USA > New York > New York City > Leslie's history of the greater New York, Volume III, Pt. 2 > Part 30
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DEHLI, ARNE, of Dehli & Howard. architects, was born in Brottum, Norway, October 10, 1857, and was educated in the public schools and State High School at Lillehammer; the Aars' and Voss Pri- vate School at Christiania; and the Royal University of Christiania, all in Norway. From 1876 to 1880 he attended the Polytechnikums of Dresden and Stuttgart, Germany, while he also traveled in Germany and Italy. He spent two years in the office of A. Schirmer, architect, of Christiania, and then came to New York and spent the next seven years, 1882-89, in the offices of New York architects, principally that of R. H. Robertson. In 1889 and 1890 he traveled in Europe, also publish- ing . Details of Byzantine Ornament " and " The Norman Styles of Palermo and Environs." Since 1890 he has been practicing architect- ure in New York City -- at present as a member of the firm of Dehli & Howard. He is engaged in the general practice of city. suburban, and ecclesiastical architecture in New York and Brooklyn.
DAY, WILLIAM HORATIO. architect, was born in Cairo. N. Y .. March 24, 1856, the son of Horatio L. Day and Mary E. Noble, and the
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grandson of Colonel Ira T. Day, a soldier in the War of 1812, and his wife Laura, daughter of John Bagley. Educated in the common schools of Cairo, N. Y., and under a private tutor, he became a clerk in a drug store in his native village, and subsequently was Assistant Postmaster there. He next became Assistant Comity Clerk at Cats- kill, N. Y. He became a dranghisman in an architect's office, and assisted in decorating the residence of Frederick E. Church, of Hud- son, N. Y. He also decorated several other residences and churches, at the same time gradually devoting himself to more purely architec- tural work. He has also designed costumes and scenery for classic plays rendered in New York City, and by students at Vassar Col- lege, Harvard University. Yale University, and Smith College. He designed buildings for the Morris Park Race Course, model apartments in New York City, Helicon Hall, a model school at Englewood, N. J., and the Memorial Church at Helmnetta, N. J., in memory of General George A. Helme. In the case Jast mentioned be designed every decoration and piece of furnishing, as well as the edifice. He is a mom- ber of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and of the Reform and Play- ers' clubs.
KRAMER, GEORGE W., architect, was born in Ashland, Ohio, July 0. 1847. His ancestors on both sides came to this country early in the eighteenth century, those on the paternal side coming from Germany and Switzerland, and settling at Harrisburg, Pa, while those on the maternal side came from Switzerland and settled in Virginia, removing to Ohio. in 1814, among the carly settlers of that State. Mr. Kramer was edneated in the public schools of Ohio, also studying architecture in special classes and in the offices of several architects. He began practice as an architect in 1873 in Ashland, Ohio; in 1879 removed to Akron, Ohio, where he became associated with Jacob Snyder, and subsequently with F. O. Weary, and in 1893 removed to New York City, where he has remained since. He early gave attention to public works, and since 1882 has made a specialty of church architecture. In association with the late Jacob Snyder, the peculiar and popular church and Sunday school plans and systems were originated which are now known throughout Christendom as the "kron Plans" and which are the fundamental plans of the modern church. The popular " combination plan " and the . Pulpit in the Corner Plan " also origi. nated in the same and later connections. Mr. Kramer has directly planned more than five hundred church buildings, in thirty-six States and some foreign countries, while he has been consulting architect in connection with as many more. He received first prize for model San- day-school building at the World's Fair. Chicago, in 1893. He has devoted much attention to the engineering department of architecture -- beating. ventilating, and acoustics. Ho originated and introduced the mechanical system of ventilation in connection with hotair fut.
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naces. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, and of the Ohio Chapter, and of the National Association of Heating and Ventilating Engineers, and has published works on ecclesiastical archi- tecture.
HERTS, HENRY B., architect, a member of the firm of Herts & Tallant, was born in the City of New York, January 23, 1871, and attended the public schools, the New York College, the School of Mines, Columbia College, in the United States, as well as the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts and the Ecole Nationale des Arts Decora- tive, Paris, France. In 1892 Mr. Herts received the competition and United States Government prize for the Columbian Triumphal Arch. Ile formed his present partnership with Hugh Tallant in Paris in 1897. The firm are architects of the American Chamber of Commerce Build- ing in Paris, and also erected the Villa des Sud and the Villa Marga- rite at Nice, France. Since establishing themselves in New York City they have designed and erected the Harmonie Clubhouse, the Aguilar Public Library, New York City; the Smith College Chemical Labora- tory, Northampton. Mass .; many improved homes for workingmen; several residences at Elberon, N. J., Sea Gate, and other localities on Long Island, besides numerous railway depots, etc., and residences in New York City. . Mr. Herte is also a mural painter.
TALLANT, HUGH, architect, member of the firm of Herts & Tal- lant, was born in Boston, September 15, 1870; graduated from Harvard University, 1891, with the degrees of A.B. and A.M., and received the Kirkland Fellowship for foreign stury. He graduated from the Archi- tectural Department of the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts, December, 1896. As a student in architecture he won the Prix Jean Leclaire, the Grande Medaille d'Emulation, and fourteen other medals.
KURTZER, WILLIAM. architect, of New York, was born in Stettin, Germany, September 6, 1848; was educated at the Frederick William Real Gymnasium at Stettin, and studied with various architects at Berlin. He practiced his profession in various German cities, such as Stettin, Berlin, and Magdeburg, designing buildings, and then came to the United States. Here he originally practiced in Virginia and Flor- ida, subsequently locating in the City of New York. He was engaged on the New York Postoffice Building. In October, 1887, he formed the firm of Kurtzer & Röhl, which is still in existence. They have designed churches, balls, private residences, flat houses, tenements, factories, and stables. They erected the present building of the oldest German church in New York, situated on Sixty-eighth Street, between First and Second avenues; the Fritz Reulin Altenheim, a home for aged people at Union Hill, N. J .; the building on the southwest corner of Ninety-fourth Street and West End Avenue, and the building on the
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southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Street. Mr. Kurtzer is a Mason, and is a member of the Beethoven Maennerchor, the Schillerbund, the Independent Schuetzen Corps, and the Central Schuetzen Corps.
ROHL, RICHARD, of the firm of Kurtzer & Röhl, architects, was born in Stettin, Germany, January 5, 1857, his ancestors having emi- grated from Sweden to Germany about two hundred years ago. He was educated at the Frederick William Real Gymnasium at Stettin. and the Polytechnicum at Berlin. He finished at the latter in the fall of 1883, while on March 22, 1884, he arrived in New York City. Here he worked in the offices of several architects until October, 1887, when he became a member of the firm of Kurtzer & Röhl. He is a member of the Beethoven Maennerchor, the New York Schuetzen Corps, Lodge No. 356, New York, Free and Accepted Masons; the Democratic Club. the Schillerbund of New York, and the Fritz Reuter Altenheim Asso- ciation.
LAWRENCE, WARRINGTON G., architect, was born in Balti- more, Md., March 17, 1861, the son of France L. Lawrence and Hannah Rebecca Thomas. On the paternal side he descends from the old American families of Lawrence and Townley, while -through his mother he descends from JJohn Ford, of Revolutionary fame. He was educated at Baltimore City College, the Maryland Institute, the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology, at which he took the special course in architecture, finishing in 1885, while in France and Italy he traveled and studied in 1889. From 1880 to 1883 he was with the late Charles Carson, the well-known architect; for a short time was with MeKim, Mead & White, New York City; and for ten years was with the late Richard M. Hunt. While with the latter he had charge of the office work in connection with the residence of George W. Vanderbilt, at Asheville, N. C. His work since has mainly been in the line of resi- dences, churches, and hotels. He is a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Society, the Architectural League, the Mary- land Society, and Trinity Episcopal Church, Boston.
FROHNE, WILLIAM C., architect, was born in Berlin, Germany. July 21, 1852, and was educated in that city. For twenty-one years he has been a resident of the United States, chiefly of New York City. where he was engaged as draughtsman in the most prominent offices. while for ten years he has been established in practice here on his own account. He has designed and erected a number of public. commer- cial, and residential buildings, and has been successful in several com- petitions. Ilis unele is an architect of high standing in the service of the Government of Copenhagen; his father, a carpenter, executed a number of public buildings in Berlin.
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TRUE, CLARENCE FAGAN, architect, was born in Lynn, Mass .. August 17, 1860, and is the son of Rev. Edward HI. True. The first of the paternal line in this country, Heury True, came to the American colonies from England in 1632, settling at Salem, Mass. Thence the family eventually removed to Portland, Me. Having attended the public schools, Mr. True studied architecture in the office of Richard M. Upjohn, of New York City, with whom he remained for abont eight years. During the last eight years he has been engaged in business on his own account. He originated and designed the American base- ment house, and has designed and erected more than three hundred. residences on the West Side of Manhattan Island. He is a member of the Reform, Colonial, and Democratic clubs, the Sons of the Revo- lution, and other organizations, and is also a member of the Builders' League. He married Marie Schiller, and has three children-Dorothy, Roland S., and Margaret.
WRIGHT, FRANK AYRES, member of the firm of Rossiter & Wright, architects, of New York City, was born in Liberty, Sullivan County, N. Y., November 19, 1851, the son of A. B. Wright and Mary Jane Gates. Ile was graduated from Cornell University, with the degree of Bachelor of Architecture, in 1879. Since October of that year he has been a member of the firm of Rossiter & Wright in this city. They have designed and erceted a large number of country houses, schools, churches, and residences, including the " Royalton." 49 West Forty-third Street, New York City, and the Town Hall, at South Orange, N. J. He resides at South Orange, and for two years was one of the trustees of that village. He was one of the found- ers of the Architectural League of New York, is a fellow of the Ameri- can Institute of Architects, and is a member of the Cornell, Psi Up- silon, South Orange Field, Middlebrook Country, and Water Witch - clubs. He is also a member of the New England Society of Orange.
DRIESLER, BENJAMIN J. B., architect, of Brooklyn, was born in Kissingen, Bavaria, Germany, June 24, 1867. His paternal ances- tors, Frenchmen, whose original name was Troisliar, were living along the Rhine provinces, the direct line of descent having been traced back to 1681. His ancestors founded one of the first, if not the first, mirror manufactory in Alsace-Lorraine, when that province was under French rule. Mr. Driesler was graduated from the Real Schule, Schweinfurt, in 1880, and the same year came to the United States, where he pur- sued study in architecture in offices in various cities and States of the Union. He has since followed his profession in Brooklyn, and has furnished the plans for the erection of several hundred modern suburb- an dwellings. He has also supplied plans for many of the prominent suburban investment corporations and building associations, notably those doing business in Flatbush, Bensonhurst, Borough Park, and
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Flushing. One of his most attractive buildings is the club house erected on Thirteenth Avenue, Borough Park, Brooklyn. Mr. Dries- ler is an Odd Fellow, a member of Rockville Centre Lodge, No. 279, and is a member of Palestine Encampment, No. 62, Knights of St. John and Malta.
KORN, LOUIS, was born in New York City, March 19, 1869, the son of Jacob and Caroline Korn, and the grandson of Ralph and Hinda Korn, and of Louis and Barbette Sink. His father was born in Germany and his mother in New York City. He received his education in the public schools of New York, the Columbia. College Grammar School, and Columbia University, being graduated from the latter ( School of Mines) in 1890. He was in the office of Snook & Sons, architects, for one year, when he engaged in the profession on his own account. He has erected a large number of buildings in this and other cities. These include, in this city, the German Herold Building, the Looseh Building, the Richter Building, and the Korn Building. He is a member of the Progress and West End clubs, and of a number of benevolent orders.
NIEBEL, J. CURLESS, architect, of the Borough of Brooklyn, was born in London, Ontario. July 12, 1858. His paternal ancestors came originally from Germany, his maternal ancestors from England. His father was a shoe and iron manufacturer, the latter's father also being an iron manufacturer. His maternal grandfather was a bridge con- tractor, and came to Canada to build the bridges for the Grand Trunk Railroad. The latter's father was an architect. At the end of a four years' course, Mr. Niebel was graduated from the Western Ontario College, subsequently taking a five years' course in iron construction. Coming to New York City, he served an apprenticeship with well- known inventors and leading architects. He began the practice of architecture in Newark, N. J., on his own account, but soon after re- moved his office to Brooklyn. although maintaining his residence at Belleville, N. J. He has designed many residences and other build- ings, including the factory for the National Musical String Company, at New Brunswick, N. J. He is an artist and inventor as well as an architect.
FINKENSIEPER, BENJAMIN, architect, was born in Barmen, Germany, March 17, 1859, the son of Benjamin Finkensieper, a lace manufacturer of Barmen. He was educated at the High School in that city and the Building Trade School in Rinteln, on the Weser, Germany. For several years he worked as a journeyman mason in Germany and New York City, since which time he has practiced architecture in New York. For two or three years he was employed as an architect by Col. E. F. Gaylor, of this city. In 1887 he established an office of his
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own. He has been architect and superintendent of the Knox Hat Fac- tory, the JJacob Brothers' Piano Factory, Wellington's Piano Case Fac- tory at Leominster, Mass .; Robert Gair's Printing Factory, Robert Gair's Wallpaper Factory, and other buildings. He has built several residences for himself.
PIERCE, GEORGE HENRY, architect, was born in Pulteney, Steuben County, N. Y., May 25, 1859, and is the son of Malden A. Pierce and Mary E., daughter of Henry Walker; is the grandson of James and Eleanor Pierce, and is the great-grandson of Benjamin Clark Pierce. On the paternal side he descends in a line collateral to that of President Pierce, and on the maternal side in a line collateral" to that of President Tyler. Mr. Pierce attended the Penn Yan Academy and the Cook Academy, and in 1886 was graduated from Cornell Uni- versity as a Bachelor of the Science of Architecture. He has since prac- ticed his profession in and about New York City, making a specialty of house architecture. He has designed and erected a number of school- houses in the Eastern and Middle States. He is a member of the Cor- nell Club and of various Masonic bodies.
ROMEYN, CHARLES W., architect, descends from colonial Dutch stock. He received his practical training with Vaux, Withers & Olm- sted, a leading firm of architects, with whom he was engaged for over four years. During a practice of fifteen years he has designed and erected many very creditable contributions to New York architecture, among which are the Grolier Club, "The Hoffman Arms" and the " Heathering " (both apartment houses), and the New York Biscuit Company's warehouse on West Fifteenth Street-one of the largest and most advanced type of buildings of its class in the world. Numerous fine residences of his design may be seen on Fifth Avenue, and throughout the best sections of the residential portion of the city.
TRYON, THOMAS, architect, was born in Hartford, Conn., Feb- ruary 1, 1859; received his general education in the public schools and the Hartford High School. and in 1878 entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he was graduated in architecture in 1881. For several years following he continued his studies in the offices of George B. Post, Bruce Price, and one or two other archi- tects of New York City. He has also traveled and studied in Italy, France, and England. In partnership with Arnold W. Brunner, he organized, in 1885, the firm of Brunner & Tryon, which has continued to the present time. The edifices designed and erected by this firm include the Educational Alliance Building, the Temple Beth El, the Synagogue Shearith Israel, the Rawitzer Building, the Commercial Building, the Chase Building, the Sahlein Building, the Home for Aged and Infirm, the Clara de Hirsch Home for Working Girls, the
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Montefiore Home for Chronic Invalids, the Mount Sinai Dispensary, the Havemeyer Laboratory, the warehouses, 138-146 West Fourteenth Street, and the private residences, 9 West Fifty-seventh Street. 306 West Eighty-sixth Street, and at Fordham. They also designed and erected the Baxter Public Memorial Library, Rutland, Vt .; the Oster- weis Building, New Haven, Conn .; St. John's Church, Williamstown, Mass .; the New York State Hospital buildings, Middletown, N. Y .; the residence of William F. Havemeyer, at Seabright, N. J., and coun- try residences at South Hampton, L. I .; Rutland, Vt .; Babylon, L. I .; Hollywood, N. J .; Middletown, N. Y., and Auburn, N. Y. They do- signed and erected the Norse Tower, Watertown, Mass. They designed the magnificent interior of the Temple Beth El, and the decoration of Delmonico's ballroom, now destroyed, Fifth Avenue and Twenty-sixth Street. The work on " Interior Decoration," published by Mr. Tryon in collaboration with Mr. Brunner, has received much attention. In connection with the Demilt Dispensary, this firm designed and con- structed the first of the free baths for the City of New York. Mr. Tryon is a member of the Century Association, the Aldine and New York Athletic clubs, the Institute of American Architects, and its New York Chapter; the Architectural League, the Fine Arts Federation, and the Municipal Att Society. He is a director and the Treasurer of the latter.
MOTT, CHARLES T., architect, was born in Stapleton, S. I., June 21, 1855, the son of Samuel Mott and Mary Ellen, daughter of Ambrose Adams, and granddaughter of JJames Adams. He is the grandson of Rowland Mott and Phoebe Drake, the great-grandson of Samuel Mott and Merabeth Ricketson, the great-great-grandson of Henry Mott and Mary Southard, one more generation removed from Henry Mott, and still another generation removed from Henry Mott, who was the son of Adam Mott by the latter's first wife, Jane Hulet. Adam Mott was born in England about 1621, and came to the American colonies when twelve years of age. Mr. Mott was educated in the public schools of Poughkeepsie, where he also studied architecture under James Post. Under him he was employed on the Hudson River State Hospital and other buildings. Coming to New York City in 1879, Mr. Mott entered the office of Siliman & Farmsworth. In 1880 he entered the office of Stephen B. Hatch, while he completed his preparatory training under George B. Post. In 1886 he established his own office in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, where he has since continued to prac- tice his profession.
MILLNER, CHARLES A., architect. was born in Fort Lee, N. J., June 11, 1866, and is the son of Charles A. Millner and his wife, Char- lotte A. Millner. His father, a scenic artist, came to this country from Berlin, Germany, in 1849. Mr. Millner was educated in publie and
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private schools in New York City, and then studied architecture in sov- eral offices. In 1891 he opened an office on his own account. He has erected a large number of apartment houses on the upper West Side of this city, together with the Hotel St. George, Brooklyn, and the County Clerk's office at Jamaica. He is a member of the Builders' League, the Palmer Dramatic Society, and the League of American Wheelmen. He married, November 14. 1888, Miss Clara Louise Moon, of New York City, and has two girls and a boy-Irene G., Leanore L., and Clarence A. Millner.
PURRINGTON, GEORGE FRANKLIN, has been in business as an architect and builder in New York City since 1895, and has also con- dueted the business of a sash and door broker. His chief work as archi- tect and builder has been in the erection of apartment houses in the upper district of the city. He built the two apartment houses, Nos. 55. and 57 West One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Street, just east of Len- ox Avenue, and in 1897 erected the two apartment houses at Nos. 8 and 10 East One Hundred and Fifteenth Street. He now has under way the large apartment house at the northeast corner of One Hundred and Eighteenth Street and Lenox Avenue. He was born in Matta- poisett, Mass., September 2, 1867, and received his education in the Barstow School of that place. . His father, Jamos H. Purrington, was an achitect and builder, as was also his uncle, E. B. Purrington, and he himself chose the same profession. For three years he was with his uncle at Mattapoisett, Mass .; for two years was with Fuller & Delano, achitects, of Worcester, Mass .; for two years was with Noreross Broth- ers, builders, of Worcester; and coming to New York City in 1893, for two years was with Murray & Hill, sash and door manufacturers, of West One Hundred and Thirtieth Street. He is a member of the Build- ers' League, of this city. In 1896 he married Sarah D. Delamater, of New York City, and has a son, George Franklin Parrington, Jr. Mr. Purrington's ancestry is very interesting. Through his mother, Sophie, daughter of Benjamin Franklin Barstow, he is ninth in descent from all the chief personages of Longfellow's famous "Courtship of Miles Standish "-captain Miles Standish, JJolm Alden and the wife of the latter, Priscilla Mullins. Through Captain Miles he also de- scends from Sir Hugh Standish, of England. Other ancestors are Philip de la Nove. Sir Edward Drew, Richard Warren, and Elder Will- iam Brewster, all of whom came over in 1620. The Dewsbury, Taber, Sampson, Studbury, and Bartlett families, of New England, all con- tributed strains to his line of descent.
DAVIS, ALBERT EGGERDON, architect, was born in New York City, March 2, 1866, the son of William Albert Eggerdon Davis and Emily Parker, daughter of William James and Jane Parker, and the grandson of William Eggerdon Davis and Mary Steeds. On both sides
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he is of English descent. He attended the New York public schools from 1874 to 1880, and from 1880 to 1887 studied architecture with Charles I. Berg. During this period he also did illustrating, mainly comic, for Judge, Puck, Life, the Century Magasine, St. Nicholas, the · Daily Graphie, Golden Days, and the Golden Argosy. In 1887 he be- gan the practice of architecture in the Borough of The Bronx. He de- signed Postoffice Station, R, built by William Astor Chanler, and leased to the Government; the Congregational Church of North New York, St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal Chapel, the Church of the Living Hope, the Synagogue of the Congregation Hand-in-Hand, the parsonage of the Morris Heights Methodist Episcopal Church, Decker & Son's Piano Factory, Ludwig & Co.'s Piano Factory, the Ricca Mandolin Factory, and many private residences. He was one of seven architects selected by the Mayor to submit designs and models for the New York Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Fifth Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street. He was invited by the Fire Commissioners to submit designs for engine houses. He is consulting engineer for the city in relation to the Bronx Botanical Gardens. He projected and organized the North Side Board of Trade, is its Vice-President, a member of its Executive Committee, and Chair- man of its Committee on Literature and Publication. He is Secretary of the Joint Committee on New Building Code, having been elected to that position by the delegates of the architectural, -building, -and plumbing associations of Manhattan, The Bronx, and Brooklyn. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Morris Heights Repub- lican Club, is Secretary of the Heights Taxpayers' Association, is Treas- urer of the Maine Monument Fund, Bronx Borough, and is a member of the Suburban Club and of the Architectural League, and a veteran of the Twenty-second Regiment. He is an active Republican, and has served as a delegate to and chairman of various Republican conven- tions.
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