 2557 Beechwood Boulevard house, garage and wall

Porter hitches a ride through Squirrel Hill.

Scheibler placed a beautiful wall around 2557 Beechwood Boulevard, which kept me from properly stalking it for you, but don't worry -- I dug up some more photos!

I wish I could get closer to the Harter House because it is enchanting and romantic -- a sibling to the Parkstone Dwellings (1922) for sure. This house was designed from 1922-1924 for Eva Harter, who encouraged Scheibler to indulge in what she called "doodads."

Martin Aurand quotes Baille Scott in a chapter about Scheibler's period of charming and effusive homes (and I love this):

"The natural reaction from the dry mechanical routine of modern life leads to a demand for romance in every form. In the form of fiction it supplies a retreat, an escape for the mind to an enchanted realm where thrilling deeds may be done without danger, and beautiful habitations enjoyed without expense. In the treatment of the house a more real and permanent haven may be secured. Here at least we may say there shall be no ugliness. On crossing this threshold we pass into charmed territory, where everything we possess shall be in harmony."

The Harter house sits back on a lawn, which a driveway that curves dramatically around it.

Aurand compares the roof to "mushroom caps," the wood shingling to moss and calls the house "a den in a Northern forest."

While the entrance is in the center of the facade, the porch is decidedly off-center. 

Below are two photos and a floor plan stolen from Martin Aurand's The Progressive Architecture of Frederick G. Scheibler, Jr.   He writes that construction of the house was long and brought substantial cost overruns. Scheibler insisted that the flooring be removed and replaced as it was inferior quality, and the "doodads" added up. Frank and Eva Harter developed cash flow problems soon after moving into the house (prohibition hurt Frank's business as liquor importer) and they were forced to sell it by 1925. What a star-crossed lovestory!

Aurand also writes that the interior has an "extraordinary array" of built-in cabinets and lamps, tiled fireplaces and art glass. The entry hall and dining room share a windowed wall of double doors and six large art glass panels depicting hollyhocks. Other art glass features birds, spider webs and, in the bedrooms, water lilies that transform dressing room mirrors into reflecting pools! Eagles and carved wood squirrels inhabit the house as well.

The overdecorated interior ended up being so artistic, expressive and playful that Eva complained of a lack of wall space for her furniture!

My heart aches to get inside this house.

Wow!

I sometimes joke that I'll know I made it when I finally own a washer and dryer. Imagine owning a breakfast room! 

Frank and Eva Harter commissioned this home, two summer homes on the New Jersey shore, a house at Conneaut and a couple of proposed homes in Switzerland, which never came to be.

....................................................

Update on June 6, 2013: 

This amazing home was listed for sale on June 3. The price listed is $929,000 and is described as follows:

Known as "The Mushroom House," this amazing residence has to be seen to be believed. Built in 1923 by the reknown architect Frederick Scheibler Jr, this home sits majestically on almost an acre of land just steps from Frick Park. Though it has fallen into some disrepair,all of the Scheibler fantastic details are intact. From the ash floors,mohaghany carved appointments,stained glass,and inlaid tiles this is a museum quality masterpiece.

Best of all, there are photos! What an amazing thrill!