Ferdinand Comstock Fiske (1856-1930), Architect
Ferdinand Fiske was born in Ellisburg, New York in 1856, but raised in Maquoketa, Iowa, where he attended high school.[1][5][27] Fiske studied architecture at Cornell University from 1878-1880, but did not complete his degree.[1][5][27] He worked as a draftsman for, then in 1886 partnered with George M. Goodwin as Goodwin & Fiske in Minneapolis. That same year Fiske married Katherine Burgess at West Winfield, New York.[28][g] They relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1887.[1]
Fiske was senior partner in a long string of firms during his forty years in Lincoln. He spent seven years as the architect of the Lincoln Board of Education.[7] He was a charter member of the Lincoln Country Club, the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, and the First Plymouth Congregational Church.[7] Ferdinand and Katherine had one daughter. He died January 26, 1930 at age 72.[7][27]
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, 1890-1895, 1911-1913, 1915, 1926-1930
Educational & Professional Associations
1878-1880: architecture student at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.[5]
1884-1885: draftsman for George M. Goodwin, Minneapolis, Minnesota.[29][h]
1886: architect and partner, Goodwin & Fiske, Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1]
1887: architect, Minneapolis, Minnesota.[29][h]
1887: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1888-1889: architect and partner, Fiske & Peters, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1902: architect and partner, Dieman & Fiske, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1903-1910: architect and partner, Fiske & Dieman, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
ca. 1905: architect and partner, Fiske, Dieman & Meginnis, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1913-1914: architect and partner, Fiske & Miller, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1915-1924: architect and partner, Fiske & Meginnis, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1925: architect and partner, Fiske, Meginnis & Schaumberg, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Other Associations
1910-1913: employed Walter F. Wilson (1892-1970), Architect, as part-time draftsman.
Buildings & Projects
Dated
Lyman Terrace (1889-1890), 1111-1119 H, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9][10] (LC13:C08-031)
A. Hurlbut house (1890), 16th & G, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][9]
YMCA Building (1890), 13th & M, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][9]
Brace Block (1890), 15th & O, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][7][9]
Second Presbyterian Church (1890), East Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][9]
William Barr doublehouse (1890), 10th & H, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9]
F. A. Korsmeyer house (1890), 1840 E St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9][10] (LC13:D07-0028)
C. H. Imhoff house (1890), D near 19th, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9]
Mrs. E. Flick doublehouse (1890), F & (13th/18th?), Lincoln, Nebraska.[9]
Barr & Barnes Terrace (1890-1891), 627-631-635-643 S 11th, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9][10] (LC13:C08-027)
Barnes-Walsh Apartment House (1891), 11th & H, Lincoln (LC13-103 (Deed Res.)
Sanitarium of the Lincoln Sulpho-Saline Bath Company (1892), Lincoln, Nebraska.[6]
David & Jeanette Mansion (from 1900 served as the governor's mansion), (c.a. 1892) 15th & H St., Lincoln, Nebraska. [12]
Yates House (ca. 1893), 720 S. 16th, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10] (LC13:D07-0001)
Latta Office Building (1893), Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][12]
Orlo Flats (ca. 1905), 505 S 14th, Lincoln, Nebraska.[c] (LC13:C08-023)
F.A. Saffold/C.D. Traphagan House (1908), 1908 C, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][b] (LC13:D07-0511)
Frank M. Spalding House (1909), 2221 Sheridan Blvd, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][b] (LC13:D05-463)
Ferdinand C. Fiske House (1909), 1600 S. 21st, Lincoln, Nebraska.[b] (LC13:D06-0667)
Arthur C. Ziemer House (1909-1910), 2030 Euclid, Lincoln, Nebraska.[8][10][b] (LC13:D06-0002)
Chancellor Samuel Avery House (1910), 2001 Washington, Lincoln, Nebraska.[b] (LC13:D06-0566)
Charles Stuart house (1910), 1830 C St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][b] (LC13:D07-027)
Stuart Aunties House (1911), 1935 D, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][17] (LC13:D07-0043)
Faith Methodist Church (1911), 27th & R St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[15]
Hall Bungalow (1911), 2115 Garfield, Lincoln, Nebraska.[16]
Hawes House (1911), 1511 D St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[18]
Hauptman House (1911), 1655 S. 23rd, Lincoln, Nebraska.[19]
F. Fiske House (1911), 2115 Garfield, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D06-0668)
Hildreth-Grainger House (1912), 2105 B St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[10] (LC13:D07-0611)
J. F. Hutchins House (1912), 2120 B St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[10] (LC13:D07-0575)
E. Steckley House (1912), 1900 Pepper, Lincoln, Nebraska.[21] (LC13:D06-0253)
Hutchins-Foster House (1912), 2120 B St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[20]
Lincoln Drug Company Warehouse/APOT (1912), 140 N. 8th, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:C09-087)
Lincoln Telephone Company Building (1913), 1342 M. Lincoln, Nebraska.[11][d]
H.E. Sidles House (1913), 2110 A St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[22][d]
Harry E. Sidles house (1913-1915), 2120 A St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[4][10][d] (LC13:D07-0625)
George R.Whitney (Whitney-Stephenson-Merritt) house (1916-1917), 1965 B St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][e] (LC13:D07-0061)
Meeker-Anderson House (1916), 1950 C St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][e] (LC13:D07-0507)
Auld Public Library (1917-1918), Red Cloud, Webster County, Nebraska.[22][e]
Dr. Slattery House (1921), 4900 N. 14th St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[24][e]
Lincoln Country Club house (1922-1923), Lincoln, Nebraska.[25][e]
Wagner & Walt Store & Apartments (1923), 901 S. 13th St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[26][e]
Alpha Omicron Pi House (1926), 1541 S St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][10] (LC13:D09- 520)
Herpolsheimer House (1928), 2330 Van Dorn, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D05-565)
Skiles-Beynon House (1928), 2310 Woodscrest Ave., Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D05-551)
Undated
Alice Hawes house (n.d.), 1511 D, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D07-0348)
Hall House (n.d.), 2025 S. 26th, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D06-0155)
J. A. Buckstaff house (n.d.), 17th & G, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1]
Brownell Block (n.d.), 137 S. 11th, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
Universalist Church (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[1]
Lincoln Country Club Building (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[7]
City National Bank (n.d.), York, Nebraska.[11]
Prescott School (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[7]
Agriculture Hall (n.d.), University of Nebraska East Campus, Lincoln, Nebraska.[14]
Home Economics Building (n.d.), University of Nebraska East Campus, Lincoln, Nebraska.[14]
Notes
a. Projects in 1902 were done on behalf of the partnership Dieman & Fiske.
b. Projects from 1903 to 1910 were done on behalf of the partnership Fiske & Dieman.
c. Projects in 1905 were done on behalf of the partnership Fiske, Dieman & Meginnis.
d. Projects from 1913-1914 were done on behalf of the partnership Fiske & Miller.
e. Projects from 1915 to 1924 were done on behalf of the partnership Fiske & Meginnis.
f. Projects in 1925 were done on behalf of the partnership Fiske, Meginnis & Schaumberg.
g. Saint Paul Globe reported on June 15, 1886 that "Invitations are out announcing the marriage of Fred C. Fiske of Goodwin & Fiske, architects of this City, to Miss Kate Burgess, at West Winfield, N.Y., June 23. After July 15 Mr. and Mrs. Fiske will be at home at 1021 First avenue north."[28]
h. George M. Goodwin (1846-1892) was a native of Maine who first appeared in the Minneapolis city directories in 1878, listed as an architect. The 1880 U. S. Census found architect Goodwin and his wife "Rosalie" boarding in Minneapolis in the household of William and Martha Pattee. Fiske was associated with Goodwin in 1884 and 1885 as a draftsman. The 1886 Minneapolis directory is the only year to list the firm of Goodwin & Fiske, architects. Goodwin was also on the board of directors of the Western Association of Architects in 1886. [33] In 1887 Goodwin and Fiske were listed as practicing separately, at different Minneapolis addresses. Rose Pattee Goodwin died in 1887 at age 36 and was interred in Monroe, Maine. G. M. Goodwin was listed as the secretary/treasurer of the Minneapolis-based Northwestern Architect and Improvement Record magazine from 1888-1890. He died in Boston in 1892 at age 46 and was also interred at Monroe, Maine.[29][30][31][32]
References
1. Pen and Sunlight Sketches of Lincoln (ca. 1890s), 95.
2. Lincoln City Directory, 1894, 5.
3. Nebraska State Journal (January 16, 1927), 11G.
4. Nebraska State Journal (May 2, 1915), 1:10.
5. Archives, Cornell University Libraries: register of his studies; courses available, 1879-80. (Architect's file)
6. Omaha Excelsior (September 24, 1892), 1 (Article, drawing and floor plans).
7. “Fiske Rites To Be Wednesday,” Lincoln Star (January 27, 1930), 1, 4; and obituary, 4:3.
8. City of Lincoln, Building Permit 3486.
9. “F. C. Fiske, Architect; Some of our 1890 buildings,” Daily Nebraska State Journal (April 13, 1891), 4:6.
10. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
11. Thomas Lee Kaspar, comp. Inventory of architectural records in the archives of Davis Fenton Stange Darling, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1996. Nebraska State Historical Society, RG3748, Box 16.
12. “F.C. Fiske, Architect, Rooms 132, 133, 134 Burr Block,” Lincoln Daily Call (January 1, 1893), 8:4-5
13. Lincoln Daily Call (April 4, 1893) 16:3-4.
14. Kay Logan-Peters, Preservation Association of Lincoln, Brownbag Lecture Series, Museum of Nebraska History (June 12, 2001).
15. Historic & Architectural Survey of Lincoln, Nebraska (1976), 37.
16. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 4175.
17. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 4130.
18. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 4080.
19. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 4034.
20. “No. 84 Brick & Stucco House Fiske & Meginnis,” Sunday State Journal (April 25, 1915).
21. “No. 90 Brick & Stucco House Fiske & Meginnis,” Sunday State Journal (July 4, 1915).
22. “No. 96 H.E. Sidles Residence Fiske & Meginnis,” Sunday State Journal (May 2, 1915).
23. Teresa Young, library director. NRHP nomination form (April 1993). NeHBS#WT07-096
24. “New Residence of Dr. W.H. Slattery,” Sunday State Journal (January 8, 1922).
25. “New Home of Lincoln Country Club Nears Completion (photo labeled Fiske & Meginnis, Archts),” Lincoln State Journal (January 7, 1923).
26. City of Lincoln, Building Permit No. 11744 (September 1923).
27. “Funeral Tribute is Paid F.C. Fiske as Lover of Beautiful,” Lincoln Star (January 30, 1930), 3.
28. Saint Paul Globe (June 15, 1886), 3.
29. Minneapolis City Directory, 1884-1890.
30. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=KcQ744&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&db=1880usfedcen&gss=angs-d&new=1&rank=1&msT=1&gsfn=George%20M&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Goodwin&gsln_x=0&msypn__ftp=Minneapolis,%20Hennepin,%20Minnesota,%20USA&msypn=46194&msypn_PInfo=8-%7C0%7C1652393%7C0%7C2%7C0%7C26%7C0%7C1345%7C46194%7C0%7C0%7C&msbdy_x=1&msbdp=2&MSAV=0&msbdy=1846&cp=0&catbucket=rstp&pcat=35&fh=0&h=24127028&recoff=&ml_rpos=1 Accessed January 15, 2017.
31. "Find A Grave" website, s. v George M. Goodwin (or Rose Pattee Goodwin). http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=48358653&ref=acom Accessed January 15, 2017.
32. Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011; and Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Page Citation
D. Murphy, “Ferdinand Comstock Fiske (1856-1930), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, December 9, 2014. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 22, 2024.
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