Francis J. Woolley House

The Francis J. Woolley House is a Queen Anne style residence featuring large projecting bay windows, extended roof overhangs, and horizontal wood clapboarding on a rough stone base. The structure displays both polygonal and rectangular dormers, with the foundation composed of irregularly laid stone that creates visual texture.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed this residence in 1893 while developing his early approach to affordable housing for working families. The house represents an experimental phase when the architect explored practical solutions that would influence his later work.

The residence reflects principles from the Arts and Crafts movement that influenced residential design in early American modernism. Its style represents how teachers like Joseph Silsbee shaped the way homes were built and thought about in that era.

The house sits at 1030 Superior Street and maintains its original structure, allowing visitors to observe the craftsmanship and design details up close. Walking tours of the historic district pass by the property, giving context to how it fits within the neighborhood's architectural story.

The residence displays asymmetrical dormers that demonstrate Wright's experimental approach to roof forms in his early work. These details show how he questioned and reimagined conventional design elements while working on modest houses.

Location: Oak Park

Architects: Frank Lloyd Wright

Architectural style: Queen Anne style architecture

Part of: Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District

GPS coordinates: 41.89306,-87.80083

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:03