42 Abbotsford Rd
Winnetka, IL 60093, USA

Orth House - National Register of Historic Places

Statement of Significance:

During the early twentieth century a fresh and original architectural expression in the American Midwest was achieved. This expression was called the "Prairie School,"(Brooks, 1972). In imitation of certain broad and horizontal dispositions of lines individually employed, this new expression echoed the spirit of the prairies the great Midwest. As a movement, the Prairie School owed its inspiration to Louis P. Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. Yet there are several other architects of the Prairie School whose works matches and at times surpass that of Wright, (Brooks, 1972). Walter Burley Griffin was one of the most important of these architects. The Orth House was one of the first houses executed by Griffin after he left Wright's studio to begin his own practice. It is more solid and Wright-like than Griffin's later works. It is therefore, especially important since it serves as a transition to his own style, (O’Connor, 1970, Sprague, 1973}. The Orth House at 42 Abbotsford Rd., Winnetka, is also a very significant expression of the Prairie School since it remains virtually intact without alteration as it was originally built in 1908.