The Hotel Lafayette Restoring Louise Bethune S Masterpiece

Louise Blanchard Bethune, the subject of this biography, was America's first female professional architect. She belonged to the influential group of pioneer architects--Daniel Burnham, John Root and Louis Sullivan--who supported her in becoming a fellow of the American Institute of Architects. In the booming industrial city of Buffalo, she preceded Frank Lloyd Wright and Alfred Kahn in factory design and was the key designer of the modern urban public school building, developing standards still used today. During her career (1881-1905) Bethune was consistently one of the most successful architects practicing in Buffalo and the driving force behind New York State's professional organizations for architects. Beyond setting standards for public schools, she was the go-to architect for factories, warehouses, police stations, a Nikola Tesla power transfer station, and the largest luxury hotel of the early 1900s. Bethune moved from a small town on the Erie Canal--the economic and technological marvel of the antebellum period--to a rapidly industrializing major American city, following the urban migration of many Americans. Unlike many women of her day she seized the promise of the growing nation to pursue life, liberty, and happiness in an occupation of her choice and succeeded.

This essay collection draws upon work presented at three national conferences on women and historic preservation held at Bryn Mawr College in 1994, Arizona State University in 1997, and at Mount Vernon College in 2000.

The fascinating story of the historic Elmwood District is told for the first time, from the arrival on the Niagara Frontier of Joseph Ellicott, through the role played by Fredrick Law Olmsted' s parks and parkways, and into the decline and renewal during modern era. This lushly illustrated book educates and enlightens, telling the stories of the people who gave Elmwood its enduring character, transforming it from dense forest into one of America' s top ten neighborhoods.

At its height of greatness, the Hotel Lafayette was considered one of the 15 finest hotels in the country. Originally planned to greet the visitors to the Pan- American Exposition in 1898, the red brick and white terra cotta French Renaissance-style building boasted seven stories of rooms with hot and cold water in all bathrooms, and telephones in all rooms, saw financial problems delay its opening until 1904. This proud edifice, once considered "the best that science, art and experience can offer for the comfort of the traveling public," boasts notoriety for a second reason. Louise Blanchard Bethune, The Hotel Lafayette's designer, was the first professional woman architect in the country. She was also the first female member of the American Institute of Architects and the first woman to be made a Fellow of the A.I.A. After years of neglect, Buffalo developer Rocco Termini undertook a massive project to bring one of Buffalo's grandest historic beauties back to life. The restoration, undertaken by hundreds of highly skilled craftspeople, artists and contractors using many of the Old World techniques used in the original construction, has become a painstaking and patient labor of love to restore each breath-taking architectural detail, from restoring crystal chandeliers in the ballroom to recasting ornate plaster beams. Buffalo's award winning documentary maker, Jackie Albarella, followed the restoration process from the beginning, and captured every minute detail. The Hotel Lafayette, Restoring Louise Bethune's Masterpiece dramatically captures the energy and excitement surrounding this momentous event in the rebirth of one of Buffalo's true landmarks. Full color photographs taken throughout the restoration along with comments from the craftspeople involved, give the full story of this remarkable accomplishment.

DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "Historic Paris" by Jetta Sophia Wolff. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.

"Despina Stratigakos is assistant professor of architecture at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York."--BOOK JACKET.