Eason Cross, FAIA, Dies at 90

Leading local modernist Eason Cross, FAIA, who studied at Harvard with Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer, passed away in late January at the age of 90. Cross worked for Charles Goodman early in his career and was a long-time resident of Hollin Hills. Cross was well-known for his modernist housing designs, including the house pictured above in Mohican Hills in Bethesda, which I listed several years ago.

Read Clare Lise Kelly’s obituary for more details on Eason’s major contributions to local modernist architecture.

March 1, 2016/Mid-Century Modern /by Mid-Century Mike

Montgomery Modern Book on Kindle, at St. Paul’s

Senior county architectural historian Clare Lise Kelly’s book, Montgomery Modern: Modern Architecture in Montgomery County, Maryland, 1930-1979, is now available in Kindle e-book from Amazon. The book, which chronicles mid-century modern architecture in Montgomery County, is also available in paperback and hard cover. This illustrated reference book includes an inventory of key buildings and communities, and biographical sketches of architects and developers.

If you want to learn more in person, you can see Clare on March 30 at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Kensington. The mid-century church, pictured above, was designed by Duane & Duane and finished in 1968. The reception and illustrated author lecture will begin at 7 pm. The event is sponsored by the Kensington Historical Society and the Kensington Park Friends of the Library. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

The publication of the book is part of the county’s Historic Preservation Office’s award-winning Montgomery Modern initiative to educate the public about the architectural heritage of Montgomery County. For information about additional future talks, go to www.montgomeryplanning.org/montgomerymodern

The book’s cover showing the Robert Llewellyn Wright House (1957), Bethesda, by Frank Lloyd Wright. Photo by Carol Highsmith.