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Griffenstein Mansion
The Greiffenstein Mansion at 10th and Jefferson in Wichita, KS. While confirmation that this was in fact designed-built by W.H. Sternberg has yet to be located, a number of stylistic features very strongly suggest this. Sternberg homes commonly have multiple roof pitches (multiple angles). The Greiffenstein Mansion has at least four different roof pitches - creating a visually stunning roof line. Sternberg was known to "not be afraid" to sharply pitch roofs. A 45 degree pitch is not uncommon at all. Some of the roof pitches on the Griffenstein Mansion are sharper than 45 degrees, which is also seen in other Sternberg-confirmed homes.
Sternberg frequently incorporated diamond shapes in the roofs and/or awnings of homes he designed and built. Diamond shapes (as can be seen here) are known to have been incorporated into other confirmed Sternberg-built homes such as the M.J. Oliver residence and Sternberg Mansion. On the ultra high-end homes such as Greiffenstein Mansion above (and Sternberg Mansion), Sternberg often incorporated an additional design feature, that being a related but different geometric design at the very apex of the roof line. On the Greiffenstein Mansion above, the result was half diamond designs at the apex, while the other geometric designs are full diamonds. In Sternberg Mansion, this design configuration was a string of conjoined "Vs" creating a zig-zag line at the apex (resembling half-diamonds, yet somewhat different) with full diamonds for all other areas of the roof. These two roofs are quite similar with zig-zags at the very apex and full diamonds elsewhere throughout the roof. Sternberg mansion is about 4 blocks from where the Greiffenstein Mansion was located. In fact when this photo was taken, if you looked out the front door of the Greiffenstein Mansion and straight down the street, you could have clearly seen Sternberg Mansion in your view. There were fewer trees then as compared to now and Sternberg Mansion, like the Greiffenstein Mansion was taller than the tree line - even if there were trees in the way.
So the use of diamond designs in the roof and related diamond designs at the apex is probably the strongest stylistic evidence that the Greiffenstein Mansion was designed & built by W.H. Sternberg - a similar design was also used in Sternberg's own home. See authentic 1886 drawing of Sternberg Mansion for this design configuration.
The front porch (visible in the photo) is somewhat unique in that the balausters curve and flare out towards the bottom of the front stairs. The vast majority of staircases on even many high-end homes were parallel and straight from top to bottom. Whether indoors or outdoors, the vast majority of staircases are not this flaring, sweeping type. Sternberg was known to have used this flaring, curving design in other homes which are confirmed he designed-built. There is no functional need for a flaring staircase - it's simply a for style and Sternberg was known for suggesting unique styles to home builders - something to set them apart.
Sternberg spent his early years (until he was about 40) operating a architectural millwork business and designing and building homes in New York State - a hot bed for trend-setting architectural design. Evidence indicates that he traveled to Paris in 1855 and attended the World's Fair where upon his return he is credited with having introduced the french-designed Mansard-style roof in New York State - a style that was wildly popular with Victorians in part because this design significantly opened up usable floor space in what would otherwise have been the attic, yet because it was still "the attic", there were generally no taxes assessed on this extra space.
Sternberg was the preeminent designer & builder in the Wichita area when the Greiffenstein Mansion was built and William Greiffenstein was one of the wealthiest men in the U.S. As money was not an object for Greiffenstein it's quite likely he used the premier builder for his personal residence. Records indicate this house was built in 1886-1887 at a cost of about $75,000. The incorporation of a central tower in the house while a bit of an unusual feature for Sternberg is not unknown. Indeed one of Sternberg's own homes in Norwich, New York used a similar tower design but was open-aired at the top (a "look-out" of sorts) and capped with a curved top. A strikingly similar design (open-aired tower with a curved top) could be seen on the carriage entry to the Oak Davidson Residence (see Davidson residence photos).
This view of the Greiffenstein Mansion is of the front entrance facing east down 10th Street. It would have been a grand view - about four blocks long to Waco Avenue. This beautiful structure sustained a massive fire in later years and it largely gone today, but remnants of it's grand past still remain including massive limestone foundation blocks, portions of flooring and railings and delightful fountains (not visible in this photo) in the front yard. Additional photos show the fountains.
Fountains are yet another design that Sternberg is known to have incorporated into both residential and commercial buildings. Normally there he just used one fountain for a house and sometimes it was little more than a pipe with a spray, but for the Greiffenstein Mansion (one of the grandest homes in the State), he incoporated TWO fountains. The Greiffenstein Mansion is the only residence in the area known to have two fountains.
Griffenstein Mansion
The Greiffenstein Mansion at 10th and Jefferson in Wichita, KS. While confirmation that this was in fact designed-built by W.H. Sternberg has yet to be located, a number of stylistic features very strongly suggest this. Sternberg homes commonly have multiple roof pitches (multiple angles). The Greiffenstein Mansion has at least four different roof pitches - creating a visually stunning roof line. Sternberg was known to "not be afraid" to sharply pitch roofs. A 45 degree pitch is not uncommon at all. Some of the roof pitches on the Griffenstein Mansion are sharper than 45 degrees, which is also seen in other Sternberg-confirmed homes.
Sternberg frequently incorporated diamond shapes in the roofs and/or awnings of homes he designed and built. Diamond shapes (as can be seen here) are known to have been incorporated into other confirmed Sternberg-built homes such as the M.J. Oliver residence and Sternberg Mansion. On the ultra high-end homes such as Greiffenstein Mansion above (and Sternberg Mansion), Sternberg often incorporated an additional design feature, that being a related but different geometric design at the very apex of the roof line. On the Greiffenstein Mansion above, the result was half diamond designs at the apex, while the other geometric designs are full diamonds. In Sternberg Mansion, this design configuration was a string of conjoined "Vs" creating a zig-zag line at the apex (resembling half-diamonds, yet somewhat different) with full diamonds for all other areas of the roof. These two roofs are quite similar with zig-zags at the very apex and full diamonds elsewhere throughout the roof. Sternberg mansion is about 4 blocks from where the Greiffenstein Mansion was located. In fact when this photo was taken, if you looked out the front door of the Greiffenstein Mansion and straight down the street, you could have clearly seen Sternberg Mansion in your view. There were fewer trees then as compared to now and Sternberg Mansion, like the Greiffenstein Mansion was taller than the tree line - even if there were trees in the way.
So the use of diamond designs in the roof and related diamond designs at the apex is probably the strongest stylistic evidence that the Greiffenstein Mansion was designed & built by W.H. Sternberg - a similar design was also used in Sternberg's own home. See authentic 1886 drawing of Sternberg Mansion for this design configuration.
The front porch (visible in the photo) is somewhat unique in that the balausters curve and flare out towards the bottom of the front stairs. The vast majority of staircases on even many high-end homes were parallel and straight from top to bottom. Whether indoors or outdoors, the vast majority of staircases are not this flaring, sweeping type. Sternberg was known to have used this flaring, curving design in other homes which are confirmed he designed-built. There is no functional need for a flaring staircase - it's simply a for style and Sternberg was known for suggesting unique styles to home builders - something to set them apart.
Sternberg spent his early years (until he was about 40) operating a architectural millwork business and designing and building homes in New York State - a hot bed for trend-setting architectural design. Evidence indicates that he traveled to Paris in 1855 and attended the World's Fair where upon his return he is credited with having introduced the french-designed Mansard-style roof in New York State - a style that was wildly popular with Victorians in part because this design significantly opened up usable floor space in what would otherwise have been the attic, yet because it was still "the attic", there were generally no taxes assessed on this extra space.
Sternberg was the preeminent designer & builder in the Wichita area when the Greiffenstein Mansion was built and William Greiffenstein was one of the wealthiest men in the U.S. As money was not an object for Greiffenstein it's quite likely he used the premier builder for his personal residence. Records indicate this house was built in 1886-1887 at a cost of about $75,000. The incorporation of a central tower in the house while a bit of an unusual feature for Sternberg is not unknown. Indeed one of Sternberg's own homes in Norwich, New York used a similar tower design but was open-aired at the top (a "look-out" of sorts) and capped with a curved top. A strikingly similar design (open-aired tower with a curved top) could be seen on the carriage entry to the Oak Davidson Residence (see Davidson residence photos).
This view of the Greiffenstein Mansion is of the front entrance facing east down 10th Street. It would have been a grand view - about four blocks long to Waco Avenue. This beautiful structure sustained a massive fire in later years and it largely gone today, but remnants of it's grand past still remain including massive limestone foundation blocks, portions of flooring and railings and delightful fountains (not visible in this photo) in the front yard. Additional photos show the fountains.
Fountains are yet another design that Sternberg is known to have incorporated into both residential and commercial buildings. Normally there he just used one fountain for a house and sometimes it was little more than a pipe with a spray, but for the Greiffenstein Mansion (one of the grandest homes in the State), he incoporated TWO fountains. The Greiffenstein Mansion is the only residence in the area known to have two fountains.