William Foster (1842-1909), Architect
DBA: W. Foster
William Foster...
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
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]
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.)
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 19, 2024.
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