Difference between revisions of "William Foster (1842-1909), Architect"

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'''William Foster''' is described by Shank in ''Iowa's historic architects'' as "one of the most important Iowa architects of the nineteenth century" who "was able to obtain the commissions for large and complex buildings that previously went to out-of-state architects."[[#References|[10]]] In Nebraska, Foster was one of the out-of-state architects who carried out major commissions such as the State Penitentiary and the Insane Asylum, both near Lincoln.  This page concentrates on Foster's Nebraska contributions, supplementing the more comprehensive coverage of his career available in Shank's biographical dictionary.  Wikipedia includes a roster of his Iowa works listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[[#References|[11]]]
 
'''William Foster''' is described by Shank in ''Iowa's historic architects'' as "one of the most important Iowa architects of the nineteenth century" who "was able to obtain the commissions for large and complex buildings that previously went to out-of-state architects."[[#References|[10]]] In Nebraska, Foster was one of the out-of-state architects who carried out major commissions such as the State Penitentiary and the Insane Asylum, both near Lincoln.  This page concentrates on Foster's Nebraska contributions, supplementing the more comprehensive coverage of his career available in Shank's biographical dictionary.  Wikipedia includes a roster of his Iowa works listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[[#References|[11]]]
  
Foster was born in Long Island, New York in 1842.  He reportedly was apprenticed to Richard Upjohn, the prominent New York architect and founder of the American Institute of Architects.  Foster operated a planing mill in Flushing, New York before relocating the Des Moines by 1867, where he and Samuel Foster established Foster Bros., a "Planing Mill and Sash and Door Factory." William was also practicing architecture by 1867.[[#References|[10][12]]] His first Nebraska project was very sizable--the State Penitentiary at Lincoln.  He won the commission in competition with architects from Lincoln, Chicago, and St. Louis.[[#References|[1]]][[#Notes|[a]]] In 1871, when "Mr. L. W. Foster of Des Moines" designed the Nebraska Asylum for the Insane, a Lincoln newspaper referred to him as "well known to our citizens as the architect of the Penitentiary."[[#Notes|[g]]]
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Foster was born in Long Island, New York in 1842.  He reportedly was apprenticed to Richard Upjohn, the prominent New York architect and founder of the American Institute of Architects.  Foster operated a planing mill in Flushing, New York before relocating the Des Moines by 1867, where he and Samuel Foster established Foster Bros., a "Planing Mill and Sash and Door Factory." William was also practicing architecture by 1867.[[#References|[10][12]]] His first Nebraska project was very sizable--the State Penitentiary at Lincoln.  He won the commission in competition with architects from Lincoln, Chicago, and St. Louis.[[#References|[1]]][[#Notes|[a]]] Subsequently, he designed the Nebraska Asylum for the Insane in 1871, Lancaster County Jail in 1873, and a large commercial block in 1874--his last known project in Lincoln. He continued in Iowa with major projects in association with a succession of partners, most notably Henry Liebbe, from 1883-1899.  On his own account he designed and built Foster's Opera House in Des Moines and acquired Grand Opera House, and in his last decade shift his focus from architecture to operating those large theaters.[[#References|[10]]] Foster ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Des Moines in 1890.[[#References|[8]]] He died in Des Moines in 1909 [[#References|[9]]][[#Notes|[f]]]  
 
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...ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Des Moines in 1890.[[#References|[8]]] He died in Des Moines in 1909 [[#References|[9]]][[#Notes|[f]]]  
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This page is a contribution to the publication, '''[[Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects]]'''. See the [[Format and contents of Nebraska architect entries|format and contents]] page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
 
This page is a contribution to the publication, '''[[Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects]]'''. See the [[Format and contents of Nebraska architect entries|format and contents]] page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
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Nebraska Lunatic Asylum Building (1871), Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[4]]][[#Notes|[c]]]
 
Nebraska Lunatic Asylum Building (1871), Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[4]]][[#Notes|[c]]]
  
Lancaster County Jail (1873), Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[5]]][[#Notes|[d]]]
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Lancaster County Jail (1873), Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[5][6]]][[#Notes|[d]]]
  
 
State Building (1874-1875), southeast corner of 10th & O Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[2]]][[#Notes|[b]]]
 
State Building (1874-1875), southeast corner of 10th & O Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[2]]][[#Notes|[b]]]
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f. Foster's death by asphyxiation was reported in the ''Evening Star (Washington, D.C.).'' Foster and a guest in his house were both killed by gas leaking into their bedrooms from a faulty stove. Foster was described as "a pioneer Des Moines architect and theatrical man..." who "...owned the Foster and Grand opera house, the two largest theaters in Des Moines."[[#References|[9]]]
 
f. Foster's death by asphyxiation was reported in the ''Evening Star (Washington, D.C.).'' Foster and a guest in his house were both killed by gas leaking into their bedrooms from a faulty stove. Foster was described as "a pioneer Des Moines architect and theatrical man..." who "...owned the Foster and Grand opera house, the two largest theaters in Des Moines."[[#References|[9]]]
  
g. Shark indicates William Foster practiced with L. W. Foster & Co. of Des Moines from about 1871 to 1876, and notes that the Des Moines city directories listed both L. W. Foster Sr. and L. W. Foster Jr. The later was indicated to be a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska.  The relationship of William and the L. W. Fosters is unclear and L. W. Jr. has not been found listed in Lincoln city directories. As early as 1872, Lincoln newspapers carried advertisements for Foster & Co., initially in association with Lincoln architect J. J. Butler.  Under the headline "J. J. Butler, ARCHITECT," tiny print read "Office with L. H. Foster & Co."[[#References|[13]]]
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g. Shark indicates William Foster practiced with L. W. Foster & Co. of Des Moines from about 1871 to 1876, and notes that the Des Moines city directories listed both L. W. Foster Sr. and L. W. Foster Jr. The later was indicated to be a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska.  The relationship of William and the L. W. Fosters is unclear and L. W. Jr. has not been found listed in Lincoln city directories. As early as 1872, Lincoln newspapers carried advertisements for Foster & Co., initially in association with Lincoln architect J. J. Butler.  Under the headline "J. J. Butler, ARCHITECT," tiny print reads "Office with L. H. [sic] Foster & Co."[[#References|[13]]] In 1873, the plans of "Mr. L. W. Foster, the well known architect" were selected for the Lancaster County jail, and again the designer was identified as "L. W. Foster & Co., Des Moines, Iowa...the architects ...of the Nebraska and Iowa penitentiaries, and Nebraska insane asylum."[[#References|[6]]] Also in 1873, "L. W. Foster & Co., Architect" began to advertise in Lincoln newspapers and continued to do so at least as late as 1876, always with "Des Moines, Iowa" as the address.[[#References|[7]]]
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The Lancaster County Jail project generated a controversy about various sets of plans, modifications to plans, and bidding.  Lincoln architect Artemas Roberts wrote several lengthy letters to Lincoln newspapers and "W. Foster" responded from Des Moines.[[#References|[15]]]  William Foster of Des Moines was noted as lodging at Lincoln's Commercial Hotel in April, 1874 and at the Cannon House in July, 1874; L. W. Foster was not mentioned in Lincoln papers aside from the advertisements and the cited references to specific projects.[[#References|[14]]]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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6. "The New County Jail," ''Daily State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska)'' (July 29, 1873), 4.
 
6. "The New County Jail," ''Daily State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska)'' (July 29, 1873), 4.
  
7. Advertisement "L. W. Foster & Co. Architects Des Moines, Iowa," in ''(Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal'' (January 4, 1874), 3. (Repeated in subsequent editions into 1876.)
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7. Advertisement "L. W. Foster & Co. Architects Des Moines, Iowa," in ''(Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal'' (October 5, 1873), 4. (Repeated in subsequent editions into 1876.)
  
 
8. In "Iowa Items," ''Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee'' (May 13, 1890), 4.
 
8. In "Iowa Items," ''Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee'' (May 13, 1890), 4.
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13. Advertisement for "J. J. Butler, Architect," in [[(Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal]] (July 2, 1872), 2.
 
13. Advertisement for "J. J. Butler, Architect," in [[(Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal]] (July 2, 1872), 2.
 
   
 
   
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14. "Hotel Arrivals. Commercial Hotel," ''(Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal'' (April 12, 1874), 4. See also "Personal," ''(Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal'' (July 8, 1874), 4.
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15. "Architect Foster and the Jail Plans," ''(Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal'' (June 23, 1874), 4.
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==Page Citation==  
 
==Page Citation==  
 
[[E. F. Zimmer]] “{{PAGENAME}},” {{Template:ArchtPageCitation}} January 19, 2019.  {{Template:ArchtPageCitation2}} {{LOCALMONTHNAME}} {{LOCALDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}.
 
[[E. F. Zimmer]] “{{PAGENAME}},” {{Template:ArchtPageCitation}} January 19, 2019.  {{Template:ArchtPageCitation2}} {{LOCALMONTHNAME}} {{LOCALDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}.

Revision as of 11:15, 19 January 2019

Des Moines, Iowa

DBA: W. Foster, William Foster, L. W. Foster & Company

Page under construction.

William Foster is described by Shank in Iowa's historic architects as "one of the most important Iowa architects of the nineteenth century" who "was able to obtain the commissions for large and complex buildings that previously went to out-of-state architects."[10] In Nebraska, Foster was one of the out-of-state architects who carried out major commissions such as the State Penitentiary and the Insane Asylum, both near Lincoln. This page concentrates on Foster's Nebraska contributions, supplementing the more comprehensive coverage of his career available in Shank's biographical dictionary. Wikipedia includes a roster of his Iowa works listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[11]

Foster was born in Long Island, New York in 1842. He reportedly was apprenticed to Richard Upjohn, the prominent New York architect and founder of the American Institute of Architects. Foster operated a planing mill in Flushing, New York before relocating the Des Moines by 1867, where he and Samuel Foster established Foster Bros., a "Planing Mill and Sash and Door Factory." William was also practicing architecture by 1867.[10][12] His first Nebraska project was very sizable--the State Penitentiary at Lincoln. He won the commission in competition with architects from Lincoln, Chicago, and St. Louis.[1][a] Subsequently, he designed the Nebraska Asylum for the Insane in 1871, Lancaster County Jail in 1873, and a large commercial block in 1874--his last known project in Lincoln. He continued in Iowa with major projects in association with a succession of partners, most notably Henry Liebbe, from 1883-1899. On his own account he designed and built Foster's Opera House in Des Moines and acquired Grand Opera House, and in his last decade shift his focus from architecture to operating those large theaters.[10] Foster ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Des Moines in 1890.[8] He died in Des Moines in 1909 [9][f]

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

none

Educational & Professional Associations

Buildings & Projects

Nebraska State Penitentiary (1870), Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][3][a]

Nebraska Lunatic Asylum Building (1871), Lincoln, Nebraska.[4][c]

Lancaster County Jail (1873), Lincoln, Nebraska.[5][6][d]

State Building (1874-1875), southeast corner of 10th & O Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2][b]

Notes

a. Nebraska State Journal reported that plans and specifications for the Penitentiary offered by "Wm. Foster of Des Moines" over the designs of several other architects. The paper listed the unsuccessful proponents as "D. M. Killian and W. F. Gilbert, of Lincoln, J. K. Winchell, of Chicago, E. D. Baldwin and T. K. Amman, of St. Louis." Also mentioned was regret that "Mr. McBird, late of Logansport, Indiana, and now of Council Bluffs" was too late in presenting his plans to be considered. "Blaine and Meyers" of Philadelphia reportedly sent plans "by express" and Mr. Meyers came to Lincoln to present them, but the plans did not arrive and could not be located by telegraph.[1]

b. Nebraska State Journal published a lengthy and enthusiastic description of the State Building "now under process of erection, and which will be completed and ready for occupancy by the 1st day of February...To Mr. Wm. Foster, of Des Moines, Iowa, belongs the honor of the design, and from general appearances, there is no better architect in the west than this gentleman."[2]

c. The newspaper account of the design for the new Asylum identifies the architect as "Mr. L. W. Foster of Des Moines, Iowa" and provides a lengthy description. The article concludes with "Mr. Foster has made a good job of these plans and specifications. He is well known to our citizens as the architect of the Penitentiary."[4]

d. Refers to the architect of the jail as "L. W. Foster & Co., Des Moines, Iowa."[5]

e. The Omaha Bee reported in 1890 "Hon. John H. Campbell, mayor of Des Moines, was [at] the Millard yesterday. Mr. Campbell was only recently elected to his present office. He is a republican and made a great run against his democratic opponent William Foster, who is an architect and the proprietor of Foster's opera house in the Iowa capital city."[8]

f. Foster's death by asphyxiation was reported in the Evening Star (Washington, D.C.). Foster and a guest in his house were both killed by gas leaking into their bedrooms from a faulty stove. Foster was described as "a pioneer Des Moines architect and theatrical man..." who "...owned the Foster and Grand opera house, the two largest theaters in Des Moines."[9]

g. Shark indicates William Foster practiced with L. W. Foster & Co. of Des Moines from about 1871 to 1876, and notes that the Des Moines city directories listed both L. W. Foster Sr. and L. W. Foster Jr. The later was indicated to be a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska. The relationship of William and the L. W. Fosters is unclear and L. W. Jr. has not been found listed in Lincoln city directories. As early as 1872, Lincoln newspapers carried advertisements for Foster & Co., initially in association with Lincoln architect J. J. Butler. Under the headline "J. J. Butler, ARCHITECT," tiny print reads "Office with L. H. [sic] Foster & Co."[13] In 1873, the plans of "Mr. L. W. Foster, the well known architect" were selected for the Lancaster County jail, and again the designer was identified as "L. W. Foster & Co., Des Moines, Iowa...the architects ...of the Nebraska and Iowa penitentiaries, and Nebraska insane asylum."[6] Also in 1873, "L. W. Foster & Co., Architect" began to advertise in Lincoln newspapers and continued to do so at least as late as 1876, always with "Des Moines, Iowa" as the address.[7]

The Lancaster County Jail project generated a controversy about various sets of plans, modifications to plans, and bidding. Lincoln architect Artemas Roberts wrote several lengthy letters to Lincoln newspapers and "W. Foster" responded from Des Moines.[15] William Foster of Des Moines was noted as lodging at Lincoln's Commercial Hotel in April, 1874 and at the Cannon House in July, 1874; L. W. Foster was not mentioned in Lincoln papers aside from the advertisements and the cited references to specific projects.[14]

References

1. In "Local News," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (June 10, 1870), 3. On the same page, "Notice to Architects and Builders," inviting submission of plans and specifications, with dateline "Lincoln, Neb. April 1, 1870."

2. "The New State Block. Pronounced by Competent Judges to be the Best Building West of the Missouri River, North of St. Louis. A Credit to Lincoln--The Cost Will Reach the Enormous Sum of $50,000," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (January 1, 1875), 3.

3. "The Penitentiary," Weekly (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (June 10, 1870), 2.

4. "The New Asylum Building," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (August 6, 1871), 1.

5. Brief article, and "Proposals for Building a Jail," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (July 27, 1873), 2.

6. "The New County Jail," Daily State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska) (July 29, 1873), 4.

7. Advertisement "L. W. Foster & Co. Architects Des Moines, Iowa," in (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (October 5, 1873), 4. (Repeated in subsequent editions into 1876.)

8. In "Iowa Items," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (May 13, 1890), 4.

9. "Two Killed by Leaking Gas," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) (December 30, 1909), 2.

10. Wesley I. Shank, Iowa's historic architects: a biographical dictionary (University of Iowa Press: 1998), 65-68.

11. "William Foster (Iowa architect)," in Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia. Accessed January 19, 2019 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Foster_(Iowa_architect)

12. Des Moines city directory, 1869.

13. Advertisement for "J. J. Butler, Architect," in (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (July 2, 1872), 2.

14. "Hotel Arrivals. Commercial Hotel," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (April 12, 1874), 4. See also "Personal," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (July 8, 1874), 4.

15. "Architect Foster and the Jail Plans," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (June 23, 1874), 4.

Page Citation

E. F. Zimmer “William Foster (1842-1909), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, January 19, 2019. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, March 28, 2024.


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