Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
Brandon Bisel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
Location	Akron, Ohio
Architect	Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene
Client	Frank Seiberling

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, the former estate of Frank Seiberling, the co-founder of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, is a historic house museum located in Akron, Ohio. The estate was built between 1912 and 1915 and features a mix of Arts and Crafts movement and Medieval Revival architecture styles, inspired by the Hampton Court Palace in London. The estate was designed by renowned architects Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene, who were known for their work on homes in Pasadena, California, such as the Gamble House. The construction of the estate involved the work of skilled craftsmen from Europe and the United States, including Italy, France, and England.

● History

The history of the estate dates back to the early 20th century, when Frank Seiberling purchased the land from John Henry Patterson, the founder of the National Cash Register Company. The estate was built as a country home for the Seiberling family, who were prominent members of Akron, Ohio society, and friends of other notable families, including the Firestone family and the Rockefeller family. The estate's name, Stan Hywet, is Old English for "stone quarry," which refers to the quarry that was located on the property. The estate played host to many notable guests, including Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and Thomas Edison, who were all friends of Frank Seiberling and members of the Fort Myers, Florida social circle. The estate was also a popular destination for Akron, Ohio socialites, including members of the Akron Board of Education and the Akron Art Museum.

● Architecture

The architecture of the estate is a unique blend of Arts and Crafts movement and Medieval Revival architecture styles, featuring a mix of stone, brick, and half-timbering. The estate's design was influenced by the work of Andrea Palladio and Inigo Jones, and features a Great Hall with a hammer-beam ceiling, similar to those found in English country houses such as Hatfield House and Knole House. The estate's kitchen was designed with the latest technology of the time, including electric refrigeration and gas cooking, and was influenced by the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. The estate's interior design features a mix of antique furniture and artwork, including pieces by John Singer Sargent and Mary Cassatt, and was influenced by the styles of Versailles and Fontainebleau.

● Gardens

The gardens of the estate were designed by Warren Manning, a renowned landscape architect who also worked on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The gardens feature a mix of formal gardens and informal gardens, including a rose garden, a perennial garden, and a woodland garden, similar to those found at Kew Gardens and Longwood Gardens. The gardens also feature a number of walking trails and sculptures, including works by Auguste Rodin and Claude Monet, and were influenced by the designs of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. The estate's greenhouse was designed to provide a year-round supply of flowers and plants for the estate, and was influenced by the designs of Joseph Paxton and Decimus Burton.

● Collections

The estate's collections include a wide range of artwork and antiques, including pieces by European and American artists, such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Winslow Homer. The estate's library features a collection of rare books and manuscripts, including works by William Shakespeare and Jane Austen, and was influenced by the collections of the British Library and the Library of Congress. The estate's music room features a collection of musical instruments, including a Steinway piano and a Stradivarius violin, and was influenced by the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

● Restoration_and_Preservation

The estate underwent a major restoration project in the 1980s, which was led by the Stan Hywet Hall Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the estate. The project involved the restoration of the estate's interior and exterior, including the repair of the roof and the windows, and was influenced by the restoration work at Monticello and Mount Vernon. The estate is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of the Historic House Museums association, which includes other notable historic houses such as The Breakers and The Elms. The estate is also a member of the American Alliance of Museums and the International Council of Museums.

● Visitor_Information

The estate is open to the public for tours and features a number of special events throughout the year, including concerts and exhibitions. Visitors can explore the estate's grounds and gardens, and take a guided tour of the house, which includes the Great Hall, the kitchen, and the music room. The estate also offers a number of educational programs for children and adults, including workshops and lectures, and is a popular destination for field trips and group tours. The estate is located near other notable attractions in Akron, Ohio, including the Akron Art Museum and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and is a member of the Ohio Museums Association and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.