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Frederic Joseph DeLongchamps

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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.

Frederic Joseph DeLongchamps
Born(1882-06-02)June 2, 1882
Reno, Nevada, US
DiedFebruary 11, 1969(1969-02-11) (aged 86)
Reno, Nevada, US
OccupationArchitect
PracticeDeLongchamps, O'Brien and Wells
BuildingsWashoe County Courthouse
Reno Main Post Office
Riverside Hotel
The Washoe County Courthouse in Reno, designed by DeLongchamps and completed in 1911, with additions completed in 1946, 1949 and 1963 by DeLongchamps & O'Brien.
The Minden Inn, designed by DeLongchamps and completed in 1916.
The Thompson Building of the University of Nevada, Reno, designed by DeLongchamps and completed in 1920.
The Humboldt County Courthouse in Winnemucca, designed by DeLongchamps and completed in 1921.
The Pershing County Courthouse in Lovelock, designed by DeLongchamps and completed in 1921.
The former Ormsby County Courthouse in Carson City, designed by DeLongchamps and completed in 1922.
The Riverside Hotel in Reno, designed by DeLongchamps and completed in 1927.
The Reno Main Post Office, designed by DeLongchamps and completed in 1934.
Thunderbird Lodge on Lake Tahoe, designed by DeLongchamps and completed in 1938.

Life

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Early life and education

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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

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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

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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][2]

Works

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F. J. DeLongchamps, 1909–1939

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DeLongchamps & O'Brien, 1939-1962

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DeLongchamps, O'Brien & Wells, 1962–1965

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Awards

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See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frederic DeLongchamps.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places.
  2. ^ a b c d Demolished.
  3. ^ a b c d e A contributing building to the University of Nevada Reno Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1987.
  4. ^ A contributing building to the Douglass-Frey Ranch, NRHP-listed in 2015. Douglass had previously built the Robert L. Douglass House in town.
  5. ^ a b c A contributing building to the Carson City Public Buildings, NRHP-listed in 1987.
  6. ^ Mines
  7. ^ a b Credited to partner Hewitt C. Wells.
  8. ^ Now the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum.

References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Architecture of Frederick J. DeLongchamps TR".
  3. ^ Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad Depot NRHP Registration Form (1980)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Julie Nicoletta, Buildings of Nevada (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000)
  5. ^ Nevada–California–Oregon Railway Passenger Station NRHP Registration Form (1983)
  6. ^ Joseph Giraud House NRHP Registration Form (1984)
  7. ^ a b c d e University of Nevada Reno Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1987)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Mella Rothwell Harmon, "The Extraordinary Career of Frederic J. DeLongchamps" in Nevada Historical Society Quarterly 49, no. 3 (Fall 2006): 183-220.
  9. ^ Mary Lee Nichols School NRHP Registration Form (2002)
  10. ^ Farmer's Bank of Carson Valley NRHP Registration Form (1986)
  11. ^ Douglass-Frey Ranch NRHP Registration Form (2015)
  12. ^ Vachina Apartments-California Apartments NRHP Registration Form (1986)
  13. ^ Alpine County Courthouse NRHP Registration Form (2004)
  14. ^ Webster School, NoeHill, no date. Accessed October 13, 2023.
  15. ^ "DeLongchamps, Fred(eric) J(oseph)" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1962): 163.
  16. ^ Washoe County Library NRHP Registration Form (2003)
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