George W. Shaffer (1840-1917), Architect
George Shaffer was a native of Philadelphia, where he first commenced his architectural practice in the 1870s. In about 1882, Shaffer moved his practice to Abilene, Kansas, where he remained until 1890, coming to Lincoln, Nebraska, in that same year. [1] In 1890, Shaffer opened his practice in Lincoln, taking on a partners, Woods, in 1903.
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.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1892-1895, 1900-1901, 1906-1907
Educational & Professional Associations
1870s: in practice at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]
1882-1890: in practice at Abilene, Kansas.[1]
1890-1903: G. W. Shaffer, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][c]
1903-1907: architect and partner, Woods & Shaffer, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska
Buildings & Projects
Dated
First National Bank (1888), Hays, Kansas.[4]
McPherson Opera House (1888-1889), SE corner Main & Southerland, McPherson, Kansas.[1][4]
Project for United Presbyterian Church (ca. 1890-1891), SW corner 16th & R St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[4][a]
Two-story stone business building (1896), location unknown.[4]
Proposal for Lincoln Public Schools Administration Building (1897), SE corner 15th & N Sts, Lincoln, Nebraska.[5][4]
T. H. Miller house (1899), 112 Grove Ave, Crete, Nebraska.[2][3] (SA01-001)
Dr. C. C. Moyer house (1905), SE corner 16th & M Sts, Lincoln, Nebraska.[4]
Undated
Grace Lutheran Church (n.d.), location unknown.[4]
Courthouse (n.d.), Ellsworth, Kansas [1]
Rush County Courthouse (n.d.), Kansas [1]
Garfield College and Normal Institute (n.d.), Enterprise, Kansas.[4]
McPherson College Dormitory (n.d.), McPherson, Kansas.[4]
E. G. Clark house (n.d.), McPherson, Kansas.[4]
McPherson College and Industrial Institute (n.d.), McPherson, Kansas.[1,4]
Institute of Feeble Minded (n.d.), Beatrice, Nebraska.[4]
E. P. Leonard house (n.d.), SE corner 17th & L Sts. Lincoln, Nebraska.[4]
Four frame cottages for George Cullen (n.d.), NW corner 13th & E Sts, Lincoln, Nebraska.[4]
Home for the Friendless (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[1]
Swedish Methodist Church (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[4]
Wahoo City Hall (n.d.), Wahoo, Nebraska.[1]
C. J. Ernst house (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[1]
Building for H. H. Keel (n.d.), Nebraska.[4]
Remodel for L. M. Raub (n.d.).[4]
Standard Plans
Like many architects of his time, Shaffer had prepared a set of standard plans for commonly sought-after commissions. These may have been used to interview for jobs, or as models for designs that were prepared for clients. The Nebraska State Historical Society has a number of these drawings as part of the Shaffer Collection (RG4258).[4] Most of the plans are for schools and churches, but a few residences and commercial buildings are included as well. The main collection is described here as they may provide clues to actual commissions.
Miscellaneous plans
Two-story frame residence with basement and finished attic; floor plans.[4]
Two-story stone business building (1896); elevations.[4]
Two-story residence; side elevation.[4]
Five designs for iron storefronts (c1890-1903); elevations.[4]
Design for a hotel (ca. 1890-1903); plans and elevation.[4]
Two-story building; plans and elevations.[4]
And other miscellaneous drawings.
Church plans
Small church No.1; floor plans and elevations.[4]
Small church No.2; floor plan and elevations.[4]
Small church No.3; floor plan and elevations.[4]
Grace Lutheran Church; dimensioned plan and two elevations.[4]
Design for a church, 34x56 feet; plan and elevations.[4]
Design for a church, $2600; plan and elevations.[4]
“Floor Sketch of a Church” [Akron plan]; floor plan.[4][b]
“North side elevation of Chapel;” elevation.[4]
Church; plans [Akron plan].[4]
Large church; plans, elevations, and perspective.[4]
Large church; plans and elevations.[4]
School plans
“Sketch of New Franklin School House” (c1890-1903); elevations.[4]
Two-story, four-room schoolhouse F; plans and elevations.[4]
“Sketch for a four room school house P” (ca. 1890-1903); plans and elevations.[4]
Two-storey, four-room schoolhouse” R; plans and elevations.[4]
“Sketch for a four room school house” N (c1890-1903); plans and elevations.[4]
“Sketch for a four room school house” E (ca. 1890-1903); plans and alternative elevations.[4]
Two-storey, four-room schoolhouse D; plans and elevations.[4]
“Sketch for a four room school house” H (c1890-1903); plans and elevations.[4]
Seven designs for one-room schoolhouses; plans and elevations.[4]
Two-story brick schoolhouse; plans, elevation, and perspective.[4]
“Sketch for an eight room school house” (c1890-1903); plans and elevations.[4]
“Sketch for an eight room school house No.3” (c1890-1903); plans, elevations, and perspective.[4]
Two-story, eight-room schoolhouse (c1890-1903); plans and elevations.[4]
Eight alternative plans for a two-story, eight-room schoolhouse; plans.[4]
“Sketch for a six room school house No.1” (c1890-1903); plans and elevations.[4]
“Sketch for a six room school house No.2” (c1890-1903); plans and elevations.[4]
“Sketch for a six room school house No.3” (c1890-1903); plans and elevations.[4]
“Sketch for a six room school house No.4” (c1890-1903); plans and elevations.[4]
Two-story, six-room schoolhouse No.5; plans and elevations.[4]
“Sketch for a six room school house No.6” (c1890-1903); plans and elevations.[4]
Notes
a. The church first shows at this location in the 1891 Lincoln City Directory, but the footprint of the building as indicated on the 1903 Sanborn Map does not match Shaffer’s drawings.[6] The Shaffer Collection, reference [4], includes specifications in addition to plans [Akron plan], elevations, and a perspective drawing.
b. Signed, “George W. Shaffer, Arch’t, Moberly, Mo.”
c. Documents in the manuscript files, reference [4], indicate that Shaffer signed his office location as Lincoln, in other cases as in Lincoln and Moberly, Missouri, and in one case, as in Moberly alone. There are no dates on these documents to illuminate this further.
See RCF#1 Forks Bldg. Listing ???
References
1. Pen and Sunlight Sketches of Lincoln (1893), 123.
2. T. H. Miller Residence, Manuscript Record, Nebraska State Historical Society, film MS314/RG4258.
3. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
4. “George W. Shaffer, Architect,” Nebraska State Historical Society Collection, MS4243/RG4258.
5. Edward F. Zimmer to D. Murphy, email communication, July 7, 2011.
6. Edward F. Zimmer, “George W. Shaffer (1840-1917),” TS. n.d. (rec’d July 7, 2011).
Page Citation
D. Murphy, “George W. Shaffer (1840-1917), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, March 11, 2015. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 28, 2024.
Contact the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office with questions or comments concerning this page, including any problems you may have with broken links (see, however, the Disclaimers link at the bottom of this page). Please provide the URL to this page with your inquiry.
