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Martin House

Landscape

Preparing the Landscape in Spring

The Martin House maintains approximately 25,000 square feet of landscape planting beds. For healthy, aesthetic plants, the soil must serve as a reservoir for water, oxygen, and nutrients. In preparation for the blooming season, a process takes place in the spring that allows us to fully enjoy the growth of…
Martin House
March 17, 2021
Volunteer

March Volunteer Spotlight

Shonnie Finnegan is University Archivist Emerita for the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB). For thirty years, from 1967-1997, she was instrumental in the development of the University Archives by collecting the earliest records of UB, as well as many of the important papers of former faculty, staff,…
Martin House
March 16, 2021
Volunteer

February Volunteer Spotlight

About 15 years ago (and lucky for us!), Mike Osika was searching for a new opportunity to become more involved in his community. He discovered the volunteer program at the Martin House and was immediately attracted by the chance to meet and talk with visitors from all over the world.…
Martin House
February 26, 2021
News

Martin House Announces Board Officers and Welcomes New Member

Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House is pleased to announce that Donna DeCarolis, President of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, will serve as Board President succeeding Kevin Malchoff, Director, Rich Products. A Martin House board member since 2009, Ms. DeCarolis joined National Fuel in 1983 and has led a number of…
Martin House
February 18, 2021
Volunteer

January Volunteer Spotlight

In 2006, Jeri Mazur and her husband attended a private party at the Barton House, which piqued her curiosity about the estate. Soon she was back for a tour to learn more, and this month’s volunteer in the spotlight was hooked. Docent training was just beginning, and she immediately enrolled.…
Martin House
January 21, 2021
Volunteer

December Volunteer Spotlight

Debbie Houck, our volunteer in the spotlight this month, hit a special milestone earlier this year: 20 years of service to the Martin House. Even after all this time, the estate still takes her breath away. A lifelong resident of North Buffalo, Debbie taught in the Buffalo Public Schools for…
Martin House
December 14, 2020
Press

Wright Spirit Awards: Martin House in the Spotlight

Introduced in 1991, the Wright Spirit Award recognizes efforts of extraordinary individuals and organizations that have preserved the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright through tireless dedication and persistent efforts. The awards are presented annually at the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy Conference. Eleven Spirit Awards were presented this year, and…
Martin House
November 18, 2020
Volunteer

November Volunteer Spotlight

It was the late 1990s when Gail Sfeir attended her first Martin House volunteer meeting. She knew at that time it was going to be a significant project for the City of Buffalo, and today she’s proud to report that she's been a part of the team throughout every phase…
Martin House
November 18, 2020
Press

Could Wright Design the Ideal Home Office?

This article originally appeared in Quartz on October 25, 2020. How would America’s greatest architect design a home office? Could Frank Lloyd Wright, who had visionary solutions for contemporary living—from sustainable design, air conditioning, even open-plan offices—have an answer to the search for ideal Covid-era remote working configurations? A clue…
Martin House
October 25, 2020
Volunteer

October Volunteer Spotlight

Cynthia Silverstein began volunteering more than eleven years ago when she recognized that the Martin House was a “jewel shining in the city” and in her own neighborhood. College studies brought her to Western New York, but the city’s potential for historic renovation, tourism, and community engagement kept her here…
Martin House
October 20, 2020
Volunteer

September Volunteer Spotlight

It wasn’t long after settling into her new Parkside home when Rebecca Morris-Chatta arrived at the Martin House and raised her hand to volunteer. She started as a Chaperone but soon trained to be a Docent, eventually landing in the role of Education Docent – a perfect fit for the…
Martin House
September 21, 2020
Volunteer

August Volunteer Spotlight

Mary Anne Rokitka thinks she might have been born with a red pen in one hand and pruning shears in the other. The red pen comes in handy as a member of the editorial board of a scientific journal, and she finds great joy in pruning, deadheading, and even pulling…
Martin House
August 24, 2020