Difference between revisions of "Henry Theodore Julius Fuehrmann (1858-1932), Builder-Architect"

Latest revision as of 09:05, 7 April 2023

dba: Fred Fuehrmann, H. T. J. Fuehrmann, Julius Fuehrmann, H. T. Jul Fuehrman

Henry Theodore Julius Fuehrmann was born in Brunswick, Germany, March 27, 1858. He attended school in Germany until age fourteen, then apprenticed to a mason. He served a year in the German army at age 20, then emigrated to the United States in 1882 or 1883, spending about two years in Chicago and Omaha before settling in Grand Island, Nebraska in 1884. He married Dora Joehnck in Grand Island in 1885 and they had two children, Julia and Gustav. Julius "soon established himself in Grand Island as a progressive and energetic contractor."[8] In the late 1890s the Fuehrmanns departed from Nebraska and he practiced as a civil engineer in Illinois and Michigan for several years, before establishing residence in Brooklyn by 1906.[12][31] He died in New York City in 1932.[1][2][8][9]

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

Educational & Professional Associations

1870s: "throughout his entire youth, he devoted himself closely to the study of architecture in different polytechnic institutions throughout his native land..."[8]

1884-1896: architect, Grand Island, Nebraska.[13][14]

1899: architect, Peoria, Illinois.[10][29]

1900-1901: civil engineer with Theodore Hapke as Fuehrmann & Hapke, Chicago, Illinois.[9][10][b]

1909: architect, New York City.[31]

Other Associations

1891: European travel, "in the interest of the Oxnard Beet Sugar Company," departing August and returning to Grand Island in October, 1891.[26][51]

1903: VP & manager, Furman Construction Company, Detroit, Michigan.[11]

1904-1905: President, Detroit Cement, Stone and Tile Co. & VP and manager, Furman Construction Co., "Contractors Beet Sugar Factories," Detroit, Michigan.[11]

1906: "H. T. J. Fuermann, a wealthy manufacturer of patent cement shingles, whose place of business is in the West."[30]

Buildings & Projects

Dated Projects

2-story brick block of Henry Boyden (1885), corner of Third & Pine, Grand Island, Nebraska.[53]

Brick and stone building for James Michelson (1885-1887), Grand Island, Nebraska.[9][42][53][57]

Prof. Berth's academy of music (1885), Grand Island, Nebraska.[53]

Lutheran Church (1885), Grand Island, Nebraska.[53]

Windolph's three new store buildings (1885), Front Street, Grand Island, Nebraska.[53]

The Zink & Hunter, Meth and Veit block (1886), Grand Island, Nebraska.[16]

The "sisters hospital" (1885-1886), Grand Island, Nebraska.[17][53]

Cushman's building (1886), St. Paul, Nebraska.[18]

Annie Anderson's residence (1887), Grand Island, Nebraska.[41]

A. H. Baker's residence (1887), West First Street, Grand Island, Nebraska.[19][57]

Nebraska Soldiers' and Sailors' Home.(Biographical Sketches of Nebr. Legislature,1895).

Nebraska Soldiers' and Sailors' Home (1887), Grand Island, Nebraska.[8][20][35][57][62]

O. B. Thompson residence (1887), West Lawn, Grand Island, Nebraska.[60]

School house (1887), Broken Bow, Nebraska.[61]

Catholic church (1887), Broken Bow, Nebraska.[61]

New Episcopal church (1887-1889), Grand Island, Nebraska.[56][59][61]

Catholic church (1887-1888), Grand Island, Nebraska.[9][54][55][57]

Grand Island City Hall.(Zimmer Postcard Collection)

Grand Island City Hall (1887-1890), Grand Island, Nebraska.[8][9][25][37][38][39][e]

Buffalo County Courthouse (1887-1890), Kearney, Nebraska.[9][32][33][34][57][c]

Business block for Mr. Pat Dunphy (1888), Grand Island, Nebraska.[43]

Stone and brick vault for Chas. Wasmer (1888), Grand Island cemetery, Grand Island, Nebraska.[44]

Brick building for H. H. Stratmann (1888), Grand Island, Nebraska.[45]

Three-story brick block for Mrs. Lambert and Kilian (1888), Grand Island, Nebraska.[48]

One-story brick school (1888), Lots 3 & 4, Block 11, Grand Island, Nebraska.[21]

One-story brick school (1888), Chapman, Nebraska.[22]

Judge Harrison's $10,000 "modern Queen Ann or old English styles" residence (1888), Harrison's Addition, Grand Island, Nebraska.[23][46]

F. H. Michelson residence (1888), Grand Island, Nebraska.[47]

J. W. Thompson's $8,000 residence (1888), West Second Street, Grand Island, Nebraska.[23]

C. W. Scarff residence (1888), West Lawn, Grand Island, Nebraska.[23]

J. M. Marsh residence (1888), North West Lawn, Grand Island, Nebraska.[23]

Baptist university (1888-1892) West Lawn, Grand Island, Nebraska.[9][57][58]

Three-story brick and stone building for R. Connell (1889), Grand Island, Nebraska.[49]

John Wallichs' building (1889), Grand Island, Nebraska.[40]

The Oxnard "original beet sugar factory buildings" (1889-1890), Grand Island, Nebraska.[8][9][24][50]

Two-story bank and business block for First National Bank of Wood River (1892), Wood River, Nebraska.[26]

3-story hotel for Gustave Koehler (1892-1893), corner of Locust and Front street, Grand Island, Nebraska.[8][52]

Plans and specifications for building on poor farm (1896), Hall County, Nebraska.[27]

12-story, $125,000 brick store and loft building (1909), 45 and 47 West 27th Street, New York City.[31]

Undated Projects

Bank of Commerce (before 1889), Grand Island, Nebraska.[57]

Notes

a. Fuehrmann's "given" names are reported in many forms in newspapers, census records, and directories. His gravestone in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn provides his name "engraved in stone" as "H. T. JUL. FUEHRMANN" and his wife's as "DORA JOEHNCK FUEHRMANN."[1]

b. A detailed biographical note with one of Fuehrmann's two "Find-a-Grave" listings mentions his Chicago partner Theodore Hapke, stating "Served as contractor for the construction of the Sebewaing factory with his partner, Theodore Hapke."[9] A sugar beet processing facility in Sebewaing, Michigan opened in 1902.

c. H. E. Wagner of Kearney was selected as architect for the the Buffalo County Courthouse in mid-1887 but died a few months later in September. Fuehrmann apparently took over the completion of the project, which extended into 1890.[9][32][33][34][36]

d. A committee "on procuring plans" for a city hall for Grand Island reviewed plans from Fuehrmann and Rittenhouse & Brage in June of 1887. Nearly two years later, the city again published a "Notice to Architects" soliciting bids for designing a city hall and jail. Fuehrmann and Brage offered proposals and Fuehrmann's was chosen in March of 1889.[37][38][39] Construction commenced in the summer of 1889.

References

1. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave™ Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Henry T. Julius Fuehrmann," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

2. Ancestry.com. Nebraska, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1855-1908, s.v. "Julius Fuehrmann" [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.

3. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census, s.v. "H. Joel Fheherman [sic]," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

4. Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., State Census, 1905, s.v. "Henry F. G. Fuehrman," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

5. Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Henry T. Furhmann," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

6. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Henry T. J. Fuehrman," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

7. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Julius H. S. Fuehrman," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.

8. "Former Builder of G. I. Passes On," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent" (February 4, 1932), 4.

9. Ancestry.com. Global, Find a Grave™ Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current, s.v. "Henry Theodore Julius Fuehrman" [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

10. Peoria, Illinois and Chicago city directories, 1899-1901

11. Detroit city directory, s.v. "Henry T. J. Fuehrman," 1903-1905

12. "The wedding of Miss Julia L. Fuehrmann..." The Standard Union (Brooklyn, New York) (September 8, 1910), 9.

13. "Fred Fuehrmann, Architect," advertisement in The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (November 20, 1884), 3; "Until Dec. 1st orders may be left with Chas. Guenther. After that time will have office in Opera House building."

14. "Fred Fuehrmann, architect, has his office in Reneberg's new building," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (December 20, 1884), 3.

15. "Julius Fuehrmann, Architect," advertisement in The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (January 1, 1885), 3; "Office--In Reneberg's new building."

16. "Sealed Proposals for Building," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (July 20, 1886), 3.

17. "Bids for laying floors and other carpenter work..." The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (August 14, 1886), 3.

18. "Excavating. Bids..." The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (August 18, 1886), 3.

19. "To Builders," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (January 24, 1887), 3.

20. "The plan for the soldier's home drawn by architect Julius Fuehrmann is a beauty..." Grand Island (Nebraska) Herald (May 7, 1887), 8; and "appointed to superintend the construction..." Grand Island (Nebraska) Herald (May 14, 1887), 8.

21. "Proposal for Bids," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (July 24, 1888), 4.

22. "Bids for the erection of a one story brick school house..." The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (July 25, 1888), 4.

23. "Garlanding Our City. Continued...Residences Built This Year," Grand Island (Nebraska) Times (December 14, 1888), 4.

24. "Communication from Mr. Huch" (re Grand Island sugar beet factory), Grand Island (Nebraska) Independent (January 18, 1890), 2.

25. "Council Proceedings," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (May 9, 1890), 4.

26. "H. T. Julius Fuehrmann, who went to Europe some months since in the interest of the Oxnard Beet Sugar Company, has returned." The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (October 9, 1891), 4.

27. "To Contractors," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (March 23, 1892), 4.

28. "Board Proceedings...Grand Island, Oct. 8, '96," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (October 10, 1896), 3.

29. Reference to a social event "in honor of Mrs. H. T. Julius Fuehrmann, of Peoria, Illinois..." The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Press (July 8, 1899), 5.

30. "Thieves Camped in Fuehrmann Home...Upset the Household Generally, Living in it While the Family Was Absent," Times Union (New York City) (April 2, 1906), 1.

31. "The Building Department. List of Plans Filed for New Structures in Manhattan and Bronx," The New York Times (May 19, 1909), 14.

32. Paul Kenneth Goeldner, Temples of Justice: Nineteenth Century Courthouses of the Midwest and Texas [PhD dissertation, Columbia University, 1970] (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1970), 434.

33. Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton Counties, Nebraska, Comprising a Condensed History of the State (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1890), 631.

34. Historical and Descriptive View of Nebraska (Omaha: Jno. Lethem, 1892), 2:121.

35. "The Soldiers' Home," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (June 1, 1887), 8.

36. "Personal...H. T. Juhl Fuehrman, of Grand Island, the architect for the new court house, was in the city yesterday to confer with the building committee..." The Kearney (Nebraska) Daily Hub" (July 20, 1889), 4.

37. "Council Proceedings. Grand Island Neb., June 22, '87," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent" (June 23, 1887), 4.

38. "Notice to Architects," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent" (February 25, 1889), 4.

39. "Council Proceedings. Grand Island, Neb., Mar. 21, '89," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent" (March 9, 1889), 7.

40. "Notice to Builders," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (July 18, 1889), 4.

41. "To Builders," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (January 27, 1887), 3.

42. "Notice to Contractors," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (May 9, 1887), 4.

43. "Plans are now ready to receive bids on a business block for Mr. Pat Dunphy," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (February 9, 1888), 4.

44. "Notice to Contractors," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (February 13, 1888), 4.

45. "To Contractors," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (February 24, 1888), 4.

46. "To Contractors," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (March 19, 1888), 4.

47. "To Contractors," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (April 4, 1888), 4.

48. "To Contractors," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (April 21, 1888), 4.

49. "To Contractors," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (May 8, 1889), 4.

50. "The Beet Sugar Factory--One of the Grandest Manufacturing Industries in the West," Grand Island (Nebraska) Independent (January 11, 1890), 10.

51. "Yesterday Mr. Jul Fuehrman, the architect of the Oxnard Beat Sugar Co. started for Europe on business for said firm. He is to visit Germany and France..." The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (August 3, 1891), 4.

52. "To Contractors," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (November 7, 1892), 4.

53. "This morning we took a stroll thro' architect Fuehrman's office and viewed a number of plans and specifications of new buildings to be erected in Grand Island this spring and summer." The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (May 9, 1885), 4.

54. "New Catholic Church," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (August 23, 1887), 4.

55. "The new Catholic church is to be built of brick and stone..." and "To Contractors," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (June 12, 1888), 4.

56. "We were in Boyden's drug store...and noticed the plans of the new Episcopal church...the work of Architect Fuehrman..."Grand Island (Nebraska) Times (October 27, 1887), 5.

57. "H. T. Jul. Fuerhrman [sic]," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (August 17, 1889), 5.

58. "Grand Island Gets the University," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (April 28, 1888), 7.

59. "The New Episcopal Church," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (July 11, 1889), 4.

60. "Architect Feuhrmnan [sic] is drawing plans for a residence...and O. B. Thompson will own and occupy it," The Grand Island (Nebraska) Daily Independent (June 9, 1887), 5.

61. "J. T. Jul. Fuehrman has had his plans accepted for the Broken Bow School house and a Catholic church in the same city." The Grand Island (Nebraska) Times (August 19, 1887), 5.

62. "Nebraska Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Grand Island," illustration in W. A. Howard, Biographical Sketches of the Nebraska Legislature and National and State Officers of Nebraska, (Lincoln, Nebraska: Press of Jacob North & Co., 1895), 260.

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Page Citation

E. F. Zimmer & D. Murphy, “Henry Theodore Julius Fuehrmann (1858-1932), Builder-Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, March 30, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, May 16, 2024.

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