Fiske & Meginnis, Architects was an architecture firm partnership from 1915–1924 between Ferdinand C. Fiske (1856–1930) and Harry Meginnis in Lincoln, Nebraska. Twelve of the buildings they designed are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The two men have additional buildings listed on the National Register with other partnerships or individually credited. Related firms were Fiske and Dieman, Fiske, Meginnis and Schaumberg, and Meginnis and Schaumberg.

Ferdinand C. Fiske was born in New York and raised in Iowa. He was educated at Cornell University and moved to Lincoln during the building boom of 1887 and practiced there the rest of his life. He was a founding partner of firms including Fiske & Dieman (1898–1912);[1] Fiske & Miller (1912–1924); and Fiske, Meginnis, & Schaumberg (1924–1925).[2]

Harry Meginnis did not receive an education in architecture but learned through the construction business.[3] He worked under Fiske at Fiske & Dieman (1901–1909) in their Lincoln office as a draftsman. He had brief stints at several firms in Indianapolis including DuPont & Hunter (1907–1909); H.L. Bass Co. (1909–1914); and Broakie & Meginnis (1914–1915). In 1915, Meginnis returned to Lincoln to start Fiske & Meginnis (1915–1924) and Fiske, Meginnis, & Schaumberg (1924–1925). Meginnis went on to establish Meginnis and Schaumberg (1925–1943)[4] with Edward G. Schaumberg. It lasted until Meginnis died in 1943.

While Fiske and his partners worked under many different styles, Fiske & Meginnis mostly worked within the English Revival realm (Elizabethan, Georgian, and Tudor among others) combined with the Prairie style that Frank Lloyd Wright was concerned with at the time. They were also involved in a significant number of industrial warehouse projects in Lincoln, namely in the Haymarket District.

Selected works

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Reese House

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Reese House designed by Fiske and Meginnis in 1907

Located within the Mount Emerald and Capitol Additions District, the Reese House was designed by Fiske and Meginnis in 1907.[5] The Reese House was designed with false-timber work and stucco and large overhanging eaves over the porches placing it into the Tudor-Revival/Prairie-Style category that Fiske & Meginnis were known for especially in their residential projects. This residence was designed for Manoah Bostic Reese and his family who was the chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court and also the Dean for the College of Law at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Lincoln Municipal Lighting and Waterworks Building

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Lincoln Municipal Lighting and Waterworks Plant in 1921

Though it currently stands as an apartment building, Fiske and Meginnis’ A Street landmark was originally built as the Lincoln Municipal Lighting and Waterworks Plant.[6] Much like many of their other public works together, Fiske and Meginnis designed a building easily classified as neoclassical revival. Three, large, and light blue smoke stacks protrude through the flat roof, while the large structure and exterior facade of the building consists of a slightly darker red brick, trimmed with limestone and buff bricks on the cornices. The focal east and north facades are punctured with what appears to be two stories of large glass windows with round heads. But behind this deceptive façade lies a factory-like interior, renovated into apartments. The large first floor and first floor windows leave room for an attic floor above.

Antelope Grocery

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Antelope Grocery designed by Fiske and Meginnis in 1922

Built in 1922, Antelope grocery was constructed as a mixed use (commercial and apartment) building.[7] The two-story brick and stucco structure makes use of architectural elements common to period houses. The store includes a visual usage of Tudor revival-styled elements within the construction and has undergone multiple renovations while retaining a high degree of architectural integrity. This includes the current existence of its original metal framed store-front windows. The lower level of the building remains business, while the upper level is mainly residential apartments. As far as the exterior is concerned, stucco and half-timber form the cladding which traces up to a truncated steeply pitched roof capped with a flat decking. The main modifications to the building's exterior include re roofing and addition of protective glazing over the transoms.

Complete works

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Fiske & Meginnis practiced many styles of architecture, which lead to a wide variety of commissions. The firm designed residences, public works buildings, libraries, schools for all levels of education, and warehouses.

Building Address Architectural
Classification
Partners Year Historic
**Agriculture Hall[8] East campus Fiske and Dieman 1904 NO
Antelope Grocery[7] 2406 J Street Tudor Revival Fiske and Meginnis 1922 YES
Auld Public Library 537 N. Webster, Red Cloud, NE Classical Revival Fiske and Meginnis 1917 YES
*Carter Transfer Warehouse[9] 311 N. 8th Warehouse Fiske and Meginnis 1916 YES
***Charles Stuart House[5] 1830 E Street Western Stick Fiske 1910 YES
Clinton Elementary School[2] 1520 N. 29th Street Elizabethan Revival Fiske, Meginnis and Schaumberg 1925 NO
**College Activities Building[3] East Campus Meginnis and Schaumberg 1926 NO
Edgar Burnett House[2] 3526 Holdrege Street
Elliot Elementary School[2] 225 S. 25th Street Fiske and Meginnis 1922 NO
Fairbury Jr/Sr High School[10] Fairbury, NE Georgian Revival/ Modernistic Fiske and Meginnis 1923 YES
Federal Trust Building[11] 134 S. 13th Street Gothic Revival Meginnis and Schaumberg 1927 YES
**Food and Nutrition Building[3] East Campus Meginnis and Schaumberg 1941 NO
Frank Spaulding House[12] 2221 Sheridan Boulevard Mission Fiske 1909 YES
George and Hazel Abel House[12] 2335 Sheridan Boulevard
George Fawell House[12] 2401 Ryons Street Period Revival Fiske 1916 YES
Gillen House[13] 2245 A Street 19th and Early 20th Century Revival Fiske and Meginnis 1903 YES
*Grainger Brothers Complex[9] 733-737 P Street Warehouse Fiske and Dieman 1906 YES
*Grainger Brothers Grocery Warehouse[9] 105 N. 8th Street Warehouse Fiske and Meginnis 1912 YES
Hartley Elementary School[2] 730 N. 33rd Street Fiske and Meginnis 1920 NO
Hayward School Addition[14] 1215 N. 9th Street Georgian Revival Fiske, Meginnis, and Schaumberg 1925 YES
***H.E. Sidles House[5] 2110 A Street Prairie School House Fiske 1913 YES
*Home Economics Building[8] East Campus Fiske and Dieman 1905 NO
***J.R. Moyer House[5] 1140 S. 20th Street Colonial Revival Fiske and Meginnis 1916 YES
*Lincoln Drug Company Building[9] 801 P Street warehouse Fiske 1905 YES
*Lincoln Fixture and Supply Co. Building[9] 826 P Street warehouse Fiske and Meginnis 1922 YES
Loup City Township Carnegie Library[15] 625 N Street, Loup City, NE Neoclassical Revival Fiske and Meginnis 1917 YES
**Love Memorial Co-op Hall[5] East Campus Meginnis and Schaumberg 1941 NO
***Mayor Don Lover House[5] 1953 B Street Tudor Revival Fiske and Meginnis 1916 YES
***Meeker Anderson House[5] 1950 C Street Tudor Revival/ Prairie style Fiske 1916 YES
**Mueller Tower[3] City Campus Meginnis and Schaumberg 1949 NO
Municipal Lighting and Waterworks Plant[6] 2901 A Street Neoclassical Revival Fiske and Meginnis 1921 YES
***N.C. Rogers House[5] 2145 B Street Jacobethan Revival Fiske and Miller 1914 YES
***Old Delta Upsilon House[5] 1701 E Street Eclectic Revival Meginnis and Schaumberg 1931 YES
Prescott Elementary School[2] 2024 S. 20th Street Elizabethan Revival Fiske and Meginnis 1920 NO
*** The Reese House[5] 1990 C Street Tudor Revival/ Prairie Fiske and Meginnis 1907 YES
*** Senator Elmer J. Burkett House[5] 1944 B Street Prairie Fiske and Miller 1914 YES
*Stacy Brothers Fruit Co.[9] 800 P Street warehouse Fiske 1912 YES
*** The Stuart Aunties House[5] 1935 D Street Tudor Revival/ Prairie Fiske 1911 YES
***W.E Chapin House[5] 1979 D Street Tudor Revival/ Prairie Fiske and Miller 1913 YES
***Whitney-Stephenson-Merritt House[5] 1965 B Street Second Italian Renaissance Revival Fiske 1916 YES
Whittier Junior High School[2] 2200 Vine Street Neoclassical Revival Fiske and Meginnis 1923 NO
* buildings in Historic Haymarket District
** buildings on the University of Nebraska Lincoln’s campus
*** houses in Mount Emerald Historic District

References

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  1. ^ University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “Fiske & Dieman.” Historic Buildings. UNL Libraries, 2005. Accessed September 15, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Zimmer, Ed. “The Buildings of F. C. Fiske: An Architectural Tour of Lincoln.” Lincoln Today. Lincoln Today Magazine, December 31, 2014. Accessed October 7, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “Meginnis & Schaumberg.” Historic Buildings. UNL Libraries, 2005. Accessed September 15, 2015.
  4. ^ Minder, Fred, J. “Who’s Who in Nebraska.” NEGenWeb Project Resource Center. Nebraska Press Association, 1940. Accessed October 8, 2015
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Chatfield, Penelope & Kidd, Daniel. “National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Mount Emerald & Capitol Additions Historic Residential District[usurped].” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, May 6, 1980. Accessed September 15, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Zimmer, Edward F. “National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Municipal Lighting and Waterworks Plant.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, June 26, 1986. Accessed October 2, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Zimmer, Edward F. “National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Antelope Grocery[usurped].” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, December 24, 1987. Accessed October 4, 2015.
  8. ^ a b University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “Fiske & Dieman.” Historic Buildings. UNL Libraries, 2005. Accessed September 15, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Zimmer, Ed “National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Lincoln Haymarket[usurped].” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, June 18, 2014. Accessed October 4, 2015.
  10. ^ Ahlgren, Carol “National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Fairburv Jr/Sr High School & Gymnasium-Auditorium.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, August, 1998. Accessed April 15, 1985.
  11. ^ Beltzer, Christopher “National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Federal Trust Building[usurped].” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, December 20, 2001. Accessed October 4th, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c Zimmer, Ed “National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Boulevards Historic District[usurped].” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, September 19, 2008 . Accessed October 4th, 2015.
  13. ^ McKillip, Monte and Zimmer, Ed “National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Gillen House[usurped].” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, July 18, 1997. Accessed April 15, 1985.
  14. ^ Zimmer, Ed “National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Hayward School[usurped].” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, June 18, 2014. Accessed April 15, 1985.
  15. ^ Dolberg, Jill “National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Loup City Township Carnegie Library.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, June 7, 2007. Accessed April 15, 1985.