Elmer I. Thomas Explained
Elmer I. Thomas (1863–1895) was an American architect who practiced in Auburn and Lewiston, Maine.
Biography
Elmer Thomas was born in Lewiston in 1863 to Sylvanus D. and Julia Thomas. He attended the public schools before entering Amherst College, where he remained for only two or three years. After a period at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,[1] he entered the office of noted Lewiston architect George M. Coombs, remaining with him until the end of the decade.[2] After gaining a position of high responsibility, he departed from the office in 1889.[3] He operated an office in Auburn until December 1893, when he relocated to Lewiston, reestablishing his office in the new Osgood Building.[4] He died on Christmas Day in 1895, at the age of 33.[2] Early the following year his chief assistant, William R. Miller, began operating the office under his own name.[1]
Despite his brief career, Thomas became one of Maine's most sought-after architects within a few years of beginning his practice. He was also the state's first architect to have a college education.[5] At least two of his works have been individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and several more contribute to listed historic districts.
Architectural work
- 1888 - Mechanics Savings Bank Building, 79 Main St, Auburn, Maine[6]
- 1889 - George D. Armstrong House, 27 Frye St, Lewiston, Maine[7]
- 1890 - Enoch Lowell House, 402 Main St, Saco, Maine[8]
- 1891 - Brunswick High School (Hawthorne School), 46 Federal St, Brunswick, Maine[9]
- Substantially rebuilt after a 1915 fire.
- 1891 - Sylvanus D. Thomas Duplex, 185 Main St, Auburn, Maine[10]
- Occupied in part by the architect
- 1892 - Atkinson Building, 220 Lisbon St, Lewiston, Maine[11]
- 1892 - Byron Armstrong House, 29 Frye St, Lewiston, Maine[7]
- 1892 - Bethel M. E. Church, 75 Main St, Bethel, Maine[12]
- 1892 - Fairfield Block, 148 Main St, Biddeford, Maine[13]
- 1892 - McLain School, 40 Lincoln St, Rockland, Maine[14]
- 1893 - Opera House Block, 29 Elm St, Camden, Maine[5]
- 1894 - John H. Chase House, 16 Elm St, Auburn, Maine[10]
- 1894 - Roger Williams Hall, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine[15]
- 1895 - Hall Cottage, Good Will Home and School, Hinckley, Maine[16]
- 1895 - E. Mont Perry House, 70 Beech Street, Rockland Maine
- 1895 - Weston Avenue School, head of Middle St, Madison, Maine[17]
Notes and References
- http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/attach.php?id=607165&an=1 "William R. Miller"
- "Elmer I. Thomas". Architecture and Building 11 Jan. 1896: 21.
- Directory of Architects and Classified Directory of First Hands in the Building Trades. 1890.
- American Architect and Building News 16 Dec. 1893: xii.
- http://focus.nps.gov/GetAsset?assetID=23b241a3-fe34-4949-ae0d-e9b0c35dee9c Camden Opera House Block NRHP Nomination
- Norris, Jane. "History of Mechanics Savings Bank". Lewiston (ME) Journal. 22 March 1975.
- . 2008.
- . 1998.
- Annual Report of the Selectmen of the Town of Brunswick, with Reports of the Treasurer, Auditors, Chief Engineer, and Report of Survey of Town Common. From February 1, 1891, to February 1, 1892. 1892.
- http://focus.nps.gov/GetAsset?assetID=299b9c0f-9967-46b0-9d8a-d3cba111e16d Main Street Historic District NRHP Nomination
- http://focus.nps.gov/GetAsset?assetID=7357ce19-6fb7-4308-8949-6b3b3ed7595e Atkinson Building NRHP Nomination
- Minutes of the 68th Session of the Maine Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 1892.
- . 2009.
- http://focus.nps.gov/GetAsset?assetID=d9f2dc4a-36dc-495b-85c0-30aca4a26f23 Rockland Residential Historic District NRHP Nomination
- http://abacus.bates.edu/muskie-archives/BatesHistory/campusBLDG.shtml "History of Bates Campus Buildings"
- . 1986.
- School Journal 7 Sept. 1895: 194.
- Harlow, Doug. "Weston Avenue school in Madison reduced to rubble". http://www.centralmaine.com. 3 Sept. 2014.
