FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — Despite being born just two years after the American Civil War ended, the footprints — and blueprints — of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright can still be seen around the U.S. in 2024, and northeast Indiana is no exception.

Seven houses designed by Wright still remain across the Hoosier State, and two of them reside in northeast Indiana: the John D. Haynes House in Fort Wayne and the Dr. Richard Davis House in Marion.

Both houses are examples of Wright’s “Usonian” style of homes, which were one of two major styles Wright used during his career.

“Throughout his career, Wright was looking to create well-designed residential buildings for people of moderate income,” said John Waters, preservations programs manager with the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy and a registered architect in the State of Illinois.

Wright’s goal led him to designing Usonian homes from 1936 until his death April 9, 1959.

The Haynes and Davis houses are two of roughly 135 Usonian-period homes that still exist in 2024.

John D. Haynes House

Located on N. Washington Road near Jefferson Pointe, the John D. Haynes House is a later example of Wright’s Usonian works.

Wright designed the house in 1950, and it was built in 1952 for Haynes’ family, which at the time included his wife and four children.

Featuring a brick base, wood shingles and a carport, the house highlights many of the design philosophies people have come to know Wright for.

“[The house shows] a very typical formula for Wright’s plans where you have a very open living space centered around a fireplace,” Waters said.

While the unique designs and materials of the Haynes house and many other Usonian homes are what draw enthusiasts to Wright’s work, they often proved to be a headache for the contractors tasked with building them.

“Your standard contractor would look at [Wright’s blueprints] and go ‘what is this thing? This is not like anything I’ve ever seen before,'” Waters said.

In a 1991 story on the Haynes house published by The News-Sentinel, Charles Sipe, who did the carpentry work and built some of the furniture, said the house was “very radical for its time.”

“All of the exposed wood was cypress. We had to order it and have the lumber made. And everything that hinged – cabinet doors, folding screens – had piano hinges. The roof edging was 14-16 inches wide and very difficult to fit … We went through a lot of trial and error on that roof,” Sipe told The News-Sentinel in 1991.

Waters said economic factors also affected the construction process of many of Wright’s homes.

“He had this system that made a lot of sense to him in terms of how houses went together and which ways to eliminate waste, and things like that,” Waters said. “People absent of an economic context or a traditional way of doing things, the idea makes a lot of sense. But, when you fit it into traditional building, traditional economics, it’s very different.”

Since its construction, the house has had several owners, including former Fort Wayne City Councilman John Shoaff.

The house’s current owner, who asked WANE 15 to keep his name private, has owned the house since 2004, according to property records.

The Haynes house in one of 88 properties in Fort Wayne to receive a “Local Historic District” designation, and the house has received designations from the National Register of Historic Places and the Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD).

Dr. Richard Davis House — “Woodside”

While the Dr. Richard Davis House shares many characteristics with the John D. Haynes House, the house also has many unique features that set it apart from its Fort Wayne contemporary.

Located in the northern reaches of Marion, the home also known as “Woodside” is considerably larger than the John D. Haynes house and also features a tipi design that Waters has only seen on one other structure designed by Wright.

Wright also designed Woodside in 1950, but the house was not built until 1955, according to property records.

Instead of a brick base like his Fort Wayne home, Wright opted to go with painted concrete block.

Matthew Harris has owned Woodside since 1997 and uses the home as an Airbnb. Those interested in staying at Woodside or seeing more photos of the house can do so online.

According to the Airbnb listing, up to six people can book a stay at Woodside, and the home features four bedrooms and 4 1/2 bathrooms.

“The Longer I Live, the More Beautiful Life Becomes”

In one of Wright’s most popular quotes, he said, “the longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.”

According to Wright’s fans and historians, the same could be said for his body of work.

“For me, as someone who works with [Wright] every day, I’m always learning something new,” Waters said.

While the Haynes and Davis houses may not as be widely known as some of Wright’s other designs, they represent a part of Wright’s work, influence and legacy that has continued to thrive 65 years after his death.

File Footage of a Frank Lloyd Wright Home in South Bend For Sale

Waters said many would describe Wright as the country’s greatest architect.

“There are plenty of people in our community who would, without hesitation, say he was America’s greatest architect — that’s certainly an arguable position,” Waters said. “I love a lot of architects, but I think it’s pretty safe to say he’s America’s best-known architect.

Waters also listed some of the awards and accolades he has received throughout the years that allowed him to attain that title, including eight of his projects which were added to the World Heritage List overseen by UNESCO in 2019.

“This is the highest cultural honor that a built or natural site can obtain,” Waters said.

Fallingwater, arguably the most iconic of Wright’s designs, is one of the eight added to the World Heritage List and was named the “best all-time work of American architecture” in a poll of members of the American Institute of Architects.

Waters attributed some of Wright’s fame and recognition to his long career and his ability to promote himself.

“He was a personality. He was on TV and he wrote books,” Waters said.

Now, the role of promoting and protecting Wright’s work falls to preservationists like Waters and people who own buildings designed by Wright.

Including the Haynes and Davis houses, as well as the John E. Christian House — also known as “Samara” — in West Lafayette, most of Wright’s extant properties are being used as either private homes, museum tours or as an Airbnb.

“Our ideal is a great, single-family steward that’s generous with the house and, within reason, willing to share the house,” Waters said.

Through the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy where Waters works, those interested in learning more about Wright and helping his legacy live on can find more information about how to help.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy’s website shows Wright buildings currently for sale, a calendar of events, and ways to support the organization’s efforts.