ALPHABE-THURSDAY
THE LETTER "J" STANDS FOR - JONES
HARRY WILD JONES
Harry Wild Jones born in Schoolcraft, Michigan June 9, 1859 became a popular Minneapolis architect. Despite his abundant achievements, even outside of Minnesota, Jones is not as well known as he should be.
During his heyday he worked amongst other well known architects like, Cass Gilbert and Clarence Johnston. All three men were premodernist designers, and each struggled with the upcoming, architectural modernism of the late 1930's that swept through Minneapolis as well as the United Sates.
I've been fascinated with Harry Wild Jones from the moment I learned about this talented and charming style.
Well known for his humor and friendly demeanor as well as being a devoted family man.
He brought much of the Tangletown neighborhood to life; including his Washburn Water Tower.
Jones had a special talent and a whimsical nature in designing roof-lines and a series of cones and circles evoking an almost witch-like-hat style in most of his accomplishments.
What follows is a mere pittance of Jones work.
Perhaps, Jones hoped his designs would be easily spotted around town.
B. R. Coppage House
built
1891
1912 Queen Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Still a private residence.
Years after Jones designed this castle like house with a witch's-hat roof,
it lost its porch as well as the clapboard siding (another favorite trend of Jones) replaced with stucco. Big mistake if you were to see Harry's first creation!
An almost naked feel without its porch.
A short distance away, sits Jones design built in 1889 where he
used a golden Mankato-Kasota stone, yes from our dear city of Mankato.
Next
The Henry Ladd House
1889
His design features a wraparound porch with a gridiron-like stone railing. Henry Ladd was the first owner and he was in the real estate business.
Again with the witch's-like hat on a castle-like cone.
131 Oak Grove
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Next:
Jones didn't just dabble in private houses. His accomplishments were industrial, from office buildings to churches, apartments and park structures as well.
Lake Harriet Women/Men Comfort Stations, 1892
Recently all were completely refreshed and returned to the glamorous style they once were.
The Restrooms - inside the women's area is an unbelievable fireplace for those chilly temperatures!
I've posted these lovely buildings before. To the left is the Lake Harriet Band shelter, where we spend many Friday nights taking in the free entertainment all summer long.
To the right are more restrooms within the building that houses snacks inside what they call the refectory all under a pagodalike wooden structure.
Thank goodness Dairy Queen didn't get their way to tear it all down
and build their own modern day fiasco that we can find around too many corners.
Next hop on board!
This was when the Como-Harriet Streetcar line ran.
Lake Harriet has a street-car station too!
Designed by Jones.
There were three other pavilions located at this site, which all suffered disastrous ends.
Just a block away ........
The "Lynnhurst" houses series
two of the most interesting are attributed to Jones
4601 Fremont Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota
just a short walk away from Lake Harriet.
and
4629 Fremont Avenue South
two doors down.
Behold what they call
The Johnson Triple House
106-8 24th Street East
and
2319 First Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota
A Romanesque-Gothic brick and sandstone triple house with Jones adding his marvelous witch's hat roof that caps his famous corner towers and is complete with exquisite stonework on the front porches.
It offers three tiny lancet windows about the entrance to 108 as pictured above.
Moving on
to the
Lakewood Cemetery
3600 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis
Harry Wild Jones died in his Elmwood House located in the Tangletown neighborhood on September 25th 1935 and was buried at Lakewood Cemetery
but before his death he designed the
Lakewood Cemetery's Memorial Chapel
an architectural centerpiece of the cemetery.
Jones modeled the chapel after the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
The interior was created by New York designer Charles Lamb, inspired by the mosaic design in the San Marco Cathedral in Venice.
It was completed in 1910.
From Wayzata, Minnesota
at
605 Rice Street East
built in 1916
as
Congregational
Side door entrance.
Front Entrance from Rice Street East.
If you want to view more of Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday posts
go here
http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/07/alphabe-thursday-letter-j.html
Also I put a quick video together with some of his work here on youtube
CHECK IT OUT!
