George M. Coombs

George Millard Coombs
Born November 27, 1851
Brunswick, Maine
Died March 27, 1909
Lewiston, Maine
Nationality United States
Occupation Architect
Lewiston Public Library, designed by Coombs & Gibbs
Kora Temple in Lewiston, designed by Coombs and built between 1908-1910

George M. Coombs (November 27, 1851 March 27, 1909) was an American architect from Maine.

Born in Brunswick, Coombs was the son of Hannah (Morse) and John Coombs, a shipbuilder. At the age of 17, George M. Coombs moved up the Androscoggin River to Lewiston, then a booming mill town, and worked as a carpenter until 1872.[1]

That year, Coombs began working for Lewiston architect Charles F. Douglas. He remained with Douglas until his departure for Philadelphia in 1874. That year, he formed a partnership with Charles H. Kimball, a young architect from Portland. Due to economic instablity, the two dissolved their partnership later that year, and Kimball returned to Portland. Coombs practiced alone until mid-1875, when he became the partner of William H. Stevens, another Lewiston architect. The firm of Stevens & Coombs lasted until Stevens' death in 1880. Coombs worked alone until 1896, when he established Coombs, Gibbs & Wilkinson with Eugene J. Gibbs and Harry C. Wilkinson. Wilkinson left in 1900, and Coombs and Gibbs worked together until Coombs' 1909 death.[1] Upon his death he bequeathed his share in the firm to his son, Harry S. Coombs, who had worked for the firm since 1901. With him, Coombs & Gibbs survived until 1910.[2]

Coombs became successful designing residences and institutional buildings throughout Lewiston, its twin city Auburn, and across the state, working in the prevailing Second Empire, Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne styles.[3] The company is now Harriman Associates.[4]

He married Clara Coffin and they had two sons.[3] Both of them, Harry S. and Frederick N., worked for their father's firm.[1]

Many of his works have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Designs

Kimball & Coombs, 1874:

Private practice, 1874-1875:

Stevens & Coombs, 1875-1880:

Private practice, 1880-1896:

Coombs, Gibbs & Wilkinson, 1896-1900:

Coombs & Gibbs, 1900-1910:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Peck, Bradford House NRHP Nomination. 1994.
  2. 1 2 Second Callahan Block Historic Resource Inventory. 1983.
  3. 1 2 Maine Historical Society (1919). Maine: A History, Volume 4. New York, New York. p. 205.
  4. Staff (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  5. Rockland Residential Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1987.
  6. 1 2 3 Main Street-Frye Street Historic District NRHP Nomination. 2008.
  7. Skulski, Ben. Images of America: Lawrence, Massachusetts. Vol. 2. 1997.
  8. Annual Report of the Receipts and Expenditures of the City of Auburn, for the Fiscal Year Ending February 29, 1879. 1879.
  9. Annual Report of the Receipts and Expenditures of the City of Auburn, for the Fiscal Year Ending February 29, 1878. 1878.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Historic Lewiston: A Self-Guided Tour of Our History, Architecture and Culture. 2001.
  11. Annual Report of the Receipts and Expenditures of the City of Auburn, for the Fiscal Year Ending February 29, 1880. 1880.
  12. Shettleworth, Earle G., Jr. Images of America: Victorian Augusta. 2008.
  13. Dominican Block NRHP Nomination. 1979.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Farmington Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1994.
  15. Maine Insane Hospital NRHP Nomination. 2001.
  16. 1 2 3 Main Street Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1989.
  17. Norway Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1988.
  18. Bennett, Randall H. Bethel, Maine: An Illustrated History. 1991.
  19. American Architect and Building News 7 March 1896: xix.
  20. Engineering News 10 Aug. 1899: 45.
  21. Engineering Record 20 Oct. 1900: 382.
  22. Brickbuilder June 1901: 131.
  23. School Board Journal June 1903: 31.
  24. Smith, Danny D. and Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr.. Postcard History Series: Gardiner. 2008.
  25. Engineering Record 27 April 1907: 53.
  26. American Architect 30 June 1909: 8.
  27. Norway Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1988.
  28. Engineering Record 30 April 1910: 61.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, February 10, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.