BIG Projects at Lewis spring house
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DETERMINING IF THE SPRING CAN BE RESTORED
January 21, 2023, Chris Ballard, Senior Geologist from Tallahassee, began the first physical steps of determining if the SPRING, the REASON George and Clifton Lewis chose the land that Frank Lloyd Wright designed their home for, can be restored! The spring is WHAT Mr. Wright USED TO SITE Spring House by; and it is what George Lewis NAMED Spring House FOR! It is vital to the story and the experience of the existence of Spring House in Leon County, Florida. Years of thinking, researching, writing emails and ultimately a letter about the importance of Spring House in Frank Lloyd Wright's legacy, and the spring to the house, from the president of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, Barbara Gordon, was sent to the all Leon County Commissioners and Tallahassee City Commissioners in 2021, which eventually culminated in Chris' visit and work so far. Chris used 3' sections of steel pipe with a "bucket" attached to the end of an hand auger and turned the handle down into the ground near where the spring use to bubble up out of the ground. He pulled the bucket up and emptied out the mix of clay, dirt and sand that filled the bucket each time another section of pipe was added. He was hoping to hit water and if he did, to measure how far down he had to "drill" to hit it. We (Chris, Seth Coffin, Byrd Lewis Mashburn) began to see more and more moisture in the clay/dirt/sand, and the colors of the soil changed each time as well. He hit water at 6.5', SLOSHING WATER at the next pipe section! He added more sections and then took the final 13' of pipe and bucket out and put 15' of "slotted" PVC pipe down that will only let groundwater in the slotted pipe. Next he filled up around that pipe with filter sand to a certain height and filled up the rest with bentonite so as soon as it rained (it did that night) would seal the hole so no water from the top could get in the slotted pipe. He has an instrument that when he removed the cap at the top of the pipe, he dropped down and when that instrument hits water it beeps and he can see measurements on the instrument of how far down from ground level, the water is. After he finished this process the ground water level was five feet below ground. He will return once a month and measure, keeping records on how the ground water level goes up and down during our droughts and rainy seasons to find out if the spring can be restored to the full time flow of water it had been historically. Stay tuned! POD ... A TABLE DESIGNED FOR SPRING HOUSE BY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
Starting in June, 2022, John, a good friend and neighbor asked Byrd "Don't you have the plans for all of the furniture Frank Lloyd Wright designed for Spring House?" The answer is yes! John said his brother, Mike, is a cabinet maker and loves Mr. Wright's work and might want to build one of his designs, "...do you want me to ask him?" PLEASE! So John told Mike about the four matching tables designed for the living room in Spring House and would he be interested in building one if John paid for the materials? Mike said he would like very much to do that! It took him a whole month of research, finding the best materials, figuring out the plans that seemed to be missing some sketches, and building the table! The table was mailed to John who brought it to Spring House in August, 2022. Mike donated the materials and his and Louise' work (his wife who took the photos) and John paid for the shipping to get it from Michigan to Tallahassee. It is a stunning piece of craftsmanship! Spring House Institute is so grateful for this beautiful and first piece of Spring House furniture since the house was built, for the generosity of John, Mike and Louise! Thank you three!!!. An extensive foundation no one knew would be needed for Spring House, took funds designated for other parts of Frank Lloyd Wright's vision. Come hear the stories on a Personal Tour! The photos below are copyrighted for Spring House only. Thank you for your integrity. REPAIRING AND REHANGING THE FOLDING SCREEN IN THE BOYS' BEDROOM
On December 20, 2020, Seth Coffin, who suggested he might be able to get the bent track for the folding screen in the boys' room back to its original shape; remove, clean and oil the hardware on the top of the screen so everything rolled smoothly again; and get help rehanging the screen rather than build a new one of lighter wood was able to do that! He brought the track and hardware back when Joel Walter and his wife Leah made a Christmas visit 2020, to Lewis Spring House to do volunteer work on their way to their vacation in Key West. Seth reattached the hardware back to the top of the screen and then the two of them slid the screen back on the track. It had to be sitting on the floor to do this, then they lifted it to the top of the parapet wall and screwed the track back into the groove in the ceiling made for that purpose. It was a balancing act and took about three hours and they did it! Having the working screen back in place means the boys' room can now be heated in the winter! What a luxury since currently there is no working furnace in the house.
BUILDING A NEW BUT TEMPORARY ROOF OVER THE WASHHOUSE
June 21, June 28, July 5, July 12, July 26 2020 On June 21, 2020, Seth, Matt, Diana, Victoria and Byrd started removing the wooden frame that had held tarps covering the washhouse since 1998 when the old roof from the entrance to Spring House all the way over the car port and the washhouse was removed and not able to be rebuilt at that time. We measured and planned for the next step to be done on June 28 and continuing Sundays through July 26.
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SETTING POSTS AND HANGING GATES ETC MARCH 30 & APRIL 3, 2019
On 3-30-19, Joel and Leah, new volunteers from Columbus, Ohio!! worked two days at Spring House on their way to Key West for their spring break! Joel is a plumber by trade and has many other skills he used fixing things around the house those first two days and Leah did awesome work in the plant and flower beds around the entrance. They returned on April 2 & 3 and cut and set the four 6" x 6" posts in concrete with Seth and Avery and then Seth returned the next Wednesday and hung the two gates! Such great Friends of Spring House, ALL! THANK YOU!
On 3-30-19, Joel and Leah, new volunteers from Columbus, Ohio!! worked two days at Spring House on their way to Key West for their spring break! Joel is a plumber by trade and has many other skills he used fixing things around the house those first two days and Leah did awesome work in the plant and flower beds around the entrance. They returned on April 2 & 3 and cut and set the four 6" x 6" posts in concrete with Seth and Avery and then Seth returned the next Wednesday and hung the two gates! Such great Friends of Spring House, ALL! THANK YOU!
TAKING DOWN HURRICANE MICHAEL DAMAGED AND DANGEROUS TREES – MARCH 15, 2019
On 3-15-19 Crickett's Tree Service arrived to take down and remove the remainder of large damaged tree limbs and trees from Hurricane Michael and three others that were major dangers to Spring House. They took care to protect the "new" concrete entrance as the crane entered the property and were very careful all day to make sure the house was not damaged in the removal of the large live oak limbs broken off in the hurricane as they were carried over the house onto the driveway to be cut up for the stumps around the southwest yard. They cut and removed two large sweet gums, the two closest and most likely to come down on the house and a more than 100' foot pine that if it were to fall would crush the house from stem to stern. One other pine had been seriously damaged in Michael and was only being held up by a smaller pine it was leaning against. It was a very dangerous tree to cut and fall but they did it safely. This we chose to leave laying on the ground in pieces because removal would have torn up our trail. Thank you for the safety and good work!
On 3-15-19 Crickett's Tree Service arrived to take down and remove the remainder of large damaged tree limbs and trees from Hurricane Michael and three others that were major dangers to Spring House. They took care to protect the "new" concrete entrance as the crane entered the property and were very careful all day to make sure the house was not damaged in the removal of the large live oak limbs broken off in the hurricane as they were carried over the house onto the driveway to be cut up for the stumps around the southwest yard. They cut and removed two large sweet gums, the two closest and most likely to come down on the house and a more than 100' foot pine that if it were to fall would crush the house from stem to stern. One other pine had been seriously damaged in Michael and was only being held up by a smaller pine it was leaning against. It was a very dangerous tree to cut and fall but they did it safely. This we chose to leave laying on the ground in pieces because removal would have torn up our trail. Thank you for the safety and good work!
EXTRA DRAINAGE ON OKEEHEEPKEE ROAD – APRIL13 Thru MAY 19, 2017
From 4-13-17 to 5-19-17 Leon County Public Works installed two new concrete aprons and concrete drainage boxes on Okeeheepkee Road to help alleviate drainage issues that have been causing serious erosion on Spring House property since an illegal and non-functioning holding pond was built south and adjacent to Spring House property line in 1985. Before the holding pond was removed it had ruined the spring on Spring House property, one of the main reasons Clifton and George Lewis bought the land. The developer of Woodmont Retirement Home (now Pacifica Woodmont) during the planning phase moved the location of the pond on the plans, didn't tell the County and the County didn't find the change and approved the pond for the other side of Okeeheepkee Road and on the Woodmont Property. So, finally in 2017, Leon County decided to try and help a continuing damaging and bad situation by improving drainage that has helped the water coming down the road but where the pond was is much steeper toward the spring head on Spring House property and erosion continues on the spring head wall, caving in more wall and moving towards the house. Thank you Leon County for better drainage on Okeeheepkee Road.
From 4-13-17 to 5-19-17 Leon County Public Works installed two new concrete aprons and concrete drainage boxes on Okeeheepkee Road to help alleviate drainage issues that have been causing serious erosion on Spring House property since an illegal and non-functioning holding pond was built south and adjacent to Spring House property line in 1985. Before the holding pond was removed it had ruined the spring on Spring House property, one of the main reasons Clifton and George Lewis bought the land. The developer of Woodmont Retirement Home (now Pacifica Woodmont) during the planning phase moved the location of the pond on the plans, didn't tell the County and the County didn't find the change and approved the pond for the other side of Okeeheepkee Road and on the Woodmont Property. So, finally in 2017, Leon County decided to try and help a continuing damaging and bad situation by improving drainage that has helped the water coming down the road but where the pond was is much steeper toward the spring head on Spring House property and erosion continues on the spring head wall, caving in more wall and moving towards the house. Thank you Leon County for better drainage on Okeeheepkee Road.
–TWO NEW SUPPORTS March 22, 2015
A great day at Spring House today! A project recommended by Jeff Baker and Mat Daw that has been sitting in the wings for about 1.5 years has been safely accomplished! AND paid for! Pete arrived before Byrd, to take high-def video for the documentary he is making, then Brad arrived. Brad had already brought the platforms for the scaffolding and the locking wheels, and today brought the metal frames and started unloading them. Seth arrived and helped unload and bring into the house. Then we spread out the copy of the plans I have on the round table and started looking for the page with the roof structure on it. Scott arrived and then Frost. It was great to have so many hands, eyes and brains on this very delicate job! :) You can't push up, but you have to meet and secure the supports to the ceiling and attach to the structural beams through the ceiling, and shim from the bottom up and level on two sides. We had to find out where the beams should be. The first set of the roof structure beams on the left side of the construction door were not at the angle we had all imagined they would be on the plans, but more like 45º to the upright that is there. Seth said, "Did you make any coffee yet Byrd?" So I did! The scaffolding started going up with everyone's help and when all the pieces were together and secured, Brad and Frost measured the length of the existing support by the door joist, then they measured and cut the 16' 2x10s the correct lengths and drilled holes and screwed the perpendicular piece to each support. Then they stood one set upright, mostly, and carried it between the scaffolding and the round table as Frost held the top of it from upstairs. They set the bottom on the two smaller pieces on the floor and Frost held the top as Seth lined up the bottom and hammered the two smaller pieces towards the glass wall and that upright. It took some shifting and shimming to satisfy the level on two directions (and the eyes) and then Brad screwed the top piece (like the two bottom pieces on the floor, but only one on the top) into the ceiling and then into the roof structure, then he screwed the upright support into the top piece and then came down and screwed the support to the bottom pieces (that are screwed together.) We all exclaimed and clapped, HOORAY!!! Then they did the next one! We finished by 11:30, much sooner than Brad had expected, so all the hands, eyes and brains helped! PLUS, we went to see the spring head, talked about that some and the pond, and dug red buckeyes and a trillium for Frost and Seth. A great day and accomplishment! Thank you everyone!!!
A great day at Spring House today! A project recommended by Jeff Baker and Mat Daw that has been sitting in the wings for about 1.5 years has been safely accomplished! AND paid for! Pete arrived before Byrd, to take high-def video for the documentary he is making, then Brad arrived. Brad had already brought the platforms for the scaffolding and the locking wheels, and today brought the metal frames and started unloading them. Seth arrived and helped unload and bring into the house. Then we spread out the copy of the plans I have on the round table and started looking for the page with the roof structure on it. Scott arrived and then Frost. It was great to have so many hands, eyes and brains on this very delicate job! :) You can't push up, but you have to meet and secure the supports to the ceiling and attach to the structural beams through the ceiling, and shim from the bottom up and level on two sides. We had to find out where the beams should be. The first set of the roof structure beams on the left side of the construction door were not at the angle we had all imagined they would be on the plans, but more like 45º to the upright that is there. Seth said, "Did you make any coffee yet Byrd?" So I did! The scaffolding started going up with everyone's help and when all the pieces were together and secured, Brad and Frost measured the length of the existing support by the door joist, then they measured and cut the 16' 2x10s the correct lengths and drilled holes and screwed the perpendicular piece to each support. Then they stood one set upright, mostly, and carried it between the scaffolding and the round table as Frost held the top of it from upstairs. They set the bottom on the two smaller pieces on the floor and Frost held the top as Seth lined up the bottom and hammered the two smaller pieces towards the glass wall and that upright. It took some shifting and shimming to satisfy the level on two directions (and the eyes) and then Brad screwed the top piece (like the two bottom pieces on the floor, but only one on the top) into the ceiling and then into the roof structure, then he screwed the upright support into the top piece and then came down and screwed the support to the bottom pieces (that are screwed together.) We all exclaimed and clapped, HOORAY!!! Then they did the next one! We finished by 11:30, much sooner than Brad had expected, so all the hands, eyes and brains helped! PLUS, we went to see the spring head, talked about that some and the pond, and dug red buckeyes and a trillium for Frost and Seth. A great day and accomplishment! Thank you everyone!!!
CLEARING THE WILLOWS OUT OF THE POND
JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2015 – FROM THE BOAT, then continuing on July 25 and every 4th Saturday of the month thru DECEMBER 19, 2015! WE FINISHED THIS HUGE PROJECT!
I met George Edward down a steep clay road covered in leaves I had questions about if I could get back up it in my truck; it hadn't been long since the last rain. I decided he wouldn't have sent me down it if he wasn't pretty certain it would work out ok. His john boat was at the bottom of the hill, we picked it up, knocking the dirt out of it where the armadillos had been digging and managed to get it in the bed of my truck. GE tied it in good, and I started back up the hill, towards the top I could feel the leaves slipping but got on the pavement just in time. I called Seth and Avery on the way over to Spring House. GE had figured out where to get it in the pond easiest, and they met me there, the three of us got it out of my truck and into the pond. Seth, Avery, Frost and I started working on this project that Marnie and Jay thought of in 2013. It was very hard work from the boat. Avery came ashore and he and I carried the trees from the shore and made stacks to move later. We decided that if the stream and pond dried up again we'd use it to our advantage to clear the pond. WATCH OUT WILLOWS, HERE WE COME!
The fourth Saturday of every month we have a work morning at Spring House from 9 to noon during the warm seasons, and from 2 to 5 pm when it gets cold. In 2014 late spring, the stream slowed and the pond started drying up. When it got really low, we tried to get together to cut the willows when we could walk out on the pond bed. The weekend we planned to do it, we weren't able to and by the next weekend it had rained so much that the pond had filled up and the stream was running! No kidding! This year the stream dried up in June and the pond was dry by July 25, work morning. Seth, Glenn, Diana, Susan, Avery, Byrd and Patsy started the dry pond clearing. We got much done but there was much more to do. Diana, a dedicated FOSH, had the idea of asking her family, friends and co-workers to celebrate her birthday by working at Spring House to do more wok on the pond! It was a great day of work!! So many of Diana's friends and Spring House volunteers did an amazing amount of work that day! It's going to be beautiful! September we worked again, it seems the closer we get to done, the more there is to do! October, November December! Look for more photos and dates to be added about this awesome project! THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HAD A HAND IN IT!
I met George Edward down a steep clay road covered in leaves I had questions about if I could get back up it in my truck; it hadn't been long since the last rain. I decided he wouldn't have sent me down it if he wasn't pretty certain it would work out ok. His john boat was at the bottom of the hill, we picked it up, knocking the dirt out of it where the armadillos had been digging and managed to get it in the bed of my truck. GE tied it in good, and I started back up the hill, towards the top I could feel the leaves slipping but got on the pavement just in time. I called Seth and Avery on the way over to Spring House. GE had figured out where to get it in the pond easiest, and they met me there, the three of us got it out of my truck and into the pond. Seth, Avery, Frost and I started working on this project that Marnie and Jay thought of in 2013. It was very hard work from the boat. Avery came ashore and he and I carried the trees from the shore and made stacks to move later. We decided that if the stream and pond dried up again we'd use it to our advantage to clear the pond. WATCH OUT WILLOWS, HERE WE COME!
The fourth Saturday of every month we have a work morning at Spring House from 9 to noon during the warm seasons, and from 2 to 5 pm when it gets cold. In 2014 late spring, the stream slowed and the pond started drying up. When it got really low, we tried to get together to cut the willows when we could walk out on the pond bed. The weekend we planned to do it, we weren't able to and by the next weekend it had rained so much that the pond had filled up and the stream was running! No kidding! This year the stream dried up in June and the pond was dry by July 25, work morning. Seth, Glenn, Diana, Susan, Avery, Byrd and Patsy started the dry pond clearing. We got much done but there was much more to do. Diana, a dedicated FOSH, had the idea of asking her family, friends and co-workers to celebrate her birthday by working at Spring House to do more wok on the pond! It was a great day of work!! So many of Diana's friends and Spring House volunteers did an amazing amount of work that day! It's going to be beautiful! September we worked again, it seems the closer we get to done, the more there is to do! October, November December! Look for more photos and dates to be added about this awesome project! THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HAD A HAND IN IT!