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

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DBA: W. Foster

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William 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][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.

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 12, 2019. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 29, 2024.

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