Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain, later Frost & Chamberlain and Frost, Chamberlain & Edwards, was an early 20th century architectural firm based in Worcester, Massachusetts.
History Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain was established in 1899 as the partnership of architects Howard Frost, Lucius W. Briggs and C. Leslie Chamberlain."Architects' removals, etc." in American Architect and Building News 64, no. 1225 (June 17, 1899): ix. It was quickly successful, and completed a series of notable public and private projects. In 1912 the initial partnership was dissolved when Briggs left to form his own firm, the L. W. Briggs Company.Charles Nutt, "Lucius Wallace Briggs," in History of Worcester and its People, vol. 4 (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1919): 711. Frost and Chamberlain continued as the firm of Frost & Chamberlain. In 1923 the firm was reorganized as Frost, Chamberlain & Edwards when Lester B. Edwards joined the partnership."Personals," Pencil Points 4, no. 8 (August 1923): 63. Chamberlain died in 1939, followed by Frost in 1946 and Edwards in 1968.
Chiefly through Briggs' efforts, Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain emerged as the leading architectural firm in Worcester at the beginning of the twentieth century. He took much of this reputation with him when he established his own firm in 1912."Died" in Architectural Forum 73, no. 4 (October 1940): 68. Though somewhat diminished, over the next twenty years Frost & Chamberlain and Frost, Chamberlain & Edwards were responsible for several major projects in the Worcester area.
Architect Wallace K. Harrison, a Worcester native, was employed by Frost & Chamberlain between 1913 and 1916.Victoria Newhouse, Wallace K. Harrison, Architect (New York: Random House, 1989): 5-7.
Partner biographies Howard Frost Howard Frost (December 30, 1859 – January 9, 1946) was born in Deep River, Connecticut, to John Hodgman Frost and Elizabeth Frost, née Low. He was educated in the Worcester public schools and at Harvard University, but withdrew at the end of his freshman year to join Fuller & Delano, Worcester architects.Harvard College, Class of 1883, Secretary's Report No. 1 (Cambridge: Wheeler, printer, 1883): 92.Class of 1883, Harvard College, Thirtieth Anniversary, 1883–1913, Sixth Report (Boston: E. O. Cockayne, printer, 1913): 225. In 1895 he became a partner in the firm, which was renamed Fuller, Delano & Frost. He was with this firm until establishing Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain.
Frost died in Worcester at the age of 87.Harvard Alumni Bulletin 48, no. 10 (1946): 411.
Lucius W. Briggs
C. Leslie Chamberlain Charles Leslie Chamberlain (1865 – 1939) was raised in North Andover. As a young man he worked for Fuller & Delano and was promoted to superintendent in 1888."North Andover," Andover Townsman, April 20, 1888, 5. By 1893 he was working in the same role for Amos P. Cutting, and for him supervised the First Congregational Church (1894) in Nashua, New Hampshire."North Andover," Andover Townsman, April 13, 1893, 8. Prior to joining Frost and Briggs he had been working for the Webb Granite and Construction Company of Worcester.<
Chamberlain was married in 1891 to Elizabeth White Dennis of Worcester."North Andover," Andover Townsman, September 6, 1895, 8. He died in 1939.Gravesite, Hope Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Lester B. Edwards Lester B. Edwards (1879 – 1968)Gravesite, Hope Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts. worked as a drafter for Briggs and for the Central Building Company before joining Frost & Chamberlain .Charles Nutt, History of Worcester and its People, vol. 2 (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1919): 896.Worcester directories
Works Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain, 1899–1912 1901 – South High School (former), 14 Richards St, Worcester, MassachusettsEngineering Record 5 Aug. 1899: 212. 1902 – Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St, Westminster, MassachusettsPublic Library Bulletin Sept. 1901: 131. 1902 – Tatnuck Country Club, 1222 Pleasant St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.276, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 1, 2024. 1903 – Jefferson Academic Center, Clark University, Worcester, MassachusettsAmerican Architect and Building News (June 28, 1902): xii. 1905 – Chandler Bullock house, 41 Sever St, Worcester, Massachusetts"Bullock, Chandler House". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. 1905 – Dexter Memorial Town Hall (former), 40 Main St, Charlton, MassachusettsCharles J. McIntyre, Address at the Dedication of the Dexter Memorial Town Hall, Charlton, Mass (1905) 1905 – Leominster High School (former), 261 West St, Leominster, MassachusettsSchool Board Journal (June 1904): 28. 1906 – Carnegie Hall, St. Lawrence University, Canton, New YorkReal Estate Record and Builders' Guide (April 1, 1905): 730. 1907 – Slater Building, 390 Main St, Worcester, MassachusettsDomestic Engineering (February 13, 1909): 205.Worcester Magazine (March, 1915): xiv. 1909 – The Dunes, the Charles G. Washburn cottage, 131 Boston Neck Rd, Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island"Worcester's Newest Office Building". Worcester Magazine April 1907: 75. 1909 – Gardner Savings Bank Building, 29 Parker St, Gardner, MassachusettsArthur W. Brayley, History of the Granite Industry of New England. 1913.Historic Building Detail: GAR.215, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 1, 2024. 1910 – Worcester Technical High School (former), 34 Grove St, Worcester, MassachusettsMetal Worker, Plumer and Steam Fitter (July 3, 1909): 71. 1912 – Beaman Memorial Public Library, 8 Newton St, West Boylston, MassachusettsReport of the Free Public Library Commission (January, 1912)
Frost & Chamberlain, 1912–1923 1915 – Leominister Municipal Building, 25 West St, Leominster, MassachusettsEngineering News (July 10, 1913): 30. 1915 – Worcester Boys' Club (former), 2 Ionic Ave, Worcester, Massachusetts"The Street Lad's Paradise" in Worcester Magazine (November 1915): 271. 1921 – David Hale Fanning Trade School for Girls (former), 24 Chatham St, Worcester, MassachusettsElectrical World (December 21, 1918): 1206. 1923 – Massachusetts Protective Association Building, 18 Chestnut St, Worcester, MassachusettsDomestic Engineering (March 25, 1922): 555.
Frost, Chamberlain & Edwards, from 1923 1925 – Worcester Chamber of Commerce Building, 32 Franklin St, Worcester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WOR.795, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 1, 2024. 1927 – Thorndyke Road School, 30 Thorndyke Rd, Worcester, MassachusettsWorcester city reports for 1927 1929 – William H. Dolan house, 53 Highland Ave, Fitchburg, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: FIT.1302, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 1, 2024. 1930 – Worcester Boys' Club (former), 2 Grove St, Worcester, MassachusettsFrank J. Morrill, William O. Hultgren and Eric J. Salomonsson. Postcard History Series: Worcester (2005) 1931 – Norton Abrasives factory, 51 Bridge Rd E, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, EnglandF. J. Osborn, Green-Belt Cities: The British Contribution (London: Faber and Faber Ltd., 1946): 9. 1931 – Worcester County Hospital, Hospital Dr, Boylston, MassachusettsPower 73, no. 16 (April 21, 1931): 648. 1932 – Heard Street School, 200 Heard St, Worcester, Massachusettshttps://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=wor.2297 Historic Building Detail: WOR.2297], Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed October 1, 2024. 1932 – Shaughnessy Administration Building, Worcester State University, Worcester, MassachusettsMassachusetts Teacher (1929): 366. 1935 – Butterick School, 1 Park St, Sterling, MassachusettsIron Age (1933): 56.
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