George Hancock (December 2, 1849 – May 13, 1924) was an English-born American architect based in Fargo, North Dakota, beginning in 1882. From 1891 until his death he worked in partnership with his brother, Walter B. Hancock (September 5, 1863 – November 23, 1929) under the name Hancock Brothers. Independently and with his brother he completed works in North Dakota, Montana and Minnesota. He was an important figure in the professionalization of architectural practice in North Dakota.
Biography George David Hancock was born December 2, 1849, in the village of Uley in Gloucestershire, England. He was educated in architecture at the Government School of Design in South Kensington, London, after initial training as a mason. He and his younger brother, Walter Benjamin Hancock, settled in Fargo, Dakota Territory, in 1882 at the ages of 33 and 17, respectively.Ronald Ramsay, "Early North Dakota designers, builders...architects?" in North Dakota Horizons 9, no. 4 (Fall 1979): 6-9. In July he formed the partnership of Fisher & Hancock, architects and civil engineers, with civil engineer C. Geoffrey Fisher.Dissolution notice, Daily Argus, August 31, 1882. This was apparently not a fruitful relationship as the partnership was dissolved in August."The metropolis," Daily Argus, July 19, 1882. At the time the only other architects in the city were Charles N. Daniels and his partner, John G. Proctor.
In 1884 Daniels & Proctor moved further west to Tacoma, Washington, leaving Hancock as possibly the only local architect."Personal," Tacoma Daily Ledger, May 9, 1884. During the next few years Hancock, under the supervision of Benjamin Franklin Cooley, an Episcopal clergyman from Massachusetts, designed several Gothic Revival churches throughout the northern part of the territory. Many of these were more or less modeled on Christ Episcopal Church (Stephen C. Earle, 1881) in Medway, Massachusetts, Cooley's former parish. Cooley may have brought plans of that church, built mostly after his departure, to Dakota Territory. Hancock's Episcopal churches included Grace (1885, NRHP-listed) in Jamestown, Advent (1886, NRHP-listed) in Devils Lake, Calvary (1886, NRHP-listed) in Buffalo, Holy Trinity (1887) in Lisbon and St. Stephen's (1887, NRHP-listed) in Casselton. Though not documented, he may have also designed Calvary (1885) in Mayville, Good Shepherd (1886, NRHP-listed) in Lakota and Grace (1886, NRHP-listed) in Pembina.Barbara Beving Long, Episcopal Churches of North Dakota NRHP Multiple Property Documentation Form (1992)
At the close of the Dakota Boom, an estimated 95% of the architects resident in the territory left. Hancock, with his professional training and strong Episcopal church connections, was able to remain and withstand the economic downturn. He was assisted in his office by his brother, who in 1888-89 received some academic training in architecture as a special student at Syracuse University, studying with the class of 1891."Society events reviewed," Daily Argus, February 26, 1888."Society and personal," Daily Argus, April 14, 1889. He did not earn a degree but shortly before returning to Fargo was a charter member of the Syracuse chapter of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.W. Freeman Galpin, Syracuse University: The Pioneer Days (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1952): 249. Walter Hancock brought back with him direct knowledge of the popular Richardsonian Romanesque style, which had a great influence on the work of the Hancock firm. One of their first Richardsonian works was Old Main (1893) of North Dakota State University (NDSU), which may show the direct influence of Crouse College (Archimedes Russell, 1889) at Syracuse University, under construction during Walter Hancock's education there.Steve C. Martens and Ronald H. L. M. Ramsay, Buildings of North Dakota (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2015): 49.
In 1889 Hancock established a branch office in Montana, originally located at Livingston.Notice, Livingston Enterprise, May 11, 1889. By 1890 this was closed and Hancock had new offices in both Bozeman and Butte. In Butte he worked with local architect D. F. McDevitt under the name of Hancock & McDevitt and was awarded the commission to design the Butte City Hall (1891)."The new city hall," Anaconda Standard, August 20, 1890. By this time Hancock was dividing his time widely, to the displeasure of his clients. In January 1891 he was censured by the Butte city council for neglecting the work"Mant municipal matters," Anaconda Standard, January 8, 1891. and in March, after the sudden death of McDevitt, he was removed as architect."Gossip of the town," Anaconda Standard, March 8, 1891. In 1891, about the same time as this incident and the commencement of Old Main, George and Walter Hancock formed the partnership of Hancock Brothers with offices in Fargo and Bozeman. Hancock established himself in Bozeman as resident partner. In June 1893 much of downtown Fargo was destroyed by fire, the firm losing their office and records."Local miscellany," Avant Courier, July 1, 1893. Hancock returned to Fargo, where out of all local and out-of-state architects the firm was awarded the largest amount of rebuilding work–nearly half. Almost contemporaneously they were awarded a prestigious commission to expand the North Dakota State Capitol (1894, burned 1930) in Bismarck, left incomplete in 1884. In part due to cost constraints the new south wing, containing new legislative chambers and a formal entrance, was not coordinated with the older building.Eldon Hauck, American Capitols: An Encyclopedia of the State, National and Territorial Capitol Edifices of the United States (Jefferson: McFarland & Company, 1991): 170-177. The Hancocks were among the many American architects influenced by the Neoclassical architecture of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. Before long they were mixing Richardsonian and Neoclassical elements in their work, eventually settling on the Neoclassical.
George and Walter Hancock practiced in partnership for over thirty years. Their other Fargo works include the Waldorf Hotel (1899, demolished), the Elliot–Powers House (1900), the McHench Building (1902), and the Fargo Public Library (1903, demolished), the Gardner Hotel (1908),Steve C. Martens and Ronald H. L. M. Ramsay, Buildings of North Dakota (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2015): 31-32. the Powers Hotel (1915, NRHP-listed)Steve C. Martens and Ronald H. L. M. Ramsay, Buildings of North Dakota (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2015): 35-36. and the Merchants National Bank Building (1921). As an investment, they also designed and owned the Hancock Building (1903) in downtown Fargo. The northern "Douglass" section of the building, named for Walter Hancock's wife, was home to their offices.Norene A. Roberts, Downtown Fargo District NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1983) At NDSU, they designed Ceres Hall (1910) in addition to Old Main.Steve C. Martens and Ronald H. L. M. Ramsay, Buildings of North Dakota (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2015): 50. For the state normal school at Valley City, now Valley City State University, they designed McFarland Hall (1892) and its flanking buildings.Louis N. Hafermehl, State Normal School at Valley City Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1995) They designed churches and institutions for several denominations, including Grace Episcopal Church (1905, NRHP-listed) in Minnewaukan,Garvin K. Plumner and Rolene Schliesman, Grace Episcopal Church NRHP Registration Form (1994) St. John's Academy (1906, demolished)L. Martin Perry, Jamestown Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1989) and St. James Basilica (1914, NRHP-listed) in Jamestown,Bonnie J. Halda, St. James Catholic Church NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1982) St. Michael's Hospital (1907, NRHP-listed)Norene Roberts, St. Michael's Hospital and Nurses' Residence NRHP Registration Form (1995) and St. Michael's Catholic Church (1909, NRHP-listed) in Grand Forks,Helen O'Connor and William C. Sherman, St. Michael's Church NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1988) the German Evangelical St. Johns Church (1908, NRHP-listed) in HebronThomas A. Zuhlke, Henry Mische, Erna Saxowskv, Erma Treiber and Pauline Diede, German Evangelical St. Johns Church-Deutsche Evangelische St. Johannes Kirche NRHP Registration Form (2001) and St. Mary's Academy (1909, NRHP-listed) in Devils Lake.Bonnie J. Halda and Jackie Sluss, St. Mary's Academy NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1983) Other North Dakota buildings included the Seiler Building (1904, NRHP-listed) in JamestownJames R. Schimmer, Seiler Building NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1986) and the McLean County Courthouse (1908, demolished 2013) in Washburn.McLean County Courthouse NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1985)
Hancock's other Bozeman work included St. James Episcopal Church (1890, NRHP-listed),James R. McDonald, St. James Episcopal Church NRHP documentation (1983) the Hotel Bozeman (1891) and the Bozeman High School (1892, demolished). He also designed a house for Davis Willson, uncle of Fred F. Willson, later a noted local architect. Hancock had a strong influence on Willson and would visit him and his family when he was afterwards in town. Elsewhere in Montana Hancock designed St. Mark's Episcopal Church (1891, NRHP-listed) in Anaconda,John N. DeHaas Jr., St. Mark's Episcopal Church NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1978) the Pollard Hotel (1893) in Red Lodge and St. Mark's Episcopal Church (1896) in Big Timber. Also attributed to the Hancocks, without documentation, is Christ Episcopal Church (1896, NRHP-listed) in Sheridan.Michael Koop, Christ Episcopal Church and Rectory NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1986) In Minnesota, they designed the Hannah C. and Peter E. Thompson House (1903, NRHP-listed) in BarnesvilleDenis P. Gardner, Minnesota Treasures: Stories Behind the State's Historic Places (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2004): 193-195. and the Hotel Kaddatz (1915, NRHP-listed) in Fergus Falls.Charles W. Nelson, Hotel Kaddatz NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1983) On stylistic grounds, the Park Elementary School (1900, NRHP-listed) in Moorhead has been attributed to them.Royce Yeater, Park Elementary School NRHP Registration Form (1988)