George M. McCracken (1875-1952), Architect
George M. McCracken was born in 1875 in Shelby, Illinois to Ephraim and Elena McCracken. His father was a farmer and livestock dealer.[1][2][3] George graduated from the University of Illinois in 1904, where he had been a member of The Architect's Club. By 1909 he was a draftsman in the office of Clarence H. Johnston in St. Paul, Minnesota, who had a large private practice as well as serving as the state architect from 1901-1931.[4][10][17][21] McCraken's wife name was Mary Elinor (nee Steele), and they had at least six children.[5][6][9] Her brother was architect William L. Steele of Sioux City, Iowa, who later worked in Omaha, Nebraska.[18] In 1917 the McCracken family moved to Norfolk, Nebraska, where George accepted "a similar position [to his Minnesota post] in the office of J. C. Stitt".[10] McCracken worked briefly in Fargo, North Dakota around 1928-1932, then returned to St. Paul, Minnesota, in the mid-1930s. He died in St. Paul in 1952.[1][6][7][8]16][17]
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
Norfolk, 1917-1926
Educational & Professional Associations
1904: graduated from University of Illinois, "active member" of The Architect's Club, 1904.[3][17][19][20]
1909-1916: draftsman, C. H. Johnston, St. Paul, Minnesota.[4][10]
1917: draftsman/architect in office of J. C. Stitt, Norfolk, Nebraska.[6]
1919-1927: architect with E. B. Watson, Norfolk, Nebraska.
1928-1931: draftsman for architect William F. Kurke, Fargo, North Dakota.[16]
1932-1940s: architect, St. Paul, Minnesota.[6][7][16]
1950: draftsman for Ellerbe & Co., St. Paul, Minnesota.[17]
Buildings & Projects
Grand Theatre (1920-1921), Norfolk, Nebraska.[11][a]
Sacred Heart School (1926) Norfolk, Nebraska.[12][15][a][b] (MD06-057)
Koenigstein Block & Granada Theater (1927), Norfolk, Nebraska.[13][a] (MD06-007)
Notes
a. In association with Elbert Watson, Architect. Watson and McCracken were together in an automobile accident returning to Norfolk from Omaha in 1925.[10]
b. Watson and McCracken were both speakers at a banquet for Sacred Heart Church in February, 1926. "E. B. Watson, architect of the new school...assured completion of the building by September of this year. G. M. McCracken recited a poem setting forth the troubles of the builder," dedicated to Father Moriarty.[15]
References
1. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave™ Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "George M. McCracken," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
2. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census, s.v. George M. McCracken, Dry Point, Shelby County, Illinois, [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
3. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census, s.v. "George McCracken," Pana, Christian County, Illinois, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
4. 1910 United States Census, s.v. “George M. McCracken,” St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
5. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census, s.v. "G. M. McCracken," Norfolk, Madison County, Nebraska, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
6. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census, s.v. "G. M. McCracken," Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
7. Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census, s.v. "G. M. McCracken," St. Paul. Ramsey County, Minnesota, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
8. Ancestry.com. 1950 United States Federal Census, s.v. "George M. McCracken," St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022.
9. "Gearge [sic] McCracken Married," Decatur (Illinois) Daily Review (October 28, 1904), 2.
10. "Wednesday Wrinkles," Norfolk (Nebraska) Weekly New-Journal (May 4, 1917), 8.
11. Norfolk Daily News (January 11, 1921).
12. The Klofron (Norfolk, NE: Catholic Young Men’s Association, 1926), 25 (copy in Nebraska State Historical Society, Historic Preservation Division, file MD06-57).
13. “Touch of Spain comes to City in New Theater,” Norfolk Daily News (April 15, 1927), 9.
14. Black Cat Crosses Road; Auto Upsets--E. B. Watson and G. M M'Craken escape injury when car overturns," Norfolk (Nebraska) Daily News (September 30, 1925), 2.
15. "Father Moriarty Host At Annual Banquet," The Norfolk (Nebraska) Press (February 4, 1926), 8.
16. Fargo, North Dakota city directories, 1928-1932.
17. Obituary of "George M. McCracken," ca. March 2, 1952, attached to Find a Grave website accessed January 25, 2023, on-line at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234661788/george-m-mccracken
18. "Mary Elinor Steele McCracken," in on-line database Find a Grave accessed January 25, 2023, at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234658024/mary-elinor-mccracken
19. University of Illinois Directory, ed. Vergil V. Phelps, University of Illinois, 1916, on-line thru Ancestry.com. U.S., School Catalogs, 1765-1935, s.v. "George M. McCracken (University of Illinois, 997) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
20. The Illios, yearbook of the University of Illinois, 1905, 242.
21. "Clarence H. Johnston," in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, accessed on-line January 26, 2023 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_H._Johnston_Sr.
Page Citation
E. F. Zimmer & D. Murphy, “George M. McCracken (1875-1952), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, January 26, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 22, 2024.
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