Difference between revisions of "Calvin J. Bowell (1870-1937), Architect"

Revision as of 19:56, 7 February 2016

Calvin J. Bowell was born in Kansas in 1870.[3] He practiced architecture in Omaha, York, and Grand Island, Nebraska. According to the 1920 U. S. Census, he was married to Bernise and they had one daughter.[3]

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.

Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings

Omaha, Nebraska, 1912-1916

York, Nebraska, 1917

Grand Island, 1921-1922, 1924-1927, 1929-1932, 1934-1937

Educational & Professional Associations

1900: partner in C. J. Bowell & Co., insurance and real estate, Shenandoah, Iowa.[8][a]

l906: architect, Shenandoah, Iowa.[7][b]

1909: partner in Independent Builders' Supply Co., Shenandoah, Iowa.[8][c]

1912: architect, 512 Brandeis Bldg, Omaha, Nebraska.[6][d]

1913: general agent, Hartford Life Insurance Company, Omaha, Nebraska.

1914-1915: District manager, Northwestern National Life Insurance Co., 594 Brandeis Bldg, Omaha, Nebraska.

1915: re-established his architectural practice, 626-8 Brandeis bldg., Omaha, Nebraska.[11][g]

1916-1918: Unlisted, Grand Island, Nebraska.

1917: Resident of York, Nebraska.

1919-1920: Grand Island Directories not available.

1920: architect, Grand Island, Nebraska.[3]

1921-1937: architect, Grand Island, Nebraska.

Buildings & Projects

St. Mary's Catholic Church (1909), Shenandoah, Iowa.[4][10[e]

Charles Aldrich house (1910), Shenandoah, Iowa.[5][f]

Remodeling Daily Record office (1915), 318 South 19th Street, Omaha, Nebraska.[11]

Bungalow for Frank Linnemann (1915), Military Avenue and Decatur Street, Omaha, Nebraska.[12][h]

Bungalow for Hilsing Weather Strip Co. (1915), 43rd and Burt Street, Omaha.[13][i]

Residence for M. Flanagan (1915), Stuart, Nebraska.[14][k]

Residence for H. H. Allen (1915), 41st & Harney Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[13][j]

Day and Night Garage for H.C. Graves (1917), York, Nebraska.[1]

School (1917), Milford, Nebraska.[1]

School (1917), Reynolds, Nebraska.[1]

Plans for Odd Fellows Building (1917-____), Palmer, Nebraska.[1]

Anderson House and Hatchery (1937), 1415 Howard Ave, St. Paul, Nebraska. (HW11-040)

Notes

a. The Spectator of February 1, 1900 states: "C. J. Bowell, general manager for Iowa for the Hartford Life, has resigned, and will hereafter devote his entire time to real estate and insurance in Shenandoah, Ia., having formed a partnership with Earl Sheets, under the firm name of C. J. Bowell & Co."9]

b. National Builderof March 1906 contains the announcement: "A New Architect. C. J. Bowell, Shenandoah, Iowa, has opened an office as an architect in that city. He wishes catalogues and samples form manufacturers of goods that are likely to interest the architect."[7]

c. Clay Record of 1909 includes a notice: "T. B. Wright & C. J. Bowell have formed the Independent Builders' Supply Co. at Shenandoah, Ia., and will deal in all kinds of building materials. They would be glad to receive catalogues and samples of all kinds."[8]

d. Bowell's first directory listing in Omaha, Nebraska was in 1912. Western Architect of June 1915 contains the notice: "C. J. Bowell, architect, has opened an office at Omaha, Nebraska, in the Brandeis building and desires catalogs and samples."[6]

e. Improvement Bulletin of April 24, 1909 carries a request for sealed proposals "for the erection and completion of St. Mary's Church, in Shenandoah, Iowa, and according to the plans and specifications of C. J. Bowell, Architect, Shenandoah, Iowa..."[4]

f. Improvement Bulletin of April 23, 1910 states: "Shenandoah, Iowa.--C. J. Bowell has completed plans for Chas. Aldrich for a 2-story, 10-room house, 31x48, to be constructed of paving brick."[5]

g. American Contractor of June 5, 1915 states: "C. J. Bowell, architect, has opened an office at 626-8 Brandeis bldg., Omaha, Nebr., where he is re-establishing himself in the architectural...profession. He desires catalogs and samples."[11]

h. American Contractor of June 5, 1915 states: "Bungalow: 1 sty. & bas. 24x40. $2M. Military av. & Decatur st. Archt. C. J. Bowell...Owner Frank Linnemann, 1821 Miami st. Plans in progress. Siding, shingle rf."[11] In the August 14, 1915 edition, an announcement states the general contract was awarded to N. A. Yonker, "who desires bids on elec. wiring, ptg., plastering, mill wk."[12]

i. American Contractor of October 30, 1915 states: "Bungalow: 2 1/2 sty. & bas. 24x40. $2,500. 43d & Burt st. Archt. C. J. Bowell...Owner Hilsing Weather Strip co., 318 S. 19th st. On fdn. Gen. contr. let to L. A. Yonker...."[13]

j. American Contractor of October 30, 1915 states: "Res.: 1 1/2 sty. & bas. 24x26. $3M. 41st & Harney sts. Archt. C. J. Bowell...Owner H. H. Allen, Wellington Hotel. Plans in progress. Siding, shingle rf., cement blk. fnd."[13]

k. American Contractor of October 2, 1915 states: "Res.: 1 1/2 sty. & bas. $3,500. Stuart, Nebr. Archt. C. J. Bowell...Owner M. Flanagan, Stuart. Plans in progress. Siding K& stucco, shingle rf., brk. fnd."[14]

References

1. “Architect Bowell Gets Much Praise,” York Daily News-Times (May 5, 1917), 6.

2. Copy of architect’s Grand Island letterhead.

3. 1920 United States Census, s.v. “Calvin J. Bowell,” Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska, accessed through Ancestry.com.

4. Improvement Bulletin (April 24, 1909), 36.

5. Improvement Bulletin (April 23, 1910), 32.

6. Western Architect (June 1915), 51.

7. The National Builder (March 1906), 48.

8. Clay Record (July 15, 1909), 33.

9. The Spectator (February 1, 1900), 61.

10. W. L. Kershaw, "St. Mary's Catholic Church," History of Page County, Iowa, I:200-203 (including illustration of church), Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1909. Accessed February 6, 2016: https://books.google.com/books?id=cXkUAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=bowell&f=false

11. American Contractor (June 12, 1915), 95.

12. American Contractor (August 14, 1915), 75.

13. American Contractor (October 30, 1915), 71a.

14. American Contractor (October 2, 1915), 94.

Page Citation

D. Murphy, “Calvin J. Bowell (1870-1937), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, September 9, 2014. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 28, 2024.

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