Frederic Joseph DeLongchamps explained
Frederic Joseph DeLongchamps (June 2, 1882 – February 11, 1969) was an American architect. He was one of Nevada's most prolific architects, yet is notable for entering the architectural profession with no extensive formal training. He has also been known as Frederick J. DeLongchamps, and was described by the latter name in an extensive review of the historic importance of his works which led to many of them being listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in the 1980s.
Life
Early life and education
Born Frederic Joseph DeLonchamps in Reno, Nevada on January 2, 1882, the son of Felix DeLongchamps and Exilda Gibeau. He was raised in Washoe County, graduating from Reno High School in 1900, then the University of Nevada in 1904 with a degree in mining engineering.
Career
DeLongchamps was employed as a mining engineer and draftsman in Inyo County, California before he embarked on a career in architecture. He spent a short time in San Francisco where he may have apprenticed, but he returned to Nevada in 1907 and formed a partnership with Ira W. Tesch.
From 1909 to 1938, DeLongchamps maintained his own firm and became one of Nevada's most prolific architects. He designed both private and public buildings including nine county courthouses in Nevada and California. He was awarded the contract to design the Nevada Buildings for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915), winning a silver medal for his work. DeLongchamps was appointed Nevada State Architect in 1919 and was the only person to hold the position, which was abolished in 1926. During this time, he designed many state buildings.
In 1939, George L. F. O'Brien joined DeLongchamps in partnership in Reno, and Hewitt Wells added his name to the association in 1962. The architectural firm of DeLongchamps, O'Brien and Wells continued to design buildings, mainly in the Reno area, into the 1960s.
Legacy
DeLongchamps died in Reno, Nevada on February 11, 1969. He was survived by his son, Galen (08 Aug 1916-22 Jul 2001). He was the father-in-law of the noted poet and artist Joanne de Longchamps (that is how she spelled the name), who married DeLongchamps's adopted son Galen.
Russell Mills is one who worked as a draftsman for DeLongchamps and went on to have a career as an independent architect.
Many of DeLongchamps' works have been listed on the National Register.[1]
Works
F. J. DeLongchamps, 1909–1939
- 1910 – Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad Depot (former), 325 E 4th St, Reno, Nevada[2]
- 1911 – Washoe County Courthouse, 117 S Virginia St, Reno, Nevada[3]
- 1912 – Lakeview station (former), 1400 Center St, Lakeview, Oregon[4]
- 1912 – Lyon County Courthouse, 31 S Main St, Yerington, Nevada[3]
- 1913 – Nevada State Capitol Senate and Assembly wings, 101 N Carson St, Carson City, Nevada[3]
- 1914 – Clark County Courthouse, S 2nd St and E Carson Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada[3]
- 1914 – Joseph Giraud house, 442 Flint St, Reno, Nevada[5]
- 1914 – I.O.O.F. Building, Mason Valley, 1 S Main St, Yerington, Nevada[3]
- 1914 – Jones Center, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada[6]
- 1914 – Oats Park Grammar School, 167 E Park St, Fallon, Nevada[3]
- 1915 – Douglas County High School, 1479 US Hwy 395 N, Gardnerville, Nevada[3]
- 1915 – Minden Wool Warehouse, 1615 Railroad Ave, Minden, Nevada[3]
- 1915 – Nevada Building, Panama–Pacific International Exposition, San Francisco[7]
- 1915 – Reno National Bank Building, 204 N Virginia St, Reno, Nevada[3]
- 1916 – Douglas County Courthouse, 1616 8th St, Minden, Nevada[3]
- 1916 – Minden Butter Manufacturing Company, 1617 Water St, Minden, Nevada[3]
- 1916 – Minden Inn, 1594 Esmeralda Ave, Minden, Nevada[3]
- 1917 – Mary Lee Nichols School, 400-406 Pyramid Way, Sparks, Nevada[8]
- 1918 – Farmers Bank of Carson Valley, 1597 Esmeralda Ave, Minden, Nevada[9]
- 1920 – Robert L. Douglass ranch house, 1075 Dodge Ln, Fallon, Nevada[10]
- 1920 – Thompson Building, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada[6]
- 1921 – Humboldt County Courthouse, 50 W 5th St, Winnemucca, Nevada[3]
- 1921 – Pershing County Courthouse, 400 Main St, Lovelock, Nevada[3]
- 1922 – Heroes Memorial Building, 100 N Carson St, Carson City, Nevada[3]
- 1922 – Ormsby County Courthouse, 198 N Carson St, Carson City, Nevada[3]
- 1922 – Vachina Apartments-California Apartments, 45 California Ave, Reno, Nevada[11]
- 1923 – Humboldt Hotel, S Bridge St and E Winnemucca Blvd, Winnemucca, Nevada[7]
- 1923 – Susanville City Hall, 66 N Lassen St, Susanville, California[7]
- 1925 – McCarthy-Platt house remodeling, 1000 Plumas St, Reno, Nevada[3]
- 1926 – Mackay School of Mines Building additions, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada[3]
- 1927 – Knights of Pythias Hall, 421 Court St, Elko, Nevada[7]
- 1927 – Riverside Hotel, 17 S Virginia St, Reno, Nevada[3]
- 1928 – Alpine County Courthouse, 14777 CA-89, Markleeville, California[12]
- 1929 – Webster School, 270 Laramie St, Markleeville, California[13]
- 1930 – Mackay Science Building, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada[6]
- 1930 – Nevada Bell Telephone Company Building, 320 N Carson St, Carson City, Nevada[3]
- 1931 – Fallon City Hall, 55 E Williams Ave, Fallon, Nevada[3]
- 1931 – Washoe County Library-Sparks Branch, 814 Victorian St, Sparks, Nevada[3]
- 1932 – Immaculate Conception Church, 590 Pyramid Way, Sparks, Nevada[3]
- 1934 – Reno Main Post Office, 50 S Virginia St, Reno, Nevada[3]
- 1935 – Yerington Grammar School addition, 112 N California St, Yerington, Nevada[3]
- 1937 – Supreme Court of Nevada (former), 100 N Carson St, Carson City, Nevada[3]
- 1938 – Thunderbird Lodge, 5000 NV-28 Incline Village, Nevada[3]
- 1939 – Robert H. Mitchell School, 1216 12th St, Sparks, Nevada[3]
DeLongchamps & O'Brien, 1939-1962
- 1945 – Virginia Street Gym, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada[6]
- 1952 – United States Bureau of Mines Building, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada[7]
- 1959 – Nevada Industrial Commission Building, 515 E Musser St, Carson City, Nevada[14]
- 1959 – Union Federal Savings and Loan Association Building, 195 S Sierra St, Reno, Nevada[7]
- 1963 – Scrugham Engineering and Mines Building, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada[6]
- 1963 – Washoe County Courthouse addition, 117 S Virginia St, Reno, Nevada[3]
DeLongchamps, O'Brien & Wells, 1962–1965
Awards
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=64000527}} Architecture of Frederick J. DeLongchamps TR].
- https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63816753 Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad Depot NRHP Registration Form
- Julie Nicoletta, Buildings of Nevada (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000)
- https://catalog.archives.gov/id/77849738 Nevada–California–Oregon Railway Passenger Station NRHP Registration Form
- https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63816723 Joseph Giraud House NRHP Registration Form
- https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63816785 University of Nevada Reno Historic District NRHP Registration Form
- Mella Rothwell Harmon, "The Extraordinary Career of Frederic J. DeLongchamps" in Nevada Historical Society Quarterly 49, no. 3 (Fall 2006): 183-220.
- https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63816779 Mary Lee Nichols School NRHP Registration Form
- https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63816167 Farmer's Bank of Carson Valley NRHP Registration Form
- https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/15000796 Douglass-Frey Ranch NRHP Registration Form
- https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63816299 Vachina Apartments-California Apartments NRHP Registration Form
- https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123858381 Alpine County Courthouse NRHP Registration Form
- https://noehill.com/alpine/poi_webster_school.asp Webster School
- "DeLongchamps, Fred(eric) J(oseph)" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1962): 163.
- https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/13000011 Washoe County Library NRHP Registration Form
