The James Kibben Ingalls House has undergone several updates. It was originally designed in 1909 with ventilation and natural light in mind, since Ingalls’ daughter suffered from tuberculosis. True to intention, the home has a lovely screened-in porch, two balconies and plenty of windows.
But, times change. Within a couple of decades, a new owner, William Drummond, an architect who studied under Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, had added a three-car garage and remodeled the second floor, though he was careful to do so in Wright’s style.
Another architect, John Tilton, purchased the home in 1977 and remains its current owner. He had previously worked on Wright restorations, so was well equipped to make a 1,000-square-foot addition to the back of the house, as well as add an 800-square-foot terrace, reports Dennis Rodkin of Crain’s.
Tilton, looking to downsize, is now selling the home for $999,000. It hit the market at $1,325,000 in March, but a Frank Lloyd Wright home often sees reductions. Many potential owners shy away from the daunting (and expensive) task of caring for a national architectural treasure – gorgeous as they are to look at, when push comes to shove, it takes a certain, committed buyer to follow through on a purchase of a historic site.