Day 2 - Seth Peterson Cottage

We started out the day with another fun hour long trip on the subway. We met a lady who was a bit dismayed that Jon wasn’t helping me carry my giant suitcase up and down the stairs. I said I enjoyed the bruises on my legs from banging my 50lb suitcase up and down stairs and through turnstiles. Jon is feeling very smug about the fact that he can walk around with greater ease, however, I haven’t gotten over the experience of backpacking through Tibet and Nepal.

We went to National to rent our car. We picked out a brand new red PT Cruiser Limited Edition. Kim really had her eye on a new VW Beetle convertible. The guy behind the counter said there was no way they’d give that car out on a one way trip and looking at Jon also added there’d be no way he could afford it!

Once we cleared Chicago, we stopped for provisions. I had to carry Kim kicking and screaming into Walmart. Once she saw the low, low Walmart prices I couldn’t get her out of the store. (Yes, I have to admit that the prices were good, but I will remain ever vigilant and return back to my boycott of Sam Walton products.)

We made a quick stop at a Wisconsin cheese shop and had our picture taken with Sissie, the giant talking cow. Jon, of course, had to climb under her belly for his photo opportunity and suffice it to say, play with Sissie’s private parts. I just hope none of the passersby were impressionable young children. Jon said, “Those were some sweet udders!”



When we got to the Seth Peterson Cottage it was everything and more than we’d hoped it would be, a beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright work of art in the middle of a wooded setting. The house sits on a hill overlooking Mirror Lake. The house, like all of FLW’s homes gives you the illusion of having the outdoors come into the structure. The house was constructed mostly of glass and stone with some wood accents. It seemed surreal sitting in a FLW home, relaxing on the furniture and drinking a cold, delicious Leinkugel Red! We both felt one night at this remarkable setting just wouldn’t be enough.













We went for a beautiful scenic canoe ride down through the narrows and out to the main body of the lake. Later, we fixed dinner on the grill and ended the evening with a fire in the fireplace. We felt at home in this fabulous home.



The home was built in 1959 for Seth Peterson, a young, successful computer expert. Seth, a FLW groupie met and befriended the Wrights. Frank, often strapped for cash, was finally obligated to design the plans after cashing the $1500.00 check given to him by Seth. The cottage underwent construction, however, Seth never saw the completed project as he committed suicide. He was only 24.