Visiting FLW’s Weltzheimer/Johnson House (and Oberlin, Ohio)

If you’re new to my blog, let me tell you a few things about myself. I love traveling. International, National Park, small town, weekend road trip- I’ll take them all. Throw in a historical site and I’m even more excited. But make it a historic house by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and I’m over the moon. I’ve been working on visiting as many FLW homes as I can, and there are two in Ohio that are open to the public. One is the Westcott House in Springfield Ohio (which I talked about in this blog post). There is also the Penfield House in Willoughby Hills which is available for over-night rental. The second house which is open to the public for tours is in Oberlin, Ohio. Read on to find out all about visiting FLW’s Weltzheimer/Johnson House and exploring Oberlin, Ohio.

History of the Weltzheimer/Johnson House

The Weltzheimer/Johnson House was designed in 1947 by Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1949 for Charles and Margaret Weltzheimer. It is a prime example of FLW’s Usonian architectural style, and was the first of nine Usonian homes that he made in Ohio. The purpose of the Usonian homes was to make an affordable home for middle class families while still encompassing Wright’s philosophy of creating a relationship between homes and nature.

The Weltzheimer/Johnson house is a single-story residence. It features a low, horizontal profile, large overhanging eaves, an instead of a garage it features a carport. All these things foster a sense of spaciousness and community. These are also important architectural aspects of most of Frank Lloyd Wright homes. It was constructed out of brick and wood, and like all FLW homes, it incorporates extensive glass windows, allowing natural light to flood the interior and offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

The house was angled in the lot, both to maximize exposure to the sun in the winter months (Wright was experimenting a lot with solar heat at the time). The windows also enhance the views of the property, which is surrounded by trees. Wright called for the concrete floors to be painted dark red (his Cherokee Red) so they would absorb the sunlight. He then installed hot water pipes in them for radiant heat. That’s right- heated floors!

Architectural Features inside the Weltzheimer/Johnson House

Inside the Weltzheimer/Johnson house, which is an open-floor plan, the design features include built-in furniture to maximize space. A central fireplace serves as a warm focal point in the living area. The exterior and interior of the house feature a continuous stretch of horizontal redwood boards topped by narrow clerestory windows with decorative curvilinear cutouts. In layman’s terms- windows that are near the ceiling with some fancy cutout designs.

The open-floor plan includes a central living space that flows seamlessly into the dining area and kitchen. To promote the sense of community, a series of floor-to-ceiling brick pillars separates the kitchen from the living room. This keeps the space open enough so that the hostess could still interact with her guests while in the kitchen.

The house features four private bedrooms, two bathrooms and a long, narrow hallway lined with bookshelves, which was at the request of Mrs. Weltzheimer. The bedrooms have built-in desks and storage. Wright had very specific ideas about what homes should look like and didn’t want owners to deviate- so this was a way he could control it. The main bedroom even had a built-in headboard to control where the bed was located. In four areas in the home there are corner windows, so we were challenged to find them during our tour (and I was successful).

After the Weltzheimers

In 1968 the home was purchased by Ellen H. Johnson, a Professor of Modern Art at Oberlin College. She bought the house to prevent further damage and soon embarked on a daunting restoration. This restoration continued for the 25 years that she owned the house. Johnson also began to undo some of the changes to the landscape to restore the feeling of serenity and connectedness that Wright intended. Many of Johnson’s appliances and furniture from the 1970s are still present in the house. My favorite area of the house was the living room Johnson’s sofas and chairs as well as the built-in shelves. They feature some of the china that Wright designed for the Imperial Hotel in Japan. Also in the room are the original floor plans for the house.

In the 1970s, concerned about the future of the house, Ellen Johnson made arrangements for the house to be transferred to Oberlin College upon her death. To ensure that the home would be properly maintained and that the college would not dispose of it, she also arranged for a maintenance endowment.

Visiting the Weltzheimer/Johnson House

While we were in town to visiting FLW’s Weltzheimer/Johnson House we wanted to check out the city of Oberlin, Ohio to see what it had to offer. Read on to find out about Oberlin, Ohio.

History of Oberlin, Ohio

Oberlin, Ohio, was founded in 1833 by a group of New Englanders who aimed to create a model community centered around education and social reform. Oberlin quickly gained a reputation as a hub for abolitionism. It served as a safe haven for escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad. This commitment to social justice was exemplified by the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue of 1858. This is when local residents famously freed a fugitive slave named John Price from federal capture, an event that garnered national attention. There are several signs around town that talk about the significance of the Underground Railroad in Oberlin.

The establishment of Oberlin College, which became one of the first institutions in the United States to admit women and African Americans, played a crucial role in shaping the town’s identity. While you’re in Oberlin take a walk about the campus, which is very charming.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Oberlin remained a center for progressive movements, including women’s suffrage and labor reforms. The college continues to foster a spirit of intellectualism and activism.

What to do in Oberlin, Ohio

Oberlin, Ohio, is a charming town with a rich cultural and historical heritage, offering a variety of interesting activities and attractions:

Take in some art: Beyond being one of the first institutions of higher education to admit women and African Americans, Oberlin College has a beautiful campus with notable architecture and art galleries. Included in this is the Allen Memorial Art Museum, which features a diverse collection of over 15,000 pieces of art. It is free to visit and is open from Tuesday-Saturday.

Music: The Oberlin Conservatory of Music was founded in 1865 and is the second oldest conservatory and oldest continually operating conservatory in the United States. When you visit maybe you’ll be lucky enough to catch a performance.

Explore the outdoors: The town is close to various parks and natural reserves, such as the Oberlin College’s Melrose and South Parks. Sheri and I enjoyed walking around the park and found a trail near the campus to go on a short hike.

Explore Downtown Oberlin: The downtown area features quaint shops, cafes, and restaurants, where you can enjoy local cuisine and browse unique boutiques. We enjoyed the Ben Franklin store (I didn’t even know they still existed), the Blue Rooster bakery, and Gibson’s candy.

Thanks for reading!

Whether you’re interested in history, arts and architecture, shopping, exploring a small town, or simply enjoying the natural beauty of the area, Oberlin has something for everyone! Visiting FLW’s Weltzheimer/Johnson House (and Oberlin, Ohio) was a great way to spend a weekend afternoon, and I hope you get to check it out soon too! Or maybe you’ve been and something to share about it? Do you have another suggestion for a roadtrip in or around Ohio? I’d love to hear, leave me a comment below.

-Catching Katie