website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
George Fred Keck
1935 Built first solar house in Watertown,
Wilde residence, 305 Elizabeth
1940
Octagon House porches being worked on,
April of 2011.
"The
Board of Directors was often plagued with the question of what constituted good
repairs. Were the porches a part of that
pressing need? As early as June 1940, Architect George Fred Keck offered to
draw plans for the porch restoration project.
A year later a five hundred dollar donation accompanied blueprints for
the restoration of the verandas. These
funds were made available from the Honorable Joe. E. Davies, Ambassador to
Belgium and Russia." - John Richards: The Hill and The Mill, page 99.
1981
05 17 Architect George Fred Keck, a native of
Watertown, was inducted into the Housing Hall of Fame in recognition of his
lasting contribution to the cause of providing all Americans with decent and
affordable homes. Keck, who passed away last November in Chicago at the age of
85 and worked in partnership with his brother, William, was the first American
architect to demonstrate the potential of passive solar energy. At a time when
the nation enjoyed seemingly inexhaustible supplies of cheap fuel, he was an
advocate of thermally efficient and functional modern design in housing. Keck
built his first solar house in Watertown in 1935, the Wilde residence located
at 305 Elizabeth Street. Using the “greenhouse” effect, he was able to achieve
fuel savings of 15 to 20 percent. Small windows were built on the north side of
the home; wide floor-to-eaves windows on the south. Trees were planted to
reduce southern exposure during the summer.
WDT
Cross
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