Sprague House (original) (raw)

Carlton Sprague Summer House4325 Lake Shore Road, Town of Hamburg, NY TEXT

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Carlton Sprague	Edward Kent, architect	A published 1888 drawing of the house	West (front) elevation viewed from Route 5 (Lake Shore Road) and Lake Erie

Common shingle style feature: Spreads low against the ground on a heavy stone foundation	Common shingle style features: Qualities of weight, density, and permanence are pronounced Asymmetrical forms	"Candlesnuffer" roof of tower differs from the drawing in "Americana Architect and Building News," July 21, 1888. No. 656	Natural shingles later painted white

	Wrought iron not original	Common shingle style feature: Rounded contour sheltered by a broad and overhanging roof.	Porte cochere on north (left) side of house

Second freestanding tower back of house

Carlton Sprague

Carlton Sprague (1858-1916)
Family: Born in Buffalo in 1858, son of E. Carlton Sprague, founder of the law firm of Sprague, Morey & Sprague
Education: Carlton received education in Buffalo public schools and Prof. Briggs's classical schools. Thereafter, he was graduated from Phillips Exeter academy in 1877 and from Harvard in the class of 1818. At Harvard he distinguished himself as editor of the Harvard "Lampoon" and president of the "Harvard Advocate." He was chosen ivy orator of his class.
Career: After studying law for a time in the office of his father, he entered the employ of the Buffalo Pitts company of which he was successively vice-president (1883), president, and treasurer. Pitts company manufactured farm implements.
Member of the Pan-American Building Committee, along with J. N. Scatcherd, Col. W. Symons, George K. Birge, and Harry Hamlin.
Moved to NY City and became a director of the Western Union Telegraph Co.
In 1883, married Alice Brayley, daughter of James Brayley, one of the founders of the Pitts company.
Social life: Organizer of the Saturn Club which was started at his home; elected the first dean
President of the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy
Close friend of Theodore Roosevelt
Died in at his home at 137 East Sixty-seventh St., NY City

Other House Owners

1938 Aloyssius and Annette Greene
In 1990, the Greenes' daughter, Adele Nowak, lived in the house with her husband, Robert

House

Built c. 1888 at a cost of $3500.
Prior to 1938, the open porch that swept along the entire front and part of two sides was enclosed
Overlooks Lake Erie - great view of sunsets
Shingle style (natural wood shingles later painted white)
Tower with "candlesnuffer" roof
Floating gable whose four windows are sheltered by a bowed-out area
35'x72'; with 9 bedrooms in second story
Interior: hardwood in part; one coat plaster

Common shingle style features still found on this house:

Spreads low against the ground on a heavy stone foundation
Qualities of weight, density, and permanence are pronounced
Asymmetrical forms
Shingles form a continuous covering, stretched smooth over roof lines and around corners in a kind of contoured envelope
Rounded contours sheltered by a broad and overhanging roof. The sweep of the roof may continue to the first floor level providing cover for porches, or is steeply pitched and multi-planed.
Broad gables
The eaves of the roof are close to the walls so as not to distract from the homogeneous and monochromatic shingle covering
Two or three stories tall

Memories of June Cherry Muranyi who lived in the house 1931-38

A previous owner was the Larkin Co.
Another previous owner was Joseph Puglesi, proprietor of Royal Linen, 208-210 Terrace, Buffalo
1931-38 the owners were Messrs. Bellanca and Barone
Known as "The Lake Shore Villa"
In the "big house" there were 4 flats: two on the first floor, one over the porte cochere, one in the front tower
In the main house there was a large chandelier in the living room.
In the living room there were cushioned window seats large enough for people to sleep on
The property extended to the railroad tracks
A 7-car garage had a second floor flat
There was a gas house near Stratford Rd. (Terrace?)
Stratford was originally tennis courts
There was an ice house
Two chicken coops were turned into summer cottages (Dr. Greco was a tenant)
There was another house to the rear of the main house
Towards the rear of the property there was a gate to the Laub estate (north)
During the summers, long tables would be set up in the back for community dinners. The food was Italian.
There were gardens and grape arbors
There were at least 3 or 4 cottages in the back
It was possible to reach the beach through a drain pipe under Lake Shore Road
It was more convenient to reach the lake through a concrete tunnel on the Laub estate that ran under the road. People could walk upright in the tunnel.
Much of the beach has eroded
On the Laub estate, in a barn, there were two coaches

Sources of text:

"Greene Estate" in October 21, 1990 "Buffalo Evening News"

November 21, 1916 "Courier Express" obituary

November 21, 1916 "Buffalo Evening News" obituary