Great Hall

The Great Hall was the Smith’s family room and was often used to entertain guests. Agnes and Lloyd Smith often hosted small and large gatherings, whether it was inviting the Uihlein’s over to play bridge or having neighbors over for fabulous parties. The family celebrated many holidays together in the Great Hall and with two giant fireplaces on either end, the winter holidays were undoubtedly warm and cozy. Their bountiful Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations were well-known around the city. Agnes remembered that at Christmas “There was always Santa with bags full of toys pushed up the chimney so that when the children heard Santa ring his bells they would rush through the hall to find Santa having just dropped down the chimney still pulling his bag with him.” That pervading spirit of warmth and hospitality is still present in the Villa today.

The ceiling beams in the Great Hall are Georgia Pecky Cypress with white, blue, and yellow stenciling. “Pecky” Cypress gets its distinct look from a fungus that eats away the wood and leaves behind long, narrow burrows or cavities. The floor consists of wide planks of hand pegged American Walnut. Agnus preferred candlelight over electric light, so the sconces and chandeliers were originally lit with candles. After a fire in 2002, the fixtures were wired and electrified.

The long table and credenzas (large and small chests) in the room are made of repurposed wood and were chosen by David Adler for the Smith family.

Hanging on the west wall on both sides of the central door are two large oil paintings by Abram Poole (American, 1883-1961). They are named, "Athena, Goddess of Wisdom", and "Diana, Goddess of the Hunt." Both paintings were commissioned by David Adler and given to the Smith family as a gift.

All the other paintings on display in the Great Hall are on loan from the Milwaukee Art Museum’s René von Schleinitz Collection and includes "The Protective Grandmother by Adolf Eberle" (German, 1840-1914), "Munich Tavern" by Johann Georg Meyer von Bremen (German, 1813-1886), "Children with Kitten" and "Siesta" both by Heinrich Hirt (German, 1841-1902).

Photography by Kevin Miyazaki.