I just saw this photo of the new staircase being built to access the Shelton-McMurphy-Johnson House from the south side of the property. I am shocked and disappointed at how wildly inappropriate this massive structure is in comparison to the relatively humble Victorian house. Not to mention total lack of historical presidence as to what was originally in place when the house was first built. Yes, as far as similar structures in Eugene, there are none and the S.M.J. house is by far our most grand surviving Victorian home, but it is by no means worthy of a staircase that would be more fitting as the entrance to a huge (modern) Court House or other massive public building. Originally the terraced south yard was connected by a series of two or three understated stairs that did not appear to even have railings. I of course understand, that now with the house being used as a public venue, safety must be taken into consideration, but low key iron railings could have been installed with great savings and with far more visual and historical success. Massive failure....
Eugene has a bad habit of doing something ugly and costly. So it does not surprize me that these stairs as has been said are clunky out of style for the Victorian home and were costly. Narrow stairs with simple wrought iron is what should have been done. Hopefully it will get changed back to what it should have been.
ReplyDeleteYes. It's a shame that the "architect" for the modern staircase had to create a monument to his own ego. Simple stairs with understated iron pipe handrails would have been much more appropriate than adding an additional and overpowering architectural feature to an important historic building.
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