Difference between revisions of "William S. Gray (1851-1927), Architect"

Revision as of 21:15, 15 December 2017

William S. Gray was born in August 1851 in Illinois.[6][7][8] In 1883, he left Beardstown, Illinois for Lincoln, Nebraska.[9] He worked in Lincoln, Nebraska as an architect for at least 24 years.[6][7][8] Gray was married to Maria and had a daughter, Viola.[6][7][8]

This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.

Johnson County Courthouse, 1888-1889 (D. Murphy)

Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1886-1895, 1905

Educational & Professional Associations

1885-1886: Gray & Placey, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1900: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[6]

1901-1903: Vice President of the Eureka Manufacturing Company, Lincoln, Nebraska.[11]

1910: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[7]

1920: retired, Lincoln, Nebraska.[8]

Other Associations

1890: Employed Frederick A. Henninger (1865-1944), Architect as draftsman.

Buildings & Projects

Dated

York County Courthouse (1885-1888), York, Nebraska, demolished. (In partnership with O. H. Placey as Gray & Placey, Architects.)

"Forest Hill" (mansion of lumberman Charles C. Munson) (1886), SE corner of 26th & O Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[13]

Frank Sheldon house (1887), NW corner 14th & R, Lincoln, Nebraska, demolished.[5][14]

Sheldon Block (1887), NW corner of 11th & N, Lincoln, Nebraska, demolished.[15]

Presbyterian Church (1887), York, Nebraska.[15]

Three-story brick block for Bently & Leming (1887), N. 9th Street between U and V, Lincoln, Nebraska.[15]

Strickland Building (1887), S. 10th between N and O.[15]

J. F. Houseman house (1887), Aurora, Nebraska.[15]

Johnson County Courthouse (1888-1889), SW corner 3rd & Clay, Tecumseh, Nebraska.[3:52][4] (JO07-001) National Register narrative

Butler County Courthouse (ca.1889-1890), David City, Nebraska (demolished)

Cass County Courthouse (1891-1892), NE corner Main & 4th, Plattsmouth, Nebraska.[1][3:58][4] (CC14-109) National Register narrative

Hamilton County Courthouse (1894-1896), 12th & M, Aurora, Nebraska.[3:64][4][12][a] (HM01-001) National Register narrative

Undated

Ellen Smith Hall on the University of Nebraska Campus (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[9]

Other Accomplishments

1898: Invented/Patented the Wonder Grain Grader [9][11]

1903: Invented/Patented the Perfection Cooker [9][10]

Notes

a. The builders were the Atkinson Brothers of Colorado Springs, Colorado.[12]

References

1. Benjamin W. George, "Soft Eclecticism in the U.S.A., An Example: The Cass County Courthouse, Plattsmouth, Nebraska,” TS (January, 1973).

2. Obituary, Lincoln Star (January 20, 1927).

3. Oliver B. Pollak, Nebraska Courthouses: Contention, Compromise, and Community. Images of America Series (Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2002).

4. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

5. William Wood, “Postcards from the past,” Preservation Association of Lincoln Newsletter 19:2 (Spring 2011): 1.

6. 1900 United States Census, s.v. "William Gray," Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.

7. 1910 United States Census, s.v. "William Gray," Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.

8. 1920 United States Census, s.v. "William Gray," Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.

9. “William Gray, 75, Dies at Home Here,” The Lincoln Star (January 20, 1927).

10. “A World Beater Perfection Cooker.” (May 13, 1918), accessed October 4, 2016, http://hdl.handle.net/2027/loc.ark:/13960/t9086xf9n?urlappend=%3Bseq=1

11. “William Gray, 1852-1927,” Nebraska State Historical Society, April 7, 2010, accessed October 4, 2016, http://nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/manuscripts/family/william-gray.htm

12. Marion Enderle, letter to Omaha World Herald Action Editor. September 1994.

13. "Gone to be a Nabob," Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening News (February 13, 1886), 4.

14. "Notice to Contractors," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (March 20, 1887), 8.

15. "Improvements. Brief Mention of a Few of the Many," Lincoln (Nebraska) Daily News (April 14, 1887), 4.

Page Citation

D. Murphy and E. Zimmer, “William S. Gray (1851-1927), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, December 15, 2017. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, May 22, 2025.

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