Graycliff Chronology
1925
Darwin D. Martin retires from Larkin Company
1926
April - DDM writes to FLW requesting 1910 Bay Beach Cottage design; DDM is considering building on shores of Lake Erie
April 18 - DDM looks at site in Derby, New York
April 19 - DDM purchases 250-foot front on Lake Erie, with a 60- foot cliff
April 21 - DDM informs FLW that he's not interested in 1910 cottage design, but a two-story stone house designed by Frank E. Newman for E.W. Russell of Greenwich, Connecticut
May 3 – FLW sends DDM preliminary drawings
May 5 - DDM informs FLW that Isabelle R. Martin is FLW's client
August 19-20 - FLW in Buffalo to see site
September - Construction on garage begins. Due to marital problems, FLW asks his son John Lloyd Wright to take over the project; the Martins do no approve the change
November – FLW resumes his service to the Martins; construction continues on the site
1927
April 5-6 – FLW visits site
June 4 - DDM writes to FLW of the completion of the foundation of the main house
June 15-16 – FLW visits site
Aug. 31-Sept. 2 - Chimney and masonry of main house completed
September – FLW finalizes designs for landscape, tennis court, circle, and guest house; the guest house was not executed. Furniture designs by FLW are executed
1928
March 10, 12 - Furniture bought for main house
June 20 - Martins "open" house
September 20 - Paul A. Harsh, a house guest at Graycliff, suggests the name, "Graycliff"
1929
April - Isabelle R. Martin asks FLW to design a screened walk to cross the esplanade behind the stone bench for servants
June 15 - FLW visits site
July -Martins request FLW design a "concrete tent house" for the Foster family (unexecuted). Martins request FLW design a third floor to the main house (unexecuted)
July 29 - Construction on evergreen garden, stone seat begins. FLW selects and ships furnishings for the main house from Marshall Fields in Chicago; FLW suggests Wicker and overstuffed chairs for the main house
1930
Grandchildren Margaret Foster (Jan) and Darwin Martin Foster (Nov) born
1935
December 17 - DDM passes away. Isabelle R. Martin continues to summer at the site.
1938
November - Engineering report on site compiled by G.E. Seitzmiller for insurance purposes.
1941
Isabelle R. Martin continues to summer at the site, but moves into the garage apartment
1943
Isabelle R. Martin spends her last summer at the site; she moves permanently to Buffalo to live with the Foster family
1945
February 22 - IRM passes away. Stewardship of the site falls to a holding company belonging to Darwin R. Martin, son of DDM
1950
Piarist Fathers, a Hungarian order, purchases the site from Darwin R. Martin
Mid-1950s
Chapel addition constructed over south terrace of main house. Garage addition and storage building constructed
1956
School building/dormitory constructed to house Hungarian and, later, Cuban refugees
1958
Fall - FLW visits the site, dies the following year
1996
7 Piarist Fathers place property for sale.
1997
March - Graycliff Conservancy formed to acquire and restore site.
December 4 - Down payment to Piarist Fathers by Conservancy
1998
August 6 - Graycliff Designated a State Landmark
October 30 - Graycliff Awarded $10,000 Grant for Historic Structures Report by Preservation League of NY
November – Baird Foundation guarantees mortgage; Graycliff Conservancy signs contact to purchase the site.
1999
April 5 –Deed Transferred to Conservancy
Graycliff Begins Phase 0 of Restoration
May 7 - Graycliff Conservancy Receives Preservation League Award
June - Landmark Society Honors Carol Bronnenkant, Founding President, at Award Ceremony
November - Graycliff Conservancy, Inc. and Jack Quinan each awarded Wright Spirit Awards by FLW Building Conservancy
Graycliff Begins Phase I of Restoration
December - AIA Supports Restoration of Graycliff Estate
2000
March - Graycliff Conservancy Receives $145,000 in State Funding
May 17-Graycliff Receives Donation of Historic Photograph Collection
Graycliff Conservancy Receives Grant from Kress Foundation
July 27 - Graycliff Conservancy Receives Major Archival Donation
July 25 - Graycliff Estate Receives $500,000 Grant
2001
Estate To Receive New York State Funding for restoration of windows and doors
Graycliff Begins Phase II of Restoration
First Niagara Bank & East Hill Foundation Fund Gift Shop and Historic Exhibits
October 31- Visitor Center Ribbon-Cutting
2002
Margaret L. Wendt Foundation Funds Restoration
John R. Oishei Foundation Awards Restoration Funding
2003
Graycliff Awarded Prestigious Save America’s Treasures Grant
Diane Chrisman to Replace Carol Bronnenkant as New President of Graycliff Conservancy Board
Graycliff begins Phase IIIA of Restoration
2004
Graycliff receives Federal Appropriation for Visitor Readiness
Reine Hauser appointed first Executive Director
2005
Wendt-Pierce Family Trust provides funding for restoration of historic gardens and grounds
East Hill Foundation underwrites restoration of Isabelle’s Balcony
2006
John R. Oishei Foundation Provides Funding for Restoration of Foster House
2007
Margaret L. Wendt Foundation Funds Restoration of Foster House
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Awards Funding for Restoration of North Terrace, Isabelle R. Martin House
Graycliff Conservancy receives major funding from New York State for restoration of historic gardens and grounds
New York State Council on the Arts provides funding for Graycliff lecture series
Graycliff begins Phase IIIB of restoration
2008
Keybank grant awarded to Graycliff Conservancy for Marketing
M&T Charitable Foundation provides support for restoration of historic gardens and grounds
Schichtel Nurseries; Balbach Family Foundation; Phyllis Pierce Trust provide funding for restoration of historic grounds and gardens
Graycliff featured in August issue of Town and Country Magazine
New York State Council on Arts; Cannon Design underwrites lecture series
2009
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo awards support for restoration of historic grounds and gardens
NYS Support to Graycliff Conservancy for marketing with support of Assemblyman Jack Quinn III
Graycliff Conservancy historic grounds and gardens receives major support from Saperston Family Foundation
Patrick J. Mahoney, AIA, assumes Presidency of Graycliff Conservancy
2010
Graycliff Conservancy selected to participate in Harvard-Flickinger Governance Project
Graycliff Conservancy selected to participate in the Fund for the Arts pilot program
Original Table Returns to Graycliff with help of Hooper Family Foundation
Fire Suppression System Completed in Foster House
East Hill Foundation Pledges Support; Historic Landscape Restoration Planning Intensifies
First Graycliff Gala held