How to Identify the Genius Architect Behind Maison Steinbuchel

Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness. – Frank Gehry The Architect of our historic home has been a mystery.  The 1992 nomination of our home as a listed Kansas Historic Place includes a discussion of its architectural origins, is the current official information. Before the above research, some suggested […]

Three Reasons For A Natural Red Slate Roof

“David explained that without slates on the roof, the rain would get in. In their way, they were just as important as walls. Dr. Moberley asked David if he was afraid of the rain getting in. David told him that he didn’t like getting wet. It wasn’t so bad outside, especially if you were dressed […]

How To Overcome Inertia And Move Forward

“One thing I learned as a warrior in battle, your own forward momentum will always create opportunities that you will never know if you just sit still” – Barry Loudermilk To overcome inertia on a project gone cold takes serious intentionality.  Once inertia sets in, it seems like concrete, but many times it just needs […]

Education

Essential Education – The Stackman-Steinbüchel Children

I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious – Albert Einstein on Education Maison Steinbüchel, a Kansas State Historic Landmark and our home, is named for the family of Herman Frederick Steinbüchel , the second husband of Marie-Louise Hahn.  I have been digging into the details of the three family lines that converged and […]

The Real Story Of Our Stunning “Tiffany” Window – A Sparkling Jewel

“Color is to the eye what music is to the ear.: – Louis Comfort Tiffany At the first turn of the curved front staircase in our home is a stunning Tiffany style mosaic stained glass window.  We first laid eyes on it the summer of 1987 when we traveled to Kansas on a “pre-house hunting” […]

Three Reasons To Engage In Historic Preservation

We are the only country in the world that trashes its old buildings. Too late we realize how very much we need them. — Jackie Kennedy My leanings to engage in historic preservation had their roots in my childhood.  I was raised by a generation that fixed broken things.  Not so much out of preservation for […]

Who Were The Strong Courageous Women Of Stately Maison Steinbuchel?

“Well-behaved women seldom make history.” — Laurel Thatcher Ulrich Strong, courageous women are not looked down upon much today.  However, in the past, being well-behaved was the virtue that rose to the top of the pile.  While I do not believe one excludes the other at all, sometimes these attributes are judged more in the […]

The Abstract – Maison Steinbuchel’s Personal History

We have the original abstract of our Kansas Historic Landmark home dating back to the land grant of 160 acres from the Osage Land Trust.   In past BLOG posts, I have told how three individual lives, immigrants from France and Germany, converged in Wichita, Kansas.  Through love, hope, taking risks, and even tragedy, the three bloodlines […]

Was ist das Steinbüchel? (What is this Steinbuchel?)

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.   Marcus Garvey   I have been diving into the histories of the several families which converged and eventually made their home at Maison Steinbüchel.  this is the Kansas Historic Landmark where we have made our home […]