Top-O-Rock


Top-O-Rock


Henry Elden was an architect who built his beautiful home and office in Charleston WV in 1968 which was demolished in 2015 after his death.  The reason for it's removal was that parking for a large office was cost prohibitive and the fact that by the time all was said and done, vandals had destroyed the house to the point that it wasn't cost feasible to try to remodel it and bring it back to life. Most homes with an unusual design suffer the same fate, in that you cant just go out to Lowe's and purchase materials needed.  These types of homes had construction that was designed just for them and them alone.  This home was a nationally acknowledged architectural landmark had been featured in numerous publications including a special on Home & Garden Television.




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This image shows how it all started, on a hill overlooking the South Side Expressway and Kanawha River.  Who would ever dream about building a home around this rock?  Only 2 people: Frank Lloyd Wright and Henry Elden



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After Mr. Elden died, the home started down hill....



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By the time it was all over, only the rock remained.


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Some photos courtesy of Ted Elden



VIDEO'S

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVIuO5UzO1o


Demolition:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh1o-AGjThY


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpI1oJMiLRo




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