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 he Adolph Mueller House
was the last of three houses built under Marion's direction in
Decatur, Illinois. Marion took over the project when she was
hired by Hermann Von Holst to oversee Wright's outstanding commissions
at the time of his departure for Europe in 1909. Von Holst wanted
to keep the fact that Mahony and not Wright was doing the designing
a secret. Mahony sent her plans to Wright for his input, but
there was no response. Upset by Wright's lack of communication,
Von Holst claimed the designs as his. This angered Mahony, and she then forced Von
Holst to acknowledge her as the architect responsible for the
plans.
he exterior
of the house is marked with gabled roofs
with upturned eaves, reflecting Japanese
architecture. The triangular motif of the roof-line is reflected
in the lighting design and a continuous pattern of leaded
glass that surrounds the house.
 arion's floor plan
for the Mueller House spreads out
into wings. Standing at one end of the first floor, you are greeted
with a magnificent view that extends
to the other end of the house. A formal reception area with a
den divides the first floor. One side is the formal dining room
and dining porch. To the other side is a sunken living
room covered in a ceiling of
fabulous stained glass.
he Mueller's insisted
on the latest in technology within the house. Even the bathroom
fixtures were the best that money could buy. Marion also designed
a bat house for the backyard that matched
the exterior of the main house. The Mueller's hoped the bats
would act as insect control, but it is unclear how successful
this was.
 ow much influence
Walter had on the design of the Adolph Mueller House remains
a mystery. Walter was hired as the landscape architect for Milllikin
Place as Marion was completing the design. There is quite a difference
between her first and second revisions of her plan for the house.
It is speculated that Walter may have made some suggestions to
her about the plans, particularly about the roof-line. The Adolph
Mueller House does contain some similar qualities of the Emery
and Ralph Griffin houses. But this could also reflect that they
were all designs of a similar architectural style. And all were
influenced by Wright's work at the time.
oday Millikin University
owns the Adolph Mueller House as the home of its President. The
Mueller Museum in Decatur, operated by Adolph's granddaughter,
Jane, has several archival photographs of the home in its collection
as well as the history of Mueller Manufacturing.
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Ralph Griffin House-1909