Fiske & Dieman, Architects
Partners:
Ferdinand Fiske, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska
Charles A. Dieman, Architect, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Fiske & Dieman was the Lincoln office of the Dieman & Fiske partnership that originated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1900 and operated there until 1910. The Lincoln office of the partnership, under F. C. Fiske and Harry Meginnis, opened in 1901 and advertised itself as Fiske & Dieman from 1902 until 1910. The projects associated with that office of the partnership are listed below. Several projects in the 1902-1904 period were identified in publications as the work of Fiske, Dieman & Meginnis and those are listed on their own page.
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the Format and contents of Nebraska architect entries page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1902-1910
Lineage of the Firm
1886: architect and partner, Goodwin & Fiske, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1888-1889: Fiske & Peters, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1890-1900: F. C. Fiske, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska; Saint Louis, Missouri; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
1900-1910: Dieman & Fiske, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
1901: Dieman & Fiske, Lincoln, Nebraska.[16][l]
1902-1904: Fiske, Dieman & Meginnis, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1902-1910: Fiske & Dieman, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1910-1913: F. C. Fiske, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1913-1914: Fiske & Miller, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1915-1924: Fiske & Meginnis, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1925: Fiske, Meginnis & Schaumberg, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1926-1930: F. C. Fiske, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Buildings & Projects
F. B. Robinson house (ca. 1902), Lincoln, Nebraska.[1] (2s fr., $2,000)
Prof. Brace house (ca. 1902), Lincoln, Nebraska.[1] (2s fr., $4,000)
W. R. Kimball house (ca. 1902), Lincoln, Nebraska.[1] (2s fr., $4,600)
F. A. Harris house (ca. 1902), York, Nebraska.[2]
George E. Sullivan house (ca. 1902), Milford, Nebraska.[3]
Morris Weil House (1902-1903), 1149 S 17th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[56][57][m]
Charles I. Jones house (1902-1903), 1710 B, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][4][28] (2s fr, $5,000)
YMCA Building (1902-1903), York, Nebraska.[5][27]
John L. Teeters House (1903), 1812 D St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[41] (LC13:D07-0262)
C. C. White Memorial (1903-1907), Nebraska Wesleyan University campus, University Place (now Lincoln), Nebraska.[58]
Trinity German Lutheran Church (1903-1904), northeast corner of 13th & H Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[61][62]
McKibbon Block (1904), Adams, Nebraska.[14]
Edgar Burnett House (1904), 3256 Holdrege, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10] (LC13:E11-014) National Register narrative
Agricultural Hall of University of Nebraska (1904), "East Campus," Lincoln, Nebraska. See Fiske, Dieman & Meginnis, Architects.
Walter & Helen Nance Anderson house (1904), 2134 Euclid, Lincoln, Nebraska.[7][25]
Lincoln Drug Company Warehouse (1905/1919), 140 N. 8th, Lincoln, Nebraska.[31][h] (LC13:C09-087)
Home Economics Building (1905), University of Nebraska "East Campus," Lincoln, Nebraska.[29][30]
Nebraska Central Building & Loan Association Building (1905), 1409 O St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[8][9] (LC13:D08-043)
Charles Towle House (1905), NE corner of 18th and E, Lincoln, Nebraska.[17]
Large American foursquare (c. 1905), unknown location.[39][40][i]
Orlo Flats (1906), 505-511 S 14th, Lincoln, Nebraska.[18][19][b] (LC13:C08-023)
Judge Reese House (1906), 1990 C St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[43][44][j] (LC13:D07-048)
Dr. H. J. Winnett House (1906), 1264 South 20th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[44][j]
Frank Zehrung House (1906), P Street near 13th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[44][j]
Grainger Brothers Warehouse (1906), 749 P St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[44]
Grant Watkins House (1907), 1930 B St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[42] (LC13:D07-0526)
First Baptist Church (1907), Holdrege, Nebraska.[24][c]
Four-unit "Flat" for E. E. Brown (1907), 1317, 1319, 1321, 1323 L Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[63][n]
F.A. Saffold/C.D. Traphagan House (1908/1909), 1908 C, Lincoln, Nebraska.[20][h] (LC13:D07-0511)
George & Julia Ferguson House (1908), 2421 Vine Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[46]
St. George Studio (1908), 1401 N Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[26][d]
YWCA Building [now demolished] (1908), 1436 N St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[12]
Building for Minneapolis Thresher Machine Company (1908), 701-715 S St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[13]
Brick store for Charles Olson (1909), 1421-1423 P Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[47]
Fireproof warehouse (1909), 422 South 7th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[48]
First National Bank of Ansley (1909), Ansley, Nebraska.[65]
Third floor addition for Willard Kimball, University School of Music (1909), 1103 R Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[49]
Frank M. Spalding House (1909), 2221 Sheridan Blvd, Lincoln, Nebraska.[6][15] (LC13:D05-463) See National Register narrative.
Ferdinand C. Fiske House (1909), 1600 S. 21st, Lincoln, Nebraska.[21][46] (LC13:D06-0667)
Maple Lodge/Arthur C. Ziemer House (1909-1910), 2030 Euclid, Lincoln, Nebraska.[22][23][51][52] (LC13:D06-0002) See National Register narrative.
Carnegie Science Building (1909-1911), Doane College, Crete, Nebraska.[11][33][59] (SA01-060)
YMCA Building (1909-1911), northeast corner of 13th & P Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[34][35][36][38][53][54][60][g]
Brick Store for Richard S. Young (1909), 1901-1905 O Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[50][a]
Brick business building for H. E. Sidles (1909), 1226-1228 P Street.[52]
Chancellor Samuel Avery House (1910), 2001 Washington, Lincoln, Nebraska.[32] (LC13:D06-0566)
Remodeling of Lindell Hotel (1910), northwest corner of 13th and M Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[37]
Frame house for A. W. Woodard (1910), 331 N. 13th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[55][k]
First National Bank of York (1910-1911), Lincoln Avenue and 6th Street, York, Nebraska.[66][67][68][o]
Notes
a. The application for Lincoln building permit 3447 of 1909 lists "H. W. Meginnis" as the architect.[50]
b. In 1906, Lincoln Evening News reported a number of projects by "Fiske [sic] and Dieman" including the Orlo Apartments, listing the estimated cost at $45,000 and stating: "The walls are now being laid for the A. J. Sawyer apartment house at Fourteenth and K street."[18] Six drawings are filed with the building permit for this structure--four elevations and two plans.[19] Located at the southwest corner of 14th and K Streets opposite the State Capitol Grounds, the Orlo was demolished in 1981. Lincoln (Nebraska) Planning Department has a photocopy of a lengthy brochure prepared by Sawyer describing the floor plans and features of the apartment building, which was probably the community's largest multi-family building at the time of its construction in 1906.
c. Improvement Bulletin reported in 1907: "Holdrege, Neb.--Fiske & Dieman, architects, Lincoln, have plans for a church, 61x77, for the First Baptist Church congregation. Brick and cement stone, hard plaster, gas and electric fixtures, etc. Cost, $25,000."[24]
d. Nebraska State Journal of November 22, 1908, published a rendering, plan, and long description of a Fiske & Dieman project to build a "up-to-date photographic studio" for Miss A. Tucker, across N Street from the Lincoln city library. The large studio space was intended to provide a hall for activities such as weddings, musical events, and dances. Miss Tucker's apartment was accommodated on the second story.[26]
e. The illustrated history of York, Nebraska of 1903 mentions "The new Y.M.C.A. is to be begun in about two months."[27]
f. The Lincoln Drug Company Warehouse in Lincoln's "Haymarket" district was built as four stories in 1905, designed by Fiske & Dieman. A fifth floor was added in 1919, designed by Fiske & Meginnis, Architects.[31]
g. Fiske was credited with a $2,000 contribution to the YMCA fundraising campaign for his architect's fees. By November 1909, a "Notice to contractors" was advertising for sealed proposals to build the five-story YMCA, noting "Plans and specifications may be had of the architects, Fiske & Dieman..." The bids came back too high in January, 1910. The rendering of the design was published in a Lincoln newspaper in early February of 1910, with a caption mentioning Gerstenberger & Gooden as the contractors, noting that a proposed contract specified March 1, 1911 as the required date for completion. An advertisement for the general contractors of the YMCA building in January, 1911, estimated completion by spring.[34][35][36][38][60].
h. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Those properties in Nebraska with individual nominations have a link to their nomination within their entry. Those linked to this note are within districts or thematic nominations that may not offer extensive information on each specific property.
i. A similar house stands at 1518 C Street in Lincoln, Nebraska, built in 1906 (per Lincoln building permit 1247 of October 3, 1906). However the C Street house has a side-wall gable roof and gable-roofed front dormer, and several other differences from the house in photos associated with References 39 and 40.[39][40]
j. An article of July 24, 1906 in Lincoln Evening News reporting what "Lincoln architects report..." starts with Fiske and Dieman, mentioning a half dozen buildings, including: “The foundation is already in for the new residence for Harry Reese, to be built at Twentieth and C. This will be something new in the architectural line for Lincoln. The first story will be of brick and above that there will be open timber work filled in with cement showing between the timbers as rough stucco. The cost will be about $12,000.” On the Winnett House, the article notes: “The framework is now up for the residence of Dr. H. J. Winnett on Twentieth street, between B and C. This will be a modern frame, finished throughout in hard wood and costing about $9,000.” Of Frank Zehrung's unique downtown residence just west of the Lansing/Oliver Theater: “The new three-story brick residence building of Frank [sic] Zehrung, on P Street near Triteenth [sic], is nearing completion. This building will probably contain more plumbing for its size than any other structure in the city. The cost will be about $6,000.[43][44]
k. The building permit for this house on the north edge of downtown Lincoln, issued March 16, 1910, is the last project known (currently) associated with the Fiske & Dieman partnership, which was last listed in the 1910 Lincoln city directory. Building permits issued in July, September and October 1910 bear only the names "Fiske" or "F. C. Fiske." No explicit announcement of the dissolution of the partnership has yet been found.[55]
l. Nebraska State Journalof June 7, 1901 reported "F. C. Fiske, of the firm of Dilman [sic] & Fiske, architects of Cedar Rapids, Ia., has decided to return to Lincoln to open an office. He will be here in a short time to carry out this intention. Mr. Fiske and his family are well known in Lincoln. They removed from here to St. Louis about seven years ago." By August 1901, Lincoln newspapers were carrying notices for the office of "Dieman & Fiske, architects, 121 N. 11," and by 1902 the listings changed to "Architects Fiske & Dieman" in the Richards Block.[16]
m. Morris Weil had a grand Neo-classical mansion built at the NW corner of 17th & C Streets in Lincoln in 1902-1903. The house's cost (per building permit) was estimated at $12,000 in a summary of 1902 construction, published in Nebraska State Journal January 3, 1903. Subcontractors sued Weil and general contractor Oliver P. Harrison in September 1903, then Harrison sued Weil in November, contractual disputes, cost overruns, and bills unpaid. The subcontractor's September suit included testimony by "F. C. Fiske, who superintended the erection of the building," while Harrison's own suit in November noted that "Mr. Weil disregarded the plans and specifications of the original contract entirely...demanding changes whenever he desired them." It is not stated who designed the plans and prepared the specifications, but likely it was Fiske & Dieman, as Fiske was materially involved.[56] Harrison's suit was dismissed in May 1904 "from failure [by Harrison] to prosecute." His health may have been failing by then as his obituary in July 1906 stated he "had suffered from cancer for a number of years, the malignant growth being the cause of his death."[57]
n. In 1919, W. Bruce Shurtleff, on behalf of Federal Building & Investment Company, added two more stories of apartments atop the original building.[64] The building was demolished in the 2010s.
o. Matt Hansen of Lincoln identified this project and provided the references.[EFZ]
References
1. Lincoln Trade Review 1:11 (1902), 4.
2. Lincoln Trade Review 1:15 (1902), 3. [2 story, $2,000]
3. Lincoln Trade Review 1:26 (1902), 3. [2 story, $3,800]
4. Lincoln Trade Review 1:35 (1903), 3. [$5,000, bids to be let]
5. Lincoln Trade Review 1:36 (1903), 3. [3 story, basement, brick bldg. w/stone trim, 45 x 120]
6. “Sheridan Place Home of F.M. Spalding,” Lincoln Sunday Morning (April 11, 1909), B8(illustration).
7. Nance-Anderson Collection, NSHS Museum 8767-3576. (blueprints & photographs, including construction views, [two story frame building, $2,500.00, not extant]).
8. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 445, issued July 10, 1905, estimated cost of construction: $8,100; with associated drawings.
9. M. W. Folsom Collection, Nebraska State Historical Society, ca.1920 interior photograph, front and rear views.
10. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
11. Janet Jeffries, Doane College Archives, email communication to D. Murphy and Ed Zimmer, December 22, 2010; and February 4, 2015, with attachments.
12. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 2415, issued April 30, 1908, estimated cost of construction: $22,800.
13. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 2419, issued May 1, 1908, estimated cost of construction: $10,000.
14. J. W. McKibbon Collection, Nebraska State Historical Society Archives, plans & specs.
15. "F. W. Spaulding [sic] House," illustrated with rendering and floor plans, in (Lincoln, Nebraska) Sunday State Journal (May 16, 1915).
16. Nebraska State Journal (June 7, 1901), 8; (August 3, 1901), 6; (September 7, 1902), 6.
17. Improvement Bulletin (February 25, 1905), 22.
18. "Some Fine Buildings Going Up or Planned," Lincoln Evening News (July 24, 1906), 3.
19. City of Lincoln Building Permit #986, issued May 23, 1906, estimated cost $35,000, with associated drawings inscribed "Apartment Building for A. J. Sawyer, Esq." and "Fiske & Dieman, Architects, Lincoln, Neb."
20. City of Lincoln Building Permit #2687, issued September 28, 1908, estimated cost $5,000.
21. City of Lincoln Building Permit #2840, issued January 12, 1909, estimated cost $3,000.
22. City of Lincoln Building Permit #3486, issued November 15, 1909, estimated cost $20,000.
23. "Twentieth and Euclid avenue--Residence of Mrs. Julia Ziemer," (Lincoln, Nebraska) Sunday State Journal (May 28, 1915).
24. Improvement Bulletin (June 29, 1907), 23.
25. City of Lincoln Building Permit #103, issued October 12, 1904, estimated cost $2,500.
26. Nebraska State Journal (November 1, 1908), 24; "New St. George Studio at Fourteenth and N Streets," (November 22, 1908), 1; (November 23, 1908), 3.
27. The illustrated history of York, York County, Nebraska, Press of Wm. E. Stilson, York, Nebraska: 1903, 72.
28. Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. S. V. "Charles I. Jones"
29. "Woman's Building, University Farm" in Nebraska State Journal (January 7, 1906), 2:3, illustration inscribed "Fiske & Dieman Architects."
30. Kay Logan Peters, University of Nebraska Libraries, "1905-Home Economics Building (Old)," in "Tour East Campus," in "An Architectural Tour of Historic UNL," http://historicbuildings.unl.edu/building.php?b=36 Accessed February 7, 2017.
31. Ed Zimmer, Historic Haymarket, Lincoln Haymarket Development Corp., 2014, 37.
32. City of Lincoln Building Permit #3564, issued February 21, 1910, estimated cost $8,000. Architects on application: "Fiske & Dieman". SEE ALSO "Residence of Chancellor Avery, Twentieth and Washington Streets. Ferd C. Fiske, Architect," in (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (January 1, 1911), A-1 (illustrated).
33. "Notice to Building Contractors," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (August 10, 1909), 7. "Plans and specifications can be found at the office of Fiske and Dieman, architects, Lincoln, Nebraska..."
34. "Big Sums Pledged," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (September 30, 1909), 2.
35. "Notice to Contractors," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (November 21, 1909), 15.
36. "$88,290 is Cheapest Bid. Only Three Respond to Y. M. C. A. Call for Revised Figures," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (January 20, 1910), 4.
37. "A Look at the New Lindell. Complete Transformation of Well Known House. Interior Wholly Changed. Not 10 Per Cent of the Plastering in the Old Structure Remained in Place After Work of Reconstruction Was Over," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (March 27, 1910), 23.
38. "We're Mighty Proud of Our Achievements," advertisement for Gerstenberger & Golden, general contractors for YMCA, with sketch of building and testimonial by F. C. Fiske, Lincoln (Nebraska) Daily News (January 2, 1911), 2.
39. "Fiske & Dieman, Architects," advertisement in 1905 Lincoln City Directory, illustrated with photo of 2.5 story foursquare house, hipped roof, hipped dormers; same photo (with floor plans) published as "A Fine Lincoln Residence"/"Residence 35 Fiske & Meginnis," (Lincoln, Nebraska) Sunday State Journal (June 6, 1915.
40. "Porch Views. 2281," in mill-work company catalog Curtis, Towle & Paine Co., Lincoln, Neb. (1905), 228. Same house as Reference 39, illustrated with different photo.
41. "Residence. No. 36," illustrated with photo of Teeters House, 1812 D Street, (Lincoln, Nebraska) Sunday State Journal (April 11, 1915).
42. "#103 Brick & Stucco House," illustrated with perspective and floor plans of Watkins House, 1930 B Street, (Lincoln, Nebraska) Sunday State Journal (August 1, 1915).
43. City of Lincoln Building Permit 1098, issued 1906, estimated cost of construction: $9,000.
44. “Some Fine Buildings Going Up or Planned,” Lincoln Evening News (July 24, 1906), 3.
45. "#85 Residence," photo and floor plans of 1600 South 21st Street, (Lincoln, Nebraska) Sunday State Journal (July 25, 1915).
46. City of Lincoln Building Permit 2523, issued June 20, 1908, estimated cost of construction: $4,000.
47. City of Lincoln Building Permit 2881, issued February 23, 1909, estimated cost of construction: $12,000.
48. City of Lincoln Building Permit 3041, issued April 23, 1909, estimated cost of construction: $15,000.
49. City of Lincoln Building Permit 3189, issued June 24, 1909, estimated cost of construction: $6,000.
50. City of Lincoln Building Permit 3447, issued October 25, 1909, estimated cost of construction: $10,000.
51. "Twentieth and Euclid avenue--Residence of Mrs. Julia Ziemer," in (Lincoln, Nebraska) Sunday State Journal (May 28, 1915).
52. City of Lincoln Building Permit 3523, issued December 31, 1909, estimated cost of construction: $20,000.
53. "Y.M.C.A. Begins Work. Lincoln Association well settled in new home," (Lincoln, Nebraska) Sunday State Journal (December 31, 1911), 3-C.
54. City of Lincoln Building Permit 3554, issued February 9, 1910, estimated cost of construction: $90,000.
55. City of Lincoln Building Permit 3620, issued March 16, 1910, estimated cost of construction: $5,000. Architect listed on application as "Fiske & Dieman."
56. "Near Half Million Mark," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (January 4, 1903), 19; (September 29, 1903), 6; "Contractor Sues M. Weil: O. P. Harrison Brings Action Over Building House." (November 29, 1903), 12.
57. "Contractor Failed to Prosecute," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (May 14, 1904), 2; "Deaths" (July 29, 1906), 2.
58. "White Memorial Building. Four Story Brick Structure Which Will Contain Auditorium and Forty-two Recital and Class Rooms," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (December 28, 1905), 7 (illustrated with perspective by H. W. Meginnis); "To Dedicate New Building. C. C. White Memorial at Wesleyan," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (April 9, 1907), 6 (illustrated with photos).
59. Perry, Thomas Doane, ed. History of Doane College, 1872-1912. (1957: Doane College, Crete, Nebraska), 20-89.
60. "Contract for the new Y. M. C. A. Building May be Signed Today," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (February 4, 1910), 10.
61. "Notice to Contractors," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (November 10, 1903), 6.
62. "Church Dedication--Services Sunday at Trinity German Church," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (November 3, 1904), 5.
63. City of Lincoln Building Permit #1894, issued July 16, 1907, with associated application and elevations and plans signed "Fiske & Dieman."
64. "Mere Mention" (2nd column, "Work on the foundation of the one-story garage...being built by the Federal Building and Investment company..." Evening State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska) (July 16, 1919), 8.
65. "Ansley, Neb.--The First National Bank will erect a 2-story building...Dieman & Fiske, architects, Lincoln," The Improvement Bulletin (April 3, 1909), 26.
66. "The plans and specifications for the new First National Bank building are received," The York (Nebraska) Republican (September 21, 1910), 5.
67. "First National Bank Building," The York (Nebraska) Daily News (March 20, 1911), 2.
68. "First National At Home--Beautiful New Bank Building Completed--Must Be Seen Throughout to be Appreciated," The New Teller (York, Nebraska) (December 13, 1911).
Page Citation
E. F. Zimmer and D. Murphy, “Fiske & Dieman, Architects,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, October 4, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 26, 2024.
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