loading background
view

Grand Rapids in 1856

Scene of early Grand Rapids viewed from the...


cover photo

The Meyer May House

by Thomas Logan

published: May 13th, 2014

Maintained as a museum available to the public by Steelcase, Inc., this 1909 house was designed by the already renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, who worked in  Chicago, Illinois. The clients, Meyer and Sophie May, were part of the reformed Temple Emmanuel community. Meyer’s father, Abraham, ran “The Giant” clothing store with his brother, Moses, and Joseph Houseman. It later became A. May & Sons, when Meyer and Bernard joined the business.  

Meyer’s wife, Sophie May, was the daughter of David and Hattie Amberg, and a Grand-daughter of Julius Houseman. The Ambergs built a house contracted to Wright but designed by a female associate of Wright’s, Marion Mahony. It stands just up Logan Street at the corner of College Avenue (505 College SE). Abraham’s house was up the street, at 259 Madison, and Bernard lived at 529 Madison until he moved to New York.


Frank Lloyd Wright’s search for an architectural expression that reflected the individuality of the American democratic lifestyle, using American materials, ingenuity and landscapes, led him to develop his principles of organic architecture.  


The May house expresses Wright’s principles of organic architecture:

  • It is of human scale and proportion with lower ceilings and doorways;
  • It emphasizes the horizontal lines of the prairie;
  • It is situated to the far north of the lot, taking full advantage of the southern light;
  • Its walls are more like screens and windows like light screens;  it is not a box with holes punched out;
  • The inside and outside flow freely from one to another, intermingling the two;
  • Each part of the building and its decorative arts are designed to be a part of the whole.

A relationship between Steelcase, Inc. and Frank Lloyd Wright began in the mid-1930s when Steelcase (then known as Metal Office Furniture) was asked to manufacture furniture specifically designed by the architect for the Johnson Wax Administration Building in Racine, Wisconsin. The Company’s respect for Wright’s genius was shown by its support of the restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park Home and Studio.  Steelcase purchased the May house in 1985, committing to its restoration and preservation for the public good.


Before restoration could begin, the house had to be thoroughly researched. Personal interviews, study of historic photos, drawings and documents, publications about Wright, and physical evidence from the buildings and its furnishings were all valuable. The decision was made to restore the house to its original appearance during the 1909-20 period. This involved opening up the main covered veranda, which had been enclosed, and the dismantling of the 1922 addition, which was not designed by Wright or his office.


The house was opened for corporate guests and the public in 1987. The children of Meyer and Sophie May were present: Harriet May Stern and Richard May.  The picture shows Harriet May on left, and Carla Lind (director of the restoration) on right.


In 2007, 20 years after the renovated house was opened to the public, major repairs were again undertaken, to assure that the experience of the house would continue at the same high level. The picture shows rebuilt living room windows with new copper sheathing before it was treated to match the rest of the copper trim. 


Bibliography

Items Available at the History & Special Collections Dept., Grand Rapids Public Library

  • Lind, Carla. The Meyer May House. 1987
  • Lind, Carla, editor. Training Manual for the Meyer May House. 1987
  • Favorite Recipes of Steelcase Chefs: Featuring Recipes Served at Meyer May House, etc. 1991
  • The Meyer May House (video recording) 2007

Websites

 



Like Us on Facebook
site by GRCMC