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Part I: Merging Past and Present
Apprentice William (Kelly) Oliver navigates Hillside’s basement with familiarity. His fingers tracing where the old generator used to hum and where a relocated staircase once creaked underfoot. Family, Fellows, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation’s preservation crew follow closely, making their way towards the revitalized wing and inside the newly constructed greenrooms.
The backstage area stands out as a remarkable upgrade, something Oliver says he and his team had long hoped to improve but never had the chance to do so during the original construction. Given the area’s dirt floors, Fellows mostly prepared in their individual rooms before performances, he explains.
Oliver, who’s kept abreast of the theater’s restoration, is impressed by the crew’s waterproofing solutions: “They’ve done a lot in the way of water control, especially in the lower level. Dampness and water will ruin a building very quickly,” he states, adding, “I think they’ve probably extended the life of the building another hundred years.”
Kelly points to the ceiling panels above the stage. Pictured alongside Kirk Stenerson (left), Effie Casey (right), and Adam Charles (front)
As the group reaches the newly reconstructed stage, the curtains are drawn back to reveal angled rows of plush velvet cushions. Oliver takes in the scene from a different vantage point than he had two days earlier during the reopening celebration. “That was really very enjoyable to see the theater being used because a lot of us put a lot of effort into that structure,” he reflects. “It brought back many memories of the good times we had—and the difficult times—as we were trying to do certain things; it was good to see those who still remember [Wright]. There aren’t many of us left now,” he adds.
Kelly Oliver with his son, Dave Oliver and daughter-in-law, Lori Oliver at the June 8th reopening ceremony
Our attention is drawn to the plywood screens with abstracted cornstalks Oliver crafted, now neatly folded above the stage. While the theater’s core structure remains largely the same, Oliver notes several new features added since his departure, including the acoustical paneled ceiling and mirrors above the stage.
Reflecting on the original construction, he says, “We weren’t trained construction workers…We had a couple of apprentices who were older that had been under Mr. Wright’s supervision for some time, had been out in the field in construction, and helped direct us in the things that we should be doing. Mr. Wright sort of put me in charge, but Mr. Wright was really in charge because he came over every day to see how things were going.”
Kelly during his interview at Riverview Terrace
Following the memorable walkthrough—where original builder revisits the theater alongside the individuals who recently revitalized it—Oliver, his family, and I reconvened at the Riverview Terrace Cafe over tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. “I think they did a good job, and it looked just as I remember it,” he remarks.
Relishing the meal and the moment, Oliver recalls the Bridge Store that once stood on this side of the Wisconsin River, a place, he says, where apprentices once purchased candy bars and cola. As the afternoon progresses, the conversation deepens, and Oliver shares memories of his time at Taliesin, each recollection steeped in nostalgia.
