Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain

Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain, later Frost & Chamberlain and Frost, Chamberlain & Edwards, was an early 20th century architectural firm out of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain
Practice information
FoundersHoward Frost; Lucius W. Briggs; C. Leslie Chamberlain
Founded1899
LocationWorcester, Massachusetts
Significant works and honors
BuildingsSouth High School; Clark University Library; Slater Building; Worcester Technical High School; David Hale Fanning Trade School for Girls; Worcester Boys' Club
ProjectsWorcester State Teachers College; Worcester County Hospital
Memorial Town Hall, Charlton, 1904.
Slater Building, Worcester, 1907.
Technical High School, Worcester, 1909.
Public Library, West Boylston, 1912.
Municipal Building, Leominster, 1913.
Boys' Club, Worcester, 1928.

History

Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain was established in 1899 as the partnership of architects Howard Frost, Lucius W. Briggs and C. Leslie Chamberlain.[1] It soon rose to be the city's most prominent firm of architects. In 1912 the initial partnership was dissolved when Briggs left to form his own firm, the L. W. Briggs Company.[2] Frost and Chamberlain continued as the firm of Frost & Chamberlain. After eleven years, Lester B. Edwards was admitted to the partnership in 1923.[3] He had been with the firm since about 1920. When exactly the firm was dissolved is unknown, but it was active as late as 1939.

On his own, Briggs eventually became to be considered the city's most prominent architect, taking with him much of the prestige of Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain. Frost & Chamberlain and Frost, Chamberlain & Edwards continued to do significant work in Worcester, but rarely on the same level.

The noted American architect Wallace K. Harrison, a native of Worcester, was employed by Frost & Chamberlain between 1913 and 1916.[4]

Partner biographies

Howard Frost

Howard Frost was born in 1859. His early education is unknown, but he entered Harvard University in 1878. In 1879, at the close of his freshman year, he dropped out, taking a job with Fuller & Delano in Worcester.[5] He made partner in 1895, the firm being renamed Fuller, Delano & Frost. This partnership continued until 1899, when he formed Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain with Lucius W. Briggs and C. Leslie Chamberlain.

Frost remained associated with this firm and its successors until his death, which occurred on January 9, 1946 in Worcester.[6]

Lucius W. Briggs

Lucius Wallace Briggs was born August 26, 1866 in Worcester. After attending the public schools and completing a special course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he worked for architects Barker & Nourse and Fuller & Delano and contractors Norcross Brothers. In 1896 he opened his own office, associating with Frost and Chamberlain in 1899. After the partnership was dissolved in 1912, Briggs organized his own firm, the L. W. Briggs Company.[2]

Briggs died in Worcester, September 10, 1940.[7]

C. Leslie Chamberlain

Nothing is known of the background of C. Leslie Chamberlain.

Lester B. Edwards

Little is known about Lester B. Edwards. Before joining Frost & Chamberlain, he was employed as a draftsman by the L. W. Briggs Company[8] and then as the chief draftsman of the Central Building Company, a contracting firm.[9] He had joined Frost & Chamberlain by 1920,[10] making partner in 1923.

Works

Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain, 1899-1912

Frost & Chamberlain, 1912-1923
  • 1913 - Leominister Municipal Building, 25 West St, Leominster, Massachusetts[27]
  • 1914 - Worcester Boys' Club (Old), 2 Ionic Ave, Worcester, Massachusetts[28]
  • 1918 - David Hale Fanning Trade School for Girls (Former), 24 Chatham St, Worcester, Massachusetts[29]
  • 1922 - Massachusetts Protective Association Building, 18 Chestnut St, Worcester, Massachusetts[30]

Frost, Chamberlain & Edwards, from 1923
  • 1925 - Worcester Chamber of Commerce Building, 32 Franklin St, Worcester, Massachusetts[31]
  • 1926 - Duncan & Goodell Realty Building, 34 Mechanic St, Worcester, Massachusetts[32]
  • 1928 - M. E. Tuller Showroom, 6 Park Ave, Worcester, Massachusetts[33]
  • 1928 - Worcester Boys' Club (Former), 2 Grove St, Worcester, Massachusetts[34]
  • 1929 - William H. Dolan House, 53 Highland Ave, Fitchburg, Massachusetts[35]
  • 1930 - Administration Building, Worcester State Teachers College, Worcester, Massachusetts[36]
  • 1931 - Worcester County Hospital, Hospital Dr, Boylston, Massachusetts[37]
    • Demolished in 2006
  • 1932 - Heard Street School, 200 Heard St, Worcester, Massachusetts[38]
  • 1933 - Butterick School, 1 Park St, Sterling, Massachusetts[39]

References
  1. "Personal," Architecture and Building 30, no. 23 (June 10 1899): 192.
  2. Charles Nutt, "Lucius Wallace Briggs," in History of Worcester and its People, vol. 4 (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1919): 711.
  3. "Personals," Pencil Points 4, no. 8 (August 1923): 63.
  4. Victoria Newhouse, Wallace K. Harrison, Architect (New York: Random House, 1989)
  5. Harvard College. Class of 1883. Secretary's Report. No. 1. 1883 (Cambride, MA: Wheeler, 1883)
  6. Harvard Alumni Bulletin 48, no. 10 (1946): 411.
  7. Leon Keach, "Lucius W. Briggs," Pencil Points 21, no. 11 (November 1940): 22.
  8. Worcester Directory (Worcester: Drew Allis Company, 1916)
  9. Charles Nutt, History of Worcester and its People, vol. 2 (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1919): 896.
  10. Worcester Directory (Worcester: Sampson & Murdock Company, 1920)
  11. Engineering Record 5 Aug. 1899: 212.
  12. 'Engineering Record 21 April 1900: 387.
  13. Public Library Bulletin Sept. 1901: 131.
  14. "Tatnuck Country Club". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  15. American Architect and Building News 28 June 1902: xii.
  16. McIntyre, Charles J. Address at the Dedication of the Dexter Memorial Town Hall, Charlton, Mass. 1905.
  17. School Board Journal June 1904: 28.
  18. "Bullock, Chandler House". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  19. Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide 1 April 1905: 730.
  20. "Worcester's Newest Office Building". Worcester Magazine April 1907: 75.
  21. Concrete Houses and Cottages. Vol. 1. 1909.
  22. Brayley, Arthur W. History of the Granite Industry of New England. 1913.
  23. "Gardner Savings Bank". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  24. Metal Worker, Plumer and Steam Fitter 3 July 1909: 71.
  25. American Contractor23 July 1910: 47.
  26. Report of the Free Public Library Commission. Jan. 1912.
  27. Engineering News 10 July 1913: 30.
  28. "The Street Lad's Paradise". Worcester Magazine Nov. 1915: 271.
  29. Electrical World 21 Dec. 1918: 1206.
  30. Domestic Engineering 25 March 1922: 555.
  31. "Worcester Chamber of Commerce Building". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  32. "Duncan and Goodell Building". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  33. "Tuller, M. E. Company Automobile Showroom". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  34. Morrill, Frank J., William O. Hultgren, and Eric J. Salomonsson. Postcard History Series: Worcester. 2005.
  35. "Dolan House". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  36. Massachusetts Teacher 1929: 366.
  37. Power 1931: 760.
  38. "Heard Street Elementary School". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  39. Iron Age 1933: 56.
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