Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 89.djvu/334

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��Popular Sciejice Monthly

���Model Minnesota farmhouse erected on the State Fair Grounds. The plans are given on page 318

��A meeting was called of practical farmers, art commissioners, architects and agricultural experts. The farmers said, "\^'c want a farmhouse service if you can supply it. We don't want any city-made plan. We want a house with modern conveniences in farmer's style." "All right," replied the art commission- ers, "Tell us what you want and we will give it to you." The farmers answered, "Ten rooms with a bath and separate quarters for the help. We want set tubs and run- ning water, and labor sav- ing devices be- cause the farm- er's wife is an asset that de- mands con- servation. We want all this for not more than $3,500." The art com- mission con- sulted the Min- nesota Chap- terofthe American Institute of Architects who agreed to endorse and support a model farmhouse competition. The commis- sion raised a substantial amount of money for prizes, and the farmers dictated the terms of the competition. The farmers were asked to serve as a jury, along with the architects and agricultural experts.

The competition was open to anyone living in Minnesota. It brought to- gether thirty sjilendid model farmhouses which were considered worthy to be judged in the final awards. But what was in a measure more hopeful than even the accepted drawings, were the hundreds of ideas submitted by farmers and farmers' wives from all sections of the state. Some of the jjlans were submitted on wraj^ping paper, others on birch-bark and still more on shoe-box covers, showing all the elevations, even the water running in the kitchen sink.

In two years' time, over a million plans have been sent from the offices of the State Art Commission and these in booklet form, free. If a farmer wants full size working-drawings and specifica-

��tions, he can have them for just the cost of making the blueprints. Working drawings are sold by the commission for $3.50 to anyone living in Minnesota and $5.00 to anyone living outside the state. The commission set about to build a model farmhouse for demonstration and through the co-operation of the building material interests it built upon the State Fair grounds a complete first prize design. This house is properly landscaped and furnished from attic to

cellar. E\'ery labor-saving device and every modern convenience shows the farmer and his wife what can be done for a certain amount of money.

A new kind of farmhouse is being built in M innesota. The plans have been sent to the far corners of the United States and other countries. The plans and even a small-sized model have circulated through Minnesota to farmers' institutes and short courses. The farmer and the Art Commission in Minnesota are on speaking terms now. The commis- sion is able to assist in the selection of the wall paper. And this helps some in advancing the cause of pictures and "old masters."

This farmhouse campaign was only a beginning. People living in the small towns and villages said, "Why not do something for the small home builder who cannot afford to employ an archi- tect? You hav'e helped the farmer, now do something for us." A second com- petition for a moelel village house was held. This house was to cost $3,000 complete. The architects enthusiastic- ali>' endorsed and supported this com- petition and from it came some fift\' of the most attractive and "architecturally fit" houses that have ever been accumu- lated. The immediate result was a great state-wide interest in better farm- homes and a quickining of home in terests.

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