George W. Longstaff

Last updated
George W. Longstaff
Born1850
DiedJanuary 12, 1901
NationalityAmerican
OccupationArchitect
Barnum Institute of Science and History, Bridgeport, 1891. Barnum Museum.JPG
Barnum Institute of Science and History, Bridgeport, 1891.
Westerly Memorial and Public Library, Westerly, Rhode Island, 1894. Public library, Westerly, R.I (62892).jpg
Westerly Memorial and Public Library, Westerly, Rhode Island, 1894.
Waldo C. Bryant House, Bridgeport, 1895. University of Bridgeport Bryant Hall.jpg
Waldo C. Bryant House, Bridgeport, 1895.
Mailands, Fairfield, 1896. McAuliffe Hall Full.png
Mailands, Fairfield, 1896.

George W. Longstaff (1850-1901) was an American architect practicing in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Contents

Life and career

George W. Longstaff was born in 1850 in England. In early life he relocated to the United States, eventually arriving in Bridgeport. [1] His education, training, and early career are unknown. Around 1885 he established the partnership of Longstaff & Hurd with Frank W. Hurd (1857-1915), a lumber and millwork dealer. In addition to designing buildings, the firm also dealt substantially in millwork and interior decoration. The firm was dissolved in 1894 after a bankruptcy, brought upon by the Panic of 1893. In 1895 Longstaff formed the G. W. Longstaff Company. [2] This firm was succeeded in 1898 by G. W. & H. Longstaff, with Herbert Longstaff. Longstaff also often served as the contractor or builder on his designs.

He died in New York City January 12, 1901. [1]

Architectural works

Longstaff & Hurd, c.1885-1894

G. W. Longstaff Company, 1895-1898

G. W. & H. Longstaff, 1898-1901

Other work

Longstaff also entered, but lost, the architectural competitions for the Clinton Avenue School (1888), [21] Y. M. C. A. Building (1888) [5] and the First Baptist Church (1892), [22] all in Bridgeport. He was also appointed supervising architect for the U. S. Post Office at the corner of Broad & Cannon Streets in 1889. [23] It has been demolished.

The Clinton Avenue School [24] and Y. M. C. A. Building [25] went to Warren R. Briggs, and the First Baptist Church [26] to Joseph W. Northrop.

References

  1. 1 2 New York Herald 14 Jan. 1901: 12.
  2. Waldo, George Curtis. Standard's History of Bridgeport. 1897.
  3. St. John's Episcopal NRHP Nomination
  4. Engineering and Building Record 22 Oct. 1887: 592.
  5. 1 2 American Architect and Building News 1888.
  6. "Historic Buildings of Connecticut". historicbuildingsct.com. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  7. 1 2 Engineering Record, Building Record and Sanitary Engineer 1890: xi.
  8. Charles, Eleanor. "Connecticut Guide". New York Times 4 May 1986.
  9. Sanitary News 9 Aug. 1890: 180.
  10. Faude, Wilson H. Hidden History of Connecticut. 2010.
  11. Sanitary News 1 Nov. 1890: 322.
  12. 1 2 "Historic Buildings of Connecticut". historicbuildingsct.com. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  13. 1 2 Waldo, George C., Jr. History of Bridgeport and Vicinity. New York: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1917.
  14. Jordy, William H. Buildings on Paper: Rhode Island Architectural Drawings, 1825-1945. 1982.
  15. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/82004382_text
  16. Chicago Journal of Commerce 28 March 1895: 23.
  17. "Historic Buildings of Connecticut". historicbuildingsct.com. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  18. Chronicle (Southport, CT) 18 June 1896: 3.
  19. Monthly Bulletin of the Westerly Public Library June 1898.
  20. Engineering News 30 Aug. 1900: 67.
  21. American Architect and Building News 1 Sept. 1888: 93.
  22. Catalogue of Practical Books on Architecture, Building, Carpentry, Painting and Decoration. New York: William T. Comstock, 1890s.
  23. Evening Gazette (Pittston, PA) 28 June 1889.
  24. Building 4 Feb. 1888: 3.
  25. History of Bridgeport and Vicinity. 1917.
  26. "Historic Buildings of Connecticut". historicbuildingsct.com. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2015.