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

Revision as of 07:44, 19 January 2019

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 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 readily available in Iowa's historic architects. 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][g] ...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][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]

References

1. In "Local News," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (June 10, 1870), 3.

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 (January 4, 1874), 3. (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.

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, May 15, 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.