Ferdinand Comstock Fiske (1856-1930), Architect

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1887-1930

Ferdinand Fiske was born in Ellisburg, New York in 1856, but raised in Maquoketa, Iowa, where he attended high school.[1][5][27] Fiske studied architecture at Cornell University from 1878-1880, but did not complete his degree.[1][5][27] He worked as a draftsman for, then in 1886 partnered with George M. Goodwin as Goodwin & Fiske in Minneapolis. That same year Fiske married Katherine Burgess at West Winfield, New York.[28][g] They relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1887.[1] During the economic depression of the 1890s, Fiske relocated to Saint Louis, Missouri in 1895, then to Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1897-1902, before returning to practice in Lincoln for nearly three more decades.[39][40][i][k]

Fiske was senior partner in a series of firms during his forty years in Lincoln. He spent seven years as the architect of the Lincoln Board of Education.[7] He was a charter member of the Lincoln Country Club, the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, and the First Plymouth Congregational Church.[7] Ferdinand and Katherine had one daughter. He died January 26, 1930 at age 72.[7][27]

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

Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1889-1895, 1902-1930

Educational & Professional Associations

1878-1880: architecture student at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.[5]

1884-1885: draftsman for George M. Goodwin, Minneapolis, Minnesota.[29][h]

1886: architect and partner, Goodwin & Fiske, Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1]

1887: architect, Minneapolis, Minnesota.[29][h]

1887: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1888-1889: architect and partner, Fiske & Peters, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1890-1895: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1895-1897: architect, Saint Louis, Missouri.[46][47][k][m]

1897-1900: architect, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

1900-1910: architect and partner, Dieman & Fiske, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

1902-1910: architect and partner, Fiske & Dieman, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

ca. 1905: architect and partner, Fiske, Dieman & Meginnis, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1910-1913: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1913-1915: architect and partner, Fiske & Miller, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1915-1924: architect and partner, Fiske & Meginnis, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1925: architect and partner, Fiske, Meginnis & Schaumberg, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1926-1930: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Other Associations

1910-1913: employed Walter F. Wilson (1892-1970), Architect, as part-time draftsman.

1910-1913: engaged "consulting architect" F. W. Fitzpatrick of Washington, DC for renderings.

Buildings & Projects

1884-1887 (Minneapolis)

F. C. Fiske was listed in Minneapolis city directories from 1884 to 1887, first as a draftsman for architect George M. Goodwin, then in 1886 as a partner in Goodwin & Fiske. Goodwin and Fiske appear to have practiced separately in 1887, before Fiske relocated to Lincoln and Goodwin shifted to working for an architectural magazine in Minneapolis. Little is known of Goodwin's work as an architect or the partnership's output, although later accounts of Fiske's experience point to his beginnings in Minneapolis, and one source points to the large warehouse cited below.[1][h][i]

Fidelity Warehouse (1887), 322-326 Third Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota.[36][37][38[j]

1887-1895 (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Fiske is listed in Lincoln directories as partnering with G. W. Peters in 1888 and 1889, but none of their work of those years has been found that is credited to the partnership's name, so each man's projects are listed on their own page. Fiske accomplished a major body of work in his early years in Lincoln including churches, residences from single-family homes to rowhouses, commercial buildings, and schools. He was contracted to design a high school by the Lincoln school board, but the $100,000 bond issue approved for that project was declared invalid in 1895, perhaps contributing to Fiske's decision to seek work elsewhere, first in Saint Louis and then in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A lawsuit between Fiske and the Lincoln school board for his fee for the high school design was settled in Fiske's favor in 1900, and after his return to Lincoln he had major commissions for public school buildings.

Lyman Terrace (1889-1890), 1111-1119 H, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9][10] (LC13:C08-031)

Hurlbut-Yates house (1890), 720 S. 16th (at G St), Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][9][10] (LC13:D07-0001) National Register narrative

YMCA Building (1890), southwest corner of 13th & M, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][9]

Brace Block (1890), southeast corner of 15th & O, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][7][9]

Second Presbyterian Church (1890), East Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][9][b]

William Barr double house (1890), 1038 H and 709 S 11th St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9]

F. A. Korsmeyer house (1890), 1840 E St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9][10] (LC13:D07-0028)

C. H. Imhoff house (1890), 1826 D St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9]

Mrs. E. Flick double house (1890), southwest corner of 13th & F Sts (1311 F & 910 S 13th), Lincoln, Nebraska.[9]

Barr & Barnes Terrace (1890-1891), 627-631-635-643 S 11th, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9][10] (LC13:C08-027)

Design for University of Nebraska library (1891), Lincoln, Nebraska.[8][n]

Barnes-Walsh Apartment House (1891), 11th & H, Lincoln (LC13-103 (Deed Res.)

Sanitarium of the Lincoln Sulpho-Saline Bath Company (1892), Lincoln, Nebraska.[6]

Latta Office Building (1892), Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][12]

Supervising architect for R. E. Moore house (1892), northwest corner of 18th & E, Lincoln, Nebraska.[48][o]

Supervising architect for A. W. Jansen house (1892), southeast corner of 25th & N, Lincoln, Nebraska.[48][o]

David & Jeanette Thompson Mansion (from 1900 served as the governor's mansion), (ca. 1892) 15th & H St., Lincoln, Nebraska. [12]

Brownell Block (ca. 1892), 137 S. 11th, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]

J. A. Buckstaff house (before 1893), 1644 G, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1]

Universalist Church (before 1893), northwest corner of 12th & G, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1]

Plans and specifications of a new High School (1893-1894), Lincoln, Nebraska.[42][43][44][45][l]

1895-1897 (Saint Louis)

Fiske's sojourn to Saint Louis in search of work apparently not successful. It is uncertain whether the one project mentioned below resulted in a completed building.

"Plans for an elaborate community house" (1896), Saint Louis.[46][47[m]

1897-1900 (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

Fiske relocated to Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1897, practicing independently for a few years.

Mrs. Martha Weare House (1898-1902), Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[41][a]

Maurice Seely House (1898), Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[41][a]

J. M. Swigart House (1898), Maquoketa, Iowa.[41][a]

1900-1910 (Cedar Rapids & Lincoln)

In 1900 Fiske began a productive decade partnering with Cedar Rapids architect Charles A. Dieman. Fiske continued to reside in Cedar Rapids until 1902, while the firm of Dieman & Fiske found work in both Iowa and Lincoln, Nebraska. Fiske relocated back to Lincoln in 1902 and the firm advertised dual offices in Cedar Rapids and Lincoln until 1910. In Nebraska, the partnership was generally referred to as Fiske & Dieman. See Dieman & Fiske, Architects for their Iowa projects in this period and Fiske & Dieman, Architects for their Nebraska work.

1910-1913 (Lincoln, Nebraska)

solo practice

Chancellor Samuel Avery House (1910), 2001 Washington, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D06-0566)

Charles Stuart house (1910), 1830 C St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[10] (LC13:D07-027)

Grace Methodist Church (1910-1913), 27th & R St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[15]

Stuart Aunties House (1911), 1935 D, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][17] (LC13:D07-0043)

Hall Bungalow (1911), 2115 Garfield, Lincoln, Nebraska.[16]

Hawes House (1911), 1511 D St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[18]

Hauptman House (1911), 1655 S. 23rd, Lincoln, Nebraska.[19]

F. Fiske House (1911), 2115 Garfield, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D06-0668)

Hildreth-Grainger House (1912), 2105 B St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[10] (LC13:D07-0611)

J. F. Hutchins House (1912), 2120 B St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[10] (LC13:D07-0575)

E. Steckley House (1912), 1900 Pepper, Lincoln, Nebraska.[21] (LC13:D06-0253)

Hutchins-Foster House (1912), 2120 B St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[20]

Lincoln Drug Company Warehouse/APOT (1912), 140 N. 8th, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:C09-087)

1913-1915 (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Fiske & Miller with Jesse Boaz Miller

Lincoln Telephone Company Building (1913), 1342 M Lincoln, Nebraska.[11][d]

H.E. Sidles House (1913), 2110 A St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[22][d]

Harry E. Sidles house (1913-1915), 2120 A St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[4][10][d] (LC13:D07-0625)

1915-1924 (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Fiske & Meginnis

George R.Whitney (Whitney-Stephenson-Merritt) house (1916-1917), 1965 B St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][e] (LC13:D07-0061)

Meeker-Anderson House (1916), 1950 C St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][e] (LC13:D07-0507)

Auld Public Library (1917-1918), Red Cloud, Webster County, Nebraska.[22][e]

Dr. Slattery House (1921), 4900 N. 14th St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[24][e]

Lincoln Country Club house (1922-1923), Lincoln, Nebraska.[25][e]

Wagner & Walt Store & Apartments (1923), 901 S. 13th St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[26][e]

1924-1925 (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Fiske, Meginnis & Schaumberg

1926-1930 (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Solo practice

Alpha Omicron Pi House (1926), 1541 S St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][10] (LC13:D09- 520)

Herpolsheimer House (1928), 2330 Van Dorn, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D05-565)

Skiles-Beynon House (1928), 2310 Woodscrest Ave., Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D05-551)

Undated

Alice Hawes house (n.d.), 1511 D, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D07-0348)

Hall House (n.d.), 2025 S. 26th, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D06-0155)

Lincoln Country Club Building (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[7]

City National Bank (n.d.), York, Nebraska.[11]

Prescott School (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[7]

Agriculture Hall (n.d.), University of Nebraska East Campus, Lincoln, Nebraska.[14]

Home Economics Building (n.d.), University of Nebraska East Campus, Lincoln, Nebraska.[14]

Notes

a. Improvement Bulletin listed "Cedar Rapids, Ia.--Mrs. Martha Weare has had plans prepared by F. C. Fiske, architect, for a dwelling. It will be 2-story, 32x40, frame, with steam heat, electric bells, mantel, plumbing, screens. Cost $3,000. The same architect has prepared plans for a dwelling for Maurice Seely, to be 2-story, frame. He has also prepared plans for a dwelling for J. M. Swigart, of Maquoketa, to be 2-story, frame, 28x35."[7] The Weare House was built at 853 A Ave. NE, then was moved (ca. 1913) to 215 Crescent St., SE, both in Cedar Rapids.

b. "Second Presbyterian Church" creditted to Fiske by Pen & Sunlight Sketches of Lincoln was not the church of that name demolished around 2004 from the southeast corner of 26th & P Streets, but rather its apparent predecessor. Fisher & Lawrie, Architects designed the replacement building ca. 1902.

c. Projects in 1905 were done on behalf of the partnership Fiske, Dieman & Meginnis.

d. Projects from 1913-1914 were done on behalf of the partnership Fiske & Miller.

e. Projects from 1915 to 1924 were done on behalf of the partnership Fiske & Meginnis.

f. Projects in 1925 were done on behalf of the partnership Fiske, Meginnis & Schaumberg.

g. Saint Paul Globe reported on June 15, 1886 that "Invitations are out announcing the marriage of Fred C. Fiske of Goodwin & Fiske, architects of this City, to Miss Kate Burgess, at West Winfield, N.Y., June 23. After July 15 Mr. and Mrs. Fiske will be at home at 1021 First avenue north."[28]

h. George M. Goodwin (1846-1892) was a native of Maine who first appeared in the Minneapolis city directories in 1878, listed as an architect. The 1880 U. S. Census found architect Goodwin and his wife "Rosalie" boarding in Minneapolis in the household of William and Martha Pattee. Fiske was associated with Goodwin in 1884 and 1885 as a draftsman. The 1886 Minneapolis directory is the only year to list the firm of Goodwin & Fiske, architects. Goodwin was also on the board of directors of the Western Association of Architects in 1886. [33] In 1887 Goodwin and Fiske were listed as practicing separately, at different Minneapolis addresses. Rose Pattee Goodwin died in 1887 at age 36 and was interred in Monroe, Maine. G. M. Goodwin was listed as the secretary/treasurer of the Minneapolis-based Northwestern Architect and Improvement Record magazine from 1888-1890. He died in Boston in 1892 at age 46 and was also interred at Monroe, Maine.[29][30][31][32]

i. Pen and Sunlight Sketches of Lincoln of 1893 refers to "...the business...established in Minneapolis in 1886 by Messrs. Goodman [sic] and Fiske..."[1] An 1893 Lincoln, Nebraska newspaper noted of Fiske: "Prior to his coming to Lincoln as a member of the firm of Goodwin & Fiske he designed some of the finest business and residence buildings in Minneapolis."[34] Improvement Bulletin in 1897 reported "F. C. Fiske, the architect who has recently located at Cedar Rapids, Ia., was formerly in Minneapolis, a member of the well known firm of Goodwin & Fiske."[35] When he partnered with Cedar Rapids architect Charles A. Dieman, a description in 1901 of their credentials cited "an experience of eighteen years in this profession," suggesting a starting point of 1883 (about the time Fiske began work in Minneapolis in Goodwin's office), and one Minneapolis building is included among the nineteen projects identified, the "Weaver Storage house."[36] Nine Lincoln projects were also cited.

j. Fidelity Warehouse at 322-326 Third Avenue North in Minneapolis was a five-story brick and stone warehouse built for the Weaver brothers in 1887, for an estimated $20,000.[37] It was operated as "Fidelity Warehouse" by Weaver & Stockwell, who were identified in Minneapolis directories as Homer M. and J. Dell Weaver and S. A. Stockwell.[38]

k. Nebraska State Journal reported in 1895 that Fiske was moving to St. Louis due to the scarcity of building activity in Lincoln. He was listed as an architect in the St. Louis city directory of 1897. Improvement Bulletin noted in 1898 that Fiske "has removed from Lincoln, Neb., to Cedar Rapids, Ia. Mr. Fiske deigned man prominent buildings at Lincoln, and was the architect for the school board for some time." That source adds the note "He was in the office of Architect Jenney, of Chicago, at one time," a connection nowhere else mentioned.[39][40]

l. Lincoln Board of Education passed $100,000 bond in April 1893 for a new high school on the high school block (15th to 16th, M to N Streets). A public meeting in February 1894 urged deferral; board moved ahead with a limit of $75,000. Bids were received and opened but no further steps were taken. Eventually the bond issue was ruled illegal and the bonds were nullified.[42][43] Fiske sued in 1895 for unpaid fees for the various design work, including $1350 for the high school design. The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled in his favor in 1900.[44][45]

m. In March 1895 Fiske advertised in a Saint Louis newspaper for "HOUSE--Wanted, to rent, 5, 6, or 7-room house or flat; furnace and all convs, with or without stable; West Side preferred. Add., stating price and location, F. C. Fiske, 801 Union Trust Bldg." In 1896 Saint Louis Post-Dispatch noted "Architect F. C. Fiske is also preparing plans for an elaborate community house. It is said to approach more nearly to the regulation Eastern apartment house than any of those mentioned except that on Lindell avenue."[46][47]

n. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln website on its historic buildings indicates two designs were submitted for its Library in 1891--one from the Lincoln architects Fiske, Shaffer, and Ellis; the other (which was selected) from the Omaha firm Mendelssohn, Fisher and Lawrie.[8]

o. Lincoln Daily Call of January 1, 1893 identifies Fiske as the supervising architect for the R. E. Moore house and the A. W. Jansen house. Both were large, masonry, Queen Anne style residences. Lincoln architect James Tyler is credited as the designer of the Moore home, which stood on the site now occupied by Hazel Abel Park. The designer of the Jansen house has not been identified.[48

References

1. Pen and Sunlight Sketches of Lincoln (Chicago: Phoenix Publishing Co., 1893), 95.

2. Lincoln City Directory, 1893, Brownell Block illustrated with perspective drawing; again in 1894, 5.

3. Nebraska State Journal (January 16, 1927), 11G.

4. Nebraska State Journal (May 2, 1915), 1:10.

5. Archives, Cornell University Libraries: register of his studies; courses available, 1879-80. (Architect's file)

6. Omaha Excelsior (September 24, 1892), 1 (Article, drawing and floor plans).

7. “Fiske Rites To Be Wednesday,” Lincoln Star (January 27, 1930), 1, 4; and obituary, 4:3.

8. UNL website "Tour City Campus...Library (Old)" See //historicbuildings.unl.edu/building.php?b=12 Accessed February 2, 2017.

9. “F. C. Fiske, Architect; Some of our 1890 buildings,” Daily Nebraska State Journal (April 13, 1891), 4:6.

10. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

11. Thomas Lee Kaspar, comp. Inventory of architectural records in the archives of Davis Fenton Stange Darling, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1996. Nebraska State Historical Society, RG3748, Box 16.

12. “F.C. Fiske, Architect, Rooms 132, 133, 134 Burr Block,” Lincoln Daily Call (January 1, 1893), 8:4-5. Thompson House also illustrated in Lincoln Daily Call" (April 30, 1893), 13:1-2.

13. Lincoln Daily Call (April 4, 1893) 16:3-4.

14. Kay Logan-Peters, Preservation Association of Lincoln, Brownbag Lecture Series, Museum of Nebraska History (June 12, 2001).

15. Historic & Architectural Survey of Lincoln, Nebraska (1976), 37.

16. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 4175.

17. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 4130.

18. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 4080.

19. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 4034.

20. “No. 84 Brick & Stucco House Fiske & Meginnis,” Sunday State Journal (April 25, 1915).

21. “No. 90 Brick & Stucco House Fiske & Meginnis,” Sunday State Journal (July 4, 1915).

22. “No. 96 H.E. Sidles Residence Fiske & Meginnis,” Sunday State Journal (May 2, 1915).

23. Teresa Young, library director. NRHP nomination form (April 1993). NeHBS#WT07-096

24. “New Residence of Dr. W.H. Slattery,” Sunday State Journal (January 8, 1922).

25. “New Home of Lincoln Country Club Nears Completion (photo labeled Fiske & Meginnis, Archts),” Lincoln State Journal (January 7, 1923).

26. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 11744 (September 1923).

27. “Funeral Tribute is Paid F.C. Fiske as Lover of Beautiful,” Lincoln Star (January 30, 1930), 3.

28. Saint Paul Globe (June 15, 1886), 3.

29. Minneapolis City Directory, 1884-1890.

30. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=KcQ744&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&db=1880usfedcen&gss=angs-d&new=1&rank=1&msT=1&gsfn=George%20M&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Goodwin&gsln_x=0&msypn__ftp=Minneapolis,%20Hennepin,%20Minnesota,%20USA&msypn=46194&msypn_PInfo=8-%7C0%7C1652393%7C0%7C2%7C0%7C26%7C0%7C1345%7C46194%7C0%7C0%7C&msbdy_x=1&msbdp=2&MSAV=0&msbdy=1846&cp=0&catbucket=rstp&pcat=35&fh=0&h=24127028&recoff=&ml_rpos=1 Accessed January 15, 2017.

31. "Find A Grave" website, s. v George M. Goodwin (or Rose Pattee Goodwin). http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=48358653&ref=acom Accessed January 15, 2017.

32. Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011; and Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

33. Inland Architect (December 1886), VIII:8, 84.

34. "F. C. Fiske, Architect, Rooms 132, 133, 134 Burr Block" in Lincoln Daily Call (January 1, 1893).

35. Improvement Bulletin (February 5, 1897), XVII:9, 7.

36. "Deiman & Fisk.[sic]" in Cedar Rapids Republican (March 24, 1901), 20.

37. (Minneapolis) Star Tribune (January 1, 1888), 26.

38. (Minneapolis) Star Tribune (September 28, 1887), 2.

39. Nebraska State Journal (February 24, 1895).

40. Improvement Bulletin (January 22, 1898), XVII:8, 8.

41. Improvement Bulletin (May 28, 1898), XVII:25, 16, listing Fiske's commission for three houses in Iowa.

42. Nebraska State Journal (February 9, 1894), (February 10, 1894); report on public meeting complete with perspective drawing and two floor plans.

43. Carl Yost, comp. "Abstracts from the Lincoln Board of Education minutes," TS, ca. 1930, pp. 6-63. Lincoln Public Schools Archives.

44. Lincoln Daily News (May 17, 1895), 1, Fiske files petition in Federal court for $2,810.20 in unpaid fees, from Lincoln school district.

45. "School District Loses" in Nebraska State Journal (December 8, 1900), 5.

46. Saint Louis Post-Dispatch (March 31, 1895), 13. Want ad by Fiske seeking house to rent.

47. Saint Louis Post-Dispatch (April 26, 1896), 20.

48. Lincoln Daily Call (January 1, 1893).

Page Citation

E. F. Zimmer and D. Murphy, “Ferdinand Comstock Fiske (1856-1930), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, February 2, 2017. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, May 14, 2024.

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