Walter’s work with the Master
Walter Hall would become best known for his work on Frank Llyod Wright’s Fallingwater.
Walter and Ray (son) laying the slate terrace at Fallingwater. Courtesy Young Family.
Walter and his brother Howard standing on the terrace of the guest house at Fallingwater. Courtesy Young Family.
Walter and workers he brought from Port Allegany.
Walter received the offer to become the chief contractor – after previous contractors either walked off the job or where fired due to the complexities of the design – in 1936. An avid admirer of Wright, Walter accepted the challenge for the whopping salary of $50 a week.
Their relationship was fraught with differences from the start – but their is no doubt that Walter put his dream on hold for the opportunity to work with the “Master.”
Upon the completion of Fallingwater, and the complete disintegration of his relationship with Wright, Walter returned to Lynn Hall to pick up where he left off and opened the roadside resturant portion of Lynn Hall.
Less than a year later, Walter would drop everything again at the bequest of Edgar Kaufmann Sr., and return to Bear Run to begin construction of the quest cottage. With Wright distracted with other important projects, it is said that Walter’s creative touch is most evident in what would become Mrs. Kaufmann’s favorite part of Fallingwater.