The Glade House is located in Grand Island, NE, a city about 100 miles west of Lincoln, the state capitol. The house represents a fine example of the Shingle Style of architecture, which led to it be-ing included on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1985. The two-story dwelling is asymmetrical in plan and completely sheathed with shingles. The low hipped roof has flared eaves with modill
ions and is penetrated by dormer windows with hipped roof lines. The house incorporates numerous bay and oriel windows in its design, including two prominent bow windows on the east (front) façade. The “pergola-style” porch displays fluted Tuscan columns supporting a decorative architrave mounted with modillions extending outward. The raised entry features French doors leading into the foyer. All window and door openings are crowned with cornice molding. The bow extensions have eight window openings bound together by a continuous horizontal molding. A Porte Co-chere is on the west façade with a sitting room/office located above. The interior floor plan includes, on the first level: a front and rear foyer, open hallway, living room, dining room, kitchen, bath, and sun porch. Bedrooms and additional bathrooms are on the second level. The lower level features a ballroom (presently used as a family room), movie/television room, wine cellar, bathroom, and laundry area. The interior of the house, in contrast to the overall simplicity of the exterior, is very formal and rich in décor. The grand mahogany stairway serves as a focal point to the interior space with major rooms utilizing French doors opening onto one another. The dining room incorporates cherrywood paneling on both walls and ceilings. The house remodelings and redecoratings in the early 1900’s reflect the changing styles of the ties and the ability and desire of the owners to accommodate themselves and their guests in comfort and luxury. The garage/servant residence was built in 1923 and served as quarters for the butler and his wife. This building displays similar characteristics as those found in the design of the house, including the low hipped roof, flared eaves, dormer window, modillion eaves, and bay win-dow. The original house was built approximately 1905 by Henry Glade, who died in 1910. In 1918 additions were made by the new owner, Lawrence Donald (a prominent dry goods dealer in the city). At this time the mahogany stairway was added and the basement was remodeled to include a dance floor with beamed ceilings, French doors, and a parlor stove. Lawrence Donald sold the house to his brother John in 1924 and in 1934 the bow window (east side, north of the porch) was added, making it necessary to remove a portion of the porch (which originally extended to the northeast corner of the house). Russell Roher of Hastings served as decorator in the 1934 remodeling, using velvets, elaborate wallpapers, chandeliers, sconces and other imported goods in his redesign of the interior spaces.
