Jump to content

Morris H. Whitehouse

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Morris H. Whitehouse
Born(1878-03-21)March 21, 1878
DiedApril 4, 1944(1944-04-04) (aged 66)
Portland, Oregon
OccupationArchitect
BuildingsGus J. Solomon United States Courthouse; Temple Beth Israel

Morris Homans Whitehouse (March 21, 1878 – April 4, 1944) was an American architect whose work included the design of the Gus Solomon United States Courthouse in Portland, Oregon.[1]

Biography

[edit]

Whitehouse was born in Portland, Oregon, on March 21, 1878,[2] to Benjamin Gardner Whitehouse and Clara née Homans.[3] In his youth he attended, and graduated from, public schools in Portland.[2] He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1906.[4][5] He was awarded the Guy Lowell Traveling Fellowship in 1905 which facilitated his pursuing studies at the American Academy in Rome, Italy from 1906 to 1907.[3] He was the first ever recipient of that award from MIT.[3][6] In 1936, he married Mildred Fuller Anderson.[7]

Career

[edit]
The Gus J. Solomon United States Courthouse in 1933

Whitehouse started his own practice in 1907.[3] He then partnered with Bruce R. Honeyman in 1908.[3] Beginning in 1909 he partnered with J. André Fouilhoux and Edgar M. Lazarus in the architectural firm "Lazarus, Whitehouse & Fouilhoux". Lazarus later left the firm, which continued under the name Whitehouse & Fouilhoux, which lasted until 1917.[5] It was the longest-running architectural firm in Oregon.[6][8] Among other buildings, the firm designed the University Club (1913)[5] now listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), the Jefferson High School,[9] the Lincoln High School[5] and the Conro Fiero House, formerly listed on the NRHP but delisted after its destruction by fire.[5] They also collaborated with New York-based firms J. H. Freelander and A. D. Seymour, in the construction of the Portland Municipal Auditorium (now the Keller Auditorium).[5] The firm closed as a result of World War I,[3] when Fouilhoux enlisted in 1918.[4]

Following the war Whitehouse operated Morris H. Whitehouse, Architect, changing this name to Morris H. Whitehouse & Associates in 1926, having been joined by Glenn Stanton and Walter E. Church.[3] They designed the Temple Beth Israel synagogue (1928),[10] the U.S. Courthouse (1929-1931)[11] and the Multnomah Stadium.[3][5]

From 1932 to 1935, the firm was named Whitehouse, Stanton & Church.[3] Whitehouse & Church designed the Oregon State Library in 1939.[4] The firm was again renamed in 1942 to Whitehouse, Church, Newberry & Roehr, with the addition of Earl P. Newberry and Frank Roehr, the last name change before Whitehouse's death. Even after his death the firm remained in operation, undergoing several other name changes.[3]

Whitehouse was a member of the Portland Architectural Club. He was also director and then president of the Oregon arm of the American Institute of Architects.[7] He also served on the Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners from 1919 to 1930.[3]

Whitehouse died in Portland on April 4, 1944,[2] at St. Vincent's Hospital following a heart attack.[7] He had remained active in his profession until entering the hospital for treatment of a heart condition, about two weeks prior to his death.[7]

Projects

[edit]
Columbia Gorge Hotel

Whitehouse and his associates designed many structures in Oregon and other parts of the Pacific Northwest.[6] The following Oregon structures appear on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP):

Portland

[edit]

Other cities

[edit]

Non-NRHP

[edit]
Central Grammar School; Astoria, Oregon

Central Grammar School (AKA Lewis & Clark School), Astoria, Oregon (Demolished 1980s)[18]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Gus Solomon United States Courthouse". Emporis. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b c "Attack fatal to architect". The Oregonian. April 5, 1944. p. 1.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Whitehouse, Morris H., 1878-1944". The Social Networks and Archival Context Project. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Goodenberger, John E. (June 28, 2002). "Architects left their mark on our world". Daily Astorian. Archived from the original on March 16, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Floyd, Judy Ann (July 28, 1980). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory — Nomination Form: Conro Fiero House" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "Guide to the Morris H. Whitehouse Architectural Photographs Collection". Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d "Career ends for architect". The Oregonian. April 5, 1944. p. 5.
  8. ^ "Morris Homans Whitehouse". Lake Oswego History Online. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Jefferson, Thomas, School (Portland, Oregon) | Oregon Digital". oregondigital.org. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  10. ^ Stolzman, Henry; Stolzman, Daniel (2004). Synagogue Architecture in America: Faith, Spirit & Identity. Images Publishing. p. 152. ISBN 9781864700749.
  11. ^ a b "Gus J. Solomon U.S. Courthouse, Portland, Oregon". U.S. General Services Administration. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Historic Landmarks of Portland, Oregon October 2009
  13. ^ Historic Portland building undergoing renovation February 27, 2002 Daily Journal of Commerce (Portland, OR)
  14. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: King's Hill Historic District". National Park Service. December 31, 1990. p. 94. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  15. ^ "National Register". Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  16. ^ Rudiger Krohn (April 30, 1979). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form: Columbia Gorge Hotel" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  17. ^ a b "Oregon National Register List" (PDF). Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  18. ^ "Central School housing on hold | Local News | dailyastorian.com".
[edit]