kendahlarama
Maurice W. Levy Mansion; Wichita, KS
The Maurice W. Levy Mansion at 204 North Topeka in Wichita, KS was designed and built by William Henry Sternberg (1832 - 1906). Mr. Levy was originally from California and started working for the Wichita National Bank as a cashier. He became president of the bank in 1887 and erected this house at that time. Scant few pictures of this house exist today. Interior woodwook was undoubtedly of the finest quality. No known interior photos exist, but from the exterior, it appears to follow a familiar Sternberg floor plan. Note the arched window in the middle of the fireplace flue. This window was likely over the mantle of the fireplace on the first floor. The roof was slate, but instead of diamond designs in the roof, Sternberg incorporated a geometric flower design. This grand residence was the home of the Wichita Commercial Club for many years (equivalent to the Chamber of Commerce today). This home "hung on" for years until commercial development finally overtook it to make room for a parking lot.
Years before this house was built, Sternberg was promoting himself as both an “architect and builder” of homes, specifically “designing and drafting” services. An advertisement for Sternberg, Hall & Co in the 1869 - 1870 Chenango County, New York Directory noted, “Being Architects and Builders themselves, they know just what is wanted for a house and how to prepare it. Give them your patronage if you would have everything in first-class style.” Some have tended to think of W.H. Sternberg as mainly a contractor, but indeed the architecting and design services that he did himself were a substantial portion of his business.
There is only one half-moon window in this entire house - that on the third floor over the main entryway overlooking the front of the residence. Other confirmed Sternberg-designed and built homes also have only one half-moon window and those windows are also only on the third floor, although the exact positioning of them on the third floor varies. More often than not those half-moon windows overlook the front of the residence. The exception to this would be Sternberg Mansion in which the third floor half-moon window faces south overlooking the main portion of the block
Comments, suggestions, information and ideas are all welcome and appreciated!
This photo courtesy of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, (www.WichitaHistory.org).
Maurice W. Levy Mansion; Wichita, KS
The Maurice W. Levy Mansion at 204 North Topeka in Wichita, KS was designed and built by William Henry Sternberg (1832 - 1906). Mr. Levy was originally from California and started working for the Wichita National Bank as a cashier. He became president of the bank in 1887 and erected this house at that time. Scant few pictures of this house exist today. Interior woodwook was undoubtedly of the finest quality. No known interior photos exist, but from the exterior, it appears to follow a familiar Sternberg floor plan. Note the arched window in the middle of the fireplace flue. This window was likely over the mantle of the fireplace on the first floor. The roof was slate, but instead of diamond designs in the roof, Sternberg incorporated a geometric flower design. This grand residence was the home of the Wichita Commercial Club for many years (equivalent to the Chamber of Commerce today). This home "hung on" for years until commercial development finally overtook it to make room for a parking lot.
Years before this house was built, Sternberg was promoting himself as both an “architect and builder” of homes, specifically “designing and drafting” services. An advertisement for Sternberg, Hall & Co in the 1869 - 1870 Chenango County, New York Directory noted, “Being Architects and Builders themselves, they know just what is wanted for a house and how to prepare it. Give them your patronage if you would have everything in first-class style.” Some have tended to think of W.H. Sternberg as mainly a contractor, but indeed the architecting and design services that he did himself were a substantial portion of his business.
There is only one half-moon window in this entire house - that on the third floor over the main entryway overlooking the front of the residence. Other confirmed Sternberg-designed and built homes also have only one half-moon window and those windows are also only on the third floor, although the exact positioning of them on the third floor varies. More often than not those half-moon windows overlook the front of the residence. The exception to this would be Sternberg Mansion in which the third floor half-moon window faces south overlooking the main portion of the block
Comments, suggestions, information and ideas are all welcome and appreciated!
This photo courtesy of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, (www.WichitaHistory.org).