Barker & Nourse was an architectural firm from Worcester, Massachusetts, active from 1879 to 1904.
History Barker & Nourse was formed March 1, 1879, as the partnership of architects Albert A. Barker (1852–1905) and Walter B. Nourse (1853–1906). They were the successors to the practice of architect John E. Holman, former partner of Amos P. Cutting, Nourse's employer. In its day, the firm was primarily known for its residential and educational designs. They dissolved their partnership effective January 1, 1904, with Barker succeeding to the practice. Both architects practiced independently until their deaths in 1905 and 1906, respectively.
Partner biographies Albert A. Barker Albert Augustus Barker (November 20, 1852 – June 9, 1905) was born in Guadalajara to John Bixby Barker, a paper manufacturer, and Harriet Elizabeth Barker, née Newton. After the elder Barker's death in 1860 the family relocated first to Mrs. Barker's family home in Bennington, New Hampshire, and second to Worcester, where Barker completed his education. After leaving school he joined the office of architect Elbridge Boyden, for whom he worked until forming Barker & Nourse.
Barker was married in 1877 to Eacyetta Boyd. They had two children, both sons. Barker died June 9, 1905, in Worcester at the age of 52.
Walter B. Nourse Walter Bailey Nourse (November 5, 1853 – March 4, 1906) was born in Westborough, Massachusetts, to Benjamin Bailey Nourse, a contractor and builder, and Mary Elizabeth Nourse, née Longley. He was a direct descendant of Rebecca Nurse, who was executed for witchcraft in Salem in 1692.Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience (New York: Oxford University Press, 2015): 272. He was educated in the Westborough public schools before joining the office of architect Amos P. Cutting as an apprentice. He worked for Cutting until forming Barker & Nourse."Benjamin B. Nourse" in Biographical Review: Containing Life Sketches of Leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts (Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1899): 172.Lisa Koenigsberg, "Renderings From Worcester's Past: Nineteenth-Century Architectural Drawings at the American Antiquarian Society" in Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society 96, no. 2 (October 1986): 401.
Nourse was married to Emma L. McClellan. They had three children, two sons and one daughter. He died March 4, 1906, in Worcester at the age of 52.American Architect and Building News 89, no. 1577 (March 17, 1906): v.
Legacy A number of its works are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.
Works Barker & Nourse, 1879–1904 1880 – George A. Bigelow house, 3 Loudon St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.1323, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1881 – Alpha M. Cheney House, 61 Chestnut St, Southborough, MassachusettsSanitary Engineer (March 15, 1881): 187.Historic Building Detail: SBD.176, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1881 – Wade H. Hill house, 114 Woodland St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.1298, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1882 – Iver Johnson house, 27 Catharine St, Worcester, MassachusettsSanitary Engineer (January 26, 1882): 188. 1884 – Founder's Hall, Atlantic Union College, South Lancaster, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: LAN.226, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1885 – Alexander Bigelow house, 904 Main St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.1315, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1885 – Freeland Street School, 12 Freeland St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.1386, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1885 – Rebecca Nurse monument, Rebecca Nurse Homestead, 149 Pine St, Danvers, MassachusettsWilliam P. Upham, "An Account of the Rebecca Nurse Monument" in Historical Collections of the Essex Institute 23, nos. 4-6 (April–June 1886): 151-160.Historic Monument Detail: DAN.905, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1886 – Edwin H. Wood house, 4 King St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.1131, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1887 – Boynton and Windsor apartments, 718 and 720 Main St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Area Detail: WOR.F, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1887 – Ellery B. Crane house, 25 Richards St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.1370, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1888 – Bliss Building, 26 Old Lincoln St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.402, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1888 – Harrison S. Prentice apartments, 191 Pleasant St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.1009, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1889 – Osgood Bradley house, 21 Richards St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.1368, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1890 – Quinsigamond School, 14 Blackstone River Rd, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.1920, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1891 – Worcester Society of Antiquity (former), 39 Salisbury St, Worcester, MassachusettsEngineering and Building Record (June 21, 1890): 48."Museum History," Worcester Historical Museum, accessed September 2, 2019. 1892 – Ann Colton house, 41 Cedar St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.436, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1892 – English High School (former), 20 Irving St, Worcester, MassachusettsEngineering Record (April 11, 1891): 320. 1892 – Frye Building, 342 Lincoln St, Marlborough, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: MRB.102, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1892 – Odd Fellows' Home, 40 Randolph Rd, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.137, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1893 – Thomas B. Hamilton house, 29 Germain St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.293, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1893 – Samuel E. Hildreth house, 856 Main St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.1116, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1893 – Bertrand W. Stone house, 1 Germain St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.283, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1894 – Hopkinton High School (former), 85 Main St, Hopkinton, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: HPK.389, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1894 – Henry K. McClenning house, 14 Germain St, Worcester, MassachusettsAmerican Architect and Building News (August 5, 1893): xviii. 1894 – The Russell, 49 Austin St, Worcester, MassachusettsEngineering Record, May 26, 1894, 421.Historic Building Detail: WOR.1758, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1895 – George H. Heywood house, 80 Glazier St, Gardner, MassachusettsSouth Gardner Historical Society, Gardner (Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2008): 42. 1895 – Troy School, 44 School St, Troy, New HampshireTroy Village Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2002) 1897 – Benjamin A. Barber house, 31 Germain St, Worcester, MassachusettsEngineering Record (March 6, 1897): vii. 1897 – Kingsley Laboratories, Worcester Academy, Worcester, MassachusettsAmerican Architect and Building News (September 4, 1897): 3. 1898 – Aurora Hotel, 660 Main St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.1059, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1898 – Day Building, 300 Main St, Worcester, MassachusettsEngineering Record (March 13, 1897): 329. 1898 – William Trowbridge Forbes House, 23 Trowbridge Rd, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.365, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1898 – Gardner High School (former), 130 Elm St, Gardner, MassachusettsEngineering Record (April 17, 1897): 438. 1898 – Johnsonia Hotel, 510 Main St, Fitchburg, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: FIT.420, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1898 – The Vendome, 17 Chandler St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.1055, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024. 1899 – Post Office Building, 144 Central St, Gardner, MassachusettsEngineering Record (May 6, 1899): 532. 1900 – Hotel Vernon, 1 Millbury St, Worcester, MassachusettsEngineering Record (July 28, 1900): 94. 1901 – Denny Block, 139 Highland St, Worcester, MassachusettsEngineering Record (June 1, 1901): 537. 1903 – School Street School, 53 School St, Gardner, MassachusettsEngineering Record (March 21, 1903): 310. 1903 – Shrewsbury Public Library, 214 Main St, Shrewsbury, MassachusettsAmerican Architect and Building News (August 9, 1902): xi.
Albert A. Barker, 1904–1905 1906 – Princeton Center School, 18 Boylston Ave, Princeton, MassachusettsAmerican School Board Journal (June 1905): 26.
Walter B. Nourse, 1904–1906 1905 – Racicot Block, 211-219 Main St, Webster, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WEB.89, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 2, 2024.
Architectural drawings
See also Illustrations of a Few Buildings Erected from Designs by Barker & Nourse, Architects (Worcester, 1898)
Notes
References