Clarence Henry Larsen (1887-1963), Architect & Engineer
d.b.a. C. H. Larsen, C. H. Larsen & Co.
Clarence H. Larsen was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on July 13, 1887 to Danish-born parents Hans P. (contractor) and Anna Larsen.[1] By 1906, Clarence was identified in the Lincoln directories as a carpenter. From 1912, he was identified as an architect or "architect and superintendent."[2] His early practice included single-family residences, but he soon was also designing multi-story, multi-family buildings as early as 1915 and other majpr commercial and industrial buildings. He married Edith Whetsel in 1916 and they had one daughter, Margery.[3] The Larsens moved to Omaha by 1925 and Clarence's practice shifted to engineering work, initially for a refrigeration company; then in 1928 Clarence and Edith incorporated "Larsen Pulverizing Company."[4][5] They moved to Chicago in the later 1930s and remained in Illinois through Clarence's death in 1963.[7][8][9]
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
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1906-1924; Omaha, Nebraska, 1926-1934
Educational & Professional Associations
1906-1911: carpenter, Lincoln, Nebraska
1912-1916: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1917-1925: architect in practice as "Clarence H. Larsen & Co." or "C. H. Larsen & Co.," Lincoln, Nebraska.[10]
1920: C. H. Larsen & Co. employed architect Paul D. Marvin and draftsman Orlando B. Little, Lincoln, Nebraska.[e]
1922: C. H. Larsen & Co. employed Merrell A. Coe.[e]
1925: director of engineering and sales departments of Baker Ice Machine Co., Omaha, Nebraska.[4][6]
1926: Secretary of Real Estate Board, Omaha, Nebraska.[49]
1928: incorporator (with wife Edith) of Larsen Pulverizing Company (mineral producers and refiners), Omaha, Nebraska.[5]
1940: electrical engineer with street railway company, Chicago, Illinois.[7]
1942: employed by Arthur G. McKee Co. (consulting engineers), Chicago.[8]
Buildings & Projects
Dr. William H. & Phebe Wilson House (1914), 1901 Washington Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[12][13]
Professors Edgar & Alice Hinman House (1914), 1825 South 24th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[28][29]
Erwin Herpolsheimer House (1914), 2225 St. Marys Avenue, Lincoln, Nebraska.[26]
Gladys & Harry E. Klein House (1914), 1957 Harwood Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[24][25]
House (1915), 1035 North 21st Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[30]
House (1915), 2720 E Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[31]
House (1915), 1620 C Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[32]
Stella Alice & Frank M. Stephens House (1915), 1967 Harwood Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[25][27][b]
Star Van & Storage Co. warehouse (1915), 818 Q Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][18][19]
Plattner-Yale Mfg. Co. (1915), 2005-2007 Y Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][23]
Mariposa Apartments (1915), 745 South 12th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][14][15]
House (1916), 1637 D Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[33]
Edith & C. H. Larsen residence (1916), 2472 Lake Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[34][c]
Metropolitan Apartments (1917), southeast corner of 12th & K Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[11]
Jessie & Herbert E. Gooch House (1917), 2025 South 25th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][16][17]
Park Development (1917), Harvard, Nebraska.[10]
First State Bank of Bethany (1917), Bethany (now 1551 North Cotner Boulevard, Lincoln), Nebraska.[10][d] LC13:G11-198
Raymond Bros. Clark Co. warehouse (1917), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[10][20][21][22][a]
E. E. Maxon Building (1917), R and Fourth Streets, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[10][22][a]
Cleaning Works for Rees Wilkenson (1917), 1445 P Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[35]
Motion picture building for Nellie C. Buck (1917), 1442 O Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[36]
Lococo Building (1918), 200-202 South 9th Street/901-917 N Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[38]
Two-story, 240'x418' reinforced concrete factory for Hebb Motors Co., later Patriot Trucks, Arrow Airplane, and Goodyear Rubber (1918), Havelock (now North 56th and Logan Streets, Lincoln), Nebraska.[39]
William Raymond residence (1919), 2464 Woodscrest Boulevard, Lincoln, Nebraska.[37][c]
Ward Building for Industrial School for Girls (1922), Geneva, Nebraska.[40]
Lincoln Star Building (1922-1923), southwest corner of 12th & M Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[41]
House for R. S. Brewster (1925), 3021 Stratford Avenue, Lincoln, Nebraska.[42][c]
Notes
a. Platte Valley Star-Herald reported that W. J. Assenmacher Co. of Lincoln had the contracts for building both the E. E. Maxon and Raymond Bros.-Clark buildings in Scottsbluff. C. H. Larson [sic] was cited as architect for the pair of buildings, which "are the last word in fire proof construction and call for an expenditure of nearly $100,000."[22] Maxon was a farm implement dealer, while Raymond Bros.-Clark was a grocery wholesaler.
b. Clarence's father Hans Larsen was the contractor for the Stephens' house.[26]
c. In the Boulevards Historic District on National Register of Historic Places.
d. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
e. Orlando B. Little was born in Minnesota in 1893, son of a lumber dealer. Orlando taught for Lincoln Public Schools in 1919 a special teacher in industrial arts; "O. B. Little" was noted as resigning from that teaching corps in June 1919. The U. S. Census of 1920 found Orlando B. Little in Lincoln, a draftsman. By 1922, the Indianapolis city directory listed him as an architect. He died in 1958, described as a self-employed architect and 37-year resident of Indianapolis.[43][44][45][46] Merrel A. Coe was listed as an architect in the Lincoln city directory of 1920, whereas the 1920 U. S. Census found him in Washington, DC working as an architectural draftsman. He apparently returned by Lincoln by 1922, when he as listed as associated with C. H. Larsen & Co. His obituary of 1965 noted he as a municipal architect in Washington, DC for 31 years, retiring in 1956.[[#References|[[47][48]]] As neither O. B. Little nor M. A. Coe appear to have practiced in Nebraska as architects, this note may suffice for the purposes of Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. (EFZ)
References
1. Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Clarence H. Larsen," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
2. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, s.v. "Clarence H. Larsen," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
3. Engagement announcement, Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (July 2, 1916), 17; "Miss Edith Whetsel and Clarence Larsen are married," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (August 3, 1916) 2.
4. "Larsen to Direct Department for Omaha Company," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (April 26, 1925), 9.
5. "New Corporations," Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening Journal (February 24, 1928), 18; "Tells Good Business--Only Few Months Old, Omaha Firm Has Heavy Orders," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (Feb. 3, 1928), 30 (reporting shipments to England, Germany, and Holland).
6. "Announcements—Personal," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (January 8, 1934), 11 (notice of dissolution of business relations between J. L Baker and Larsen).
7. Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Clarence Larsen," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
8. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, s.v. "Clarence Henry Larsen," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
9. Ancestry.com, U. S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 s.v. "Clarence Larsen," b. July 13, 1887, d. Sept. 1963; database on-line, Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2011.
10. "Clarence H. Larsen & Co." (advertisement with listing of projects), (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (June 10, 1917), 39.
11. "Another Change in the Sky-Line--The Beautiful New Metropolitan Apts.," Lincoln (Nebraska) Daily Star (May 6, 1917), 4-5 (double page spread); "Metropolitan," Sunday State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska) (June 10, 1917), 8-C (illustrated).
12. City of Lincoln Building Permit #5591, issued 1914, estimated cost $6,500.
13. Ed Zimmer, Walking the Near South Neighborhood: Volume 2 (Lincoln, Nebraska: Near South Neighborhood Association, 2020), 83.
14. City of Lincoln Building Permit #6077, issued June 26, 1915.
15. "Mariposa Flat," Sunday State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska) (July 25, 1915), 8A (elevation drawing).
16. Ed Zimmer, Walking the Near South Neighborhood: Volume 3 (Lincoln, Nebraska: Near South Neighborhood Association, 2021), 54.
17. City of Lincoln Building Permit #7042, issued April 11, 1917.
18. Ed Zimmer, Historic Haymarket, Lincoln, Nebraska, (Lincoln, Nebraska: Lincoln Haymarket Development Corporation, 2014), 25.
19. City of Lincoln Building Permit #6230, issued September 14, 1915.
20. "Wholesale Firm Locating Here...Work on New Wholesale House of Raymond Bros. & Clark Will...Start as Soon as Possible," Scottsbluff (Nebraska) Republican (January 16, 1917), 11.
21. "Work on Warehouse To Be Started Soon--C. H. Larson...," Scottsbluff (Nebraska) Republican (March 13, 1917), 1.
22. "Two Big Contracts Let," Platte Valley (Nebraska) Daily Star-Herald (April 20, 1917), 3.
23. "Lincoln's New Factory--The Plattner-Yale Plant," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (October 17, 1915), 9 (with aerial perspective).
24. City of Lincoln Building Permit #5627, issued July 9, 1914.
25. Ed Zimmer, Walking the Near South Neighborhood: Volume 3 (Lincoln, Nebraska: Near South Neighborhood Association, 2021), 129.
26. City of Lincoln Building Permit #5518, issued May 1, 1914.
27. City of Lincoln Building Permit #6142, issued August 5, 1915.
28. City of Lincoln Building Permit #5447, issued April 3, 1914.
29. Ed Zimmer, Walking the Near South Neighborhood: Volume 3 (Lincoln, Nebraska: Near South Neighborhood Association, 2021), 86.
30. City of Lincoln Building Permit, issued 1915.
31. City of Lincoln Building Permit #6294, issued October 23, 1915.
32. City of Lincoln Building Permit #6115, issued July 19, 1915.
33. City of Lincoln Building Permit, issued 1916.
34. City of Lincoln Building Permit #6547, issued May 4, 1916.
35. City of Lincoln Building Permit #7071, issued 1917.
36. City of Lincoln Building Permit #7157, issued 1917.
37. City of Lincoln Building Permit #8081, issued 1919.
38. City of Lincoln Building Permit #7382, issued April 20, 1918.
39. The Bridgeman's Magazine (April 1918), v.18:201. October 1918 issue (pp. 556 & 560) includes construction photos of Hebb Building in Havelock. Accessed February 20, 2023 on-line at http://books.google.com/books?id=csScAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22C.+H.+Larsen,+architect%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s
40. "The board of control has employed Clarence H. Larsen & Co.," Lincoln (Nebraska) State Journal (May 8, 1922), 9.
41. City of Lincoln Building Permit #10337, issued August 10, 1922.
42. City of Lincoln Building Permit #13326, issued February 14, 1925.
43. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave™ Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Orlando B. Little," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
44. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Orlands [sic] B. Little," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Ancestry.com; 1930 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Orlando B. Little," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
45. "Orlando Little, Architect, Dies," Indianapolis (Indiana) News (January 21, 1958), 9.
46. "Wesleyan Ivy Exercises" (and LPS board business), (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (June 3, 1919), 8.
47. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Merrel Coe," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
48. "Merrel A. Coe" (obituary), The Tampa (Florida) Tribune (February 17, 1965), 1.
49. "Realty Job for C. H. Larsen," Omaha (Nebraska) Evening Bee (May 25, 1926), 1.
Page Citation
E. F. Zimmer, “Clarence Henry Larsen (1887-1963), Architect & Engineer,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, February 20, 1923. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 22, 2024.
Contact the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office with questions or comments concerning this page, including any problems you may have with broken links (see, however, the Disclaimers link at the bottom of this page). Please provide the URL to this page with your inquiry.
