Harry Livingston French

Harry Livingston French (November 21, 1871 – January 16, 1928) was an American architect of the Beaux Arts style.

Biography

Harry Livingston French was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, the son of Samuel Livingston French (born September 28, 1839) and his wife, Harriet Seville Turner. French attended Cornell University where he was editor of The Cornellian (Cornell's annual yearbook), a member of the junior honorary society Aleph Samacha, and a member of the senior honor society Sphinx Head. He also joined the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and through that organization became a member of the Irving Literary Society. He graduated in 1894 with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture.^[1]

In 1897, French and the Canadian-born architect Frederick McCormick formed McCormick & French, an architectural partnership based in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Their built works include the interior of the Luzerne County Courthouse, the Nesbitt Theater, and several banks, including the 1906 Second National Bank, considered by some to be Wilkes-Barre's first skyscraper.^[2] French was also a member of the Architectural League of New York.

On June 28, 1910, French married Anne Lee Worden of Wilkes-Barre. Their son, Livingston Paine French, was born at Wilkes-Barre on May 6, 1911.

McCormick & French's built work

The 1906 Hotel Redington in Wilkes-Barre, PA was designed by McCormick & French.

The 1906 Second National Bank in Wilkes-Barre, PA was designed by McCormick & French.

The 1906 Central High School in Plymouth, PA was designed by McCormick & French.

The 1910 YWCA Building in Wilkes-Barre was designed by McCormick & French.

The 1915 First National Bank in Plymouth, PA was designed by McCormick & French.

Among the completed buildings of French's firm, McCormick & French, are the following:

• The Stegmaier Brewing Company; Wash House (1896), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.^[3]
• Nesbitt Theater (1897), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
• Hotel Oneonta (1898), Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania. Destroyed by fire in 1919.
• The Stegmaier Brewing Company; Wagon Shed (1899), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.^[4]
• The Hospital for the Insane, later called Retreat State Hospital (1899), Newport Township, Pennsylvania.
• The Stegmaier Brewing Company; Stables (1901), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.^[5]
• The Hospital for the Insane (Additional Wings) (1905), Newport Township, Pennsylvania.
• The Stegmaier Brewing Company; Bottling House (1902), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.^[6]
• The Stegmaier Brewing Company; Bottling House Addition (1905), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.^[7]
• Hotel Redington (1906), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.^[8]
• Second Central High School (1906), Plymouth, Pennsylvania.^[9]
• The Stegmaier Brewing Company; Cold Storage Building (1907), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.^[10]
• Plymouth National Bank (1907), Plymouth, Pennsylvania.^[11]
• First Eastern Bank (1907), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.^[12]
• Armory, National Guard of PA (1907), Pittston, Pennsylvania (dedicated on February 7, 1907).
• Armory, National Guard of PA (1907), Columbia, Pennsylvania (The armory was dedicated on March 13, 1907).
• Armory, National Guard of PA (1907), Easton, Pennsylvania (The armory was dedicated on October 17, 1907).
• Armory, National Guard of PA (1908), Pine Grove, Pennsylvania.
• Armory, National Guard of PA (1908), Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
• The Bennett & Phelps Apartment House (about 1908), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.^[13]
• Interior, Luzerne County Court House (1909), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.^[14]
• Trucksville M.E. Church (1910), Trucksville, Pennsylvania.^[15]
• The YWCA Building, Franklin Street (1910), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (The Y.W.C.A. building was dedicated on October 12, 1910).
• Armory, National Guard of PA, Co. B, 8th Regiment (Built about 1910), Tamaqua, Pennsylvania.
• Armory, National Guard of PA (1911), Honesdale, Pennsylvania.^[16]
• The Susquehanna Coal Co. Office Building, Main Street (dedicated May 1, 1911), Nanticoke, Pennsylvania.
• First National Bank (1915), Plymouth, Pennsylvania^[17]
• The Hazard Wire Rope Works (power plant, rope mill and warehouse), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
• The Derr Apartment House (completed before 1908), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
• The Sisters of Christian Charity Convent in Danville, Pennsylvania.

References

1. Cornell Alumni News, Obituary: Harry L. French, Vol. XXX, No. 20, February 26, 1928, p. 248. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
2. "Luzerne County Courthouse History". August 19, 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
3. National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form, March 28, 1979.
4. National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form, March 28, 1979.
5. National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form, March 28, 1979.
6. National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form, March 28, 1979.
7. National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form, March 28, 1979.
8. Wilkes-Barre Times, October 4, 1906
9. Wilkes-Barre Times, March 23, 1905, March 23, 1905
10. National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form, March 28, 1979.
11. Wilkes-Barre Times, September 7, 1907
12. National Register of Historic Places, River Street Historic District. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
13. Wilkes-Barre Times, April 6, 1908.
14. Kashatus, William C., "Courthouse centennial: Luzerne County's cornerstone", The Citizens Voice, September 20, 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
15. The American Contractor, July 23, 1910, p.49.
16. Wayne County Historical Society, "The first Pennsylvania State Armory". Retrieved 23 July 2012.
17. Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader, August 17, 1915