Fiske & Meginnis, Architects was an architecture firm partnership from 1915–1924 between Ferdinand C. Fiske (1856–1930) and Harry Meginnis in Lincoln, Nebraska. Twelve of the buildings they designed are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The two men have additional buildings listed on the National Register with other partnerships or individually credited. Related firms were Fiske and Dieman, Fiske, Meginnis and Schaumberg, and Meginnis and Schaumberg.
Ferdinand C. Fiske was born in New York and raised in Iowa. He was educated at Cornell University and moved to Lincoln during the building boom of 1887 and practiced there the rest of his life. He was a founding partner of firms including Fiske & Dieman (1898–1912);University of Nebraska–Lincoln. “Fiske & Dieman.” Historic Buildings. UNL Libraries, 2005. Accessed September 15, 2015. Fiske & Miller (1912–1924); and Fiske, Meginnis, & Schaumberg (1924–1925).Zimmer, Ed. “The Buildings of F. C. Fiske: An Architectural Tour of Lincoln.” Lincoln Today. Lincoln Today Magazine, December 31, 2014. Accessed October 7, 2015.
Harry Meginnis did not receive an education in architecture but learned through the construction business.University of Nebraska–Lincoln. “Meginnis & Schaumberg.” Historic Buildings. UNL Libraries, 2005. Accessed September 15, 2015. He worked under Fiske at Fiske & Dieman (1901–1909) in their Lincoln office as a draftsman. He had brief stints at several firms in Indianapolis including DuPont & Hunter (1907–1909); H.L. Bass Co. (1909–1914); and Broakie & Meginnis (1914–1915). In 1915, Meginnis returned to Lincoln to start Fiske & Meginnis (1915–1924) and Fiske, Meginnis, & Schaumberg (1924–1925). Meginnis went on to establish Meginnis and Schaumberg (1925–1943)Minder, Fred, J. “Who’s Who in Nebraska.” NEGenWeb Project Resource Center. Nebraska Press Association, 1940. Accessed October 8, 2015 with Edward G. Schaumberg. It lasted until Meginnis died in 1943.
While Fiske and his partners worked under many different styles, Fiske & Meginnis mostly worked within the English Revival realm (Elizabethan, Georgian, and Tudor among others) combined with the Prairie style that Frank Lloyd Wright was concerned with at the time. They were also involved in a significant number of industrial warehouse projects in Lincoln, namely in the Haymarket District.
Selected works
Reese House
Located within the Mount Emerald and Capitol Additions District, the Reese House was designed by Fiske and Meginnis in 1907.Chatfield, Penelope & Kidd, Daniel. “.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, May 6, 1980. Accessed September 15, 2015. The Reese House was designed with false-timber work and stucco and large overhanging eaves over the porches placing it into the Tudor-Revival/Prairie-Style category that Fiske & Meginnis were known for especially in their residential projects. This residence was designed for Manoah Bostic Reese and his family who was the chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court and also the Dean for the University of Nebraska College of Law.
Lincoln Municipal Lighting and Waterworks Building
Though it currently stands as an apartment building, Fiske and Meginnis’ A Street landmark was originally built as the Lincoln Municipal Lighting and Waterworks Plant.Zimmer, Edward F. “.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, June 26, 1986. Accessed October 2, 2015. Much like many of their other public works together, Fiske and Meginnis designed a building easily classified as neoclassical revival. Three, large, and light blue smoke stacks protrude through the flat roof, while the large structure and exterior facade of the building consists of a slightly darker red brick, trimmed with limestone and buff bricks on the cornices. The focal east and north facades are punctured with what appears to be two stories of large glass windows with round heads. But behind this deceptive façade lies a factory-like interior, renovated into apartments. The large first floor and first floor windows leave room for an attic floor above.
Antelope Grocery
Built in 1922, Antelope grocery was constructed as a mixed use (commercial and apartment) building.Zimmer, Edward F. “.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, December 24, 1987. Accessed October 4, 2015. The two-story brick and stucco structure makes use of architectural elements common to period houses. The store includes a visual usage of Tudor revival-styled elements within the construction and has undergone multiple renovations while retaining a high degree of architectural integrity. This includes the current existence of its original metal framed store-front windows. The lower level of the building remains business, while the upper level is mainly residential apartments. As far as the exterior is concerned, stucco and half-timber form the cladding which traces up to a truncated steeply pitched roof capped with a flat decking. The main modifications to the building's exterior include re roofing and addition of protective glazing over the transoms.
Complete works Fiske & Meginnis practiced many styles of architecture, which lead to a wide variety of commissions. The firm designed residences, public works buildings, libraries, schools for all levels of education, and warehouses. BuildingAddressArchitecturalClassificationPartnersYearHistoric **Agriculture HallUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln. “Fiske & Dieman.” Historic Buildings. UNL Libraries, 2005. Accessed September 15, 2015.East campusFiske and Dieman1904NO**Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority1541 S StreetPeriod Revival/ColonialFiske1926 Antelope Grocery2406 J StreetTudor RevivalFiske and Meginnis1922YES Auld Public Library537 N. Webster, Red Cloud, NEClassical RevivalFiske and Meginnis1917YES *Carter Transfer WarehouseZimmer, Ed “.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, June 18, 2014. Accessed October 4, 2015.311 N. 8thWarehouseFiske and Meginnis1916YES ***Charles Stuart House1830 E StreetWestern StickFiske1910YES Clinton Elementary School1520 N. 29th StreetElizabethan RevivalFiske, Meginnis and Schaumberg1925NO **College Activities BuildingEast CampusMeginnis and Schaumberg1926NO Edgar Burnett House3526 Holdrege Street Elliot Elementary School225 S. 25th StreetFiske and Meginnis1922NO Fairbury Jr/Sr High SchoolAhlgren, Carol “National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Fairburv Jr/Sr High School & Gymnasium-Auditorium.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, August, 1998. Accessed April 15, 1985.Fairbury, NEGeorgian Revival/ ModernisticFiske and Meginnis1923YES Federal Trust BuildingBeltzer, Christopher “.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, December 20, 2001. Accessed October 4th, 2015.134 S. 13th StreetGothic RevivalMeginnis and Schaumberg1927YES **Food and Nutrition BuildingEast CampusMeginnis and Schaumberg1941NO Frank Spaulding HouseZimmer, Ed “.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, September 19, 2008 . Accessed October 4th, 2015.2221 Sheridan BoulevardMissionFiske1909YES George and Hazel Abel House2335 Sheridan Boulevard George Fawell House2401 Ryons StreetPeriod RevivalFiske1916YES Gillen HouseMcKillip, Monte and Zimmer, Ed “.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, July 18, 1997. Accessed April 15, 1985.2245 A Street19th and Early 20th Century RevivalFiske and Meginnis1903YES *Grainger Brothers Complex733-737 P StreetWarehouseFiske and Dieman1906YES *Grainger Brothers Grocery Warehouse105 N. 8th StreetWarehouseFiske and Meginnis1912YES Hartley Elementary School730 N. 33rd StreetFiske and Meginnis1920NO Hayward School AdditionZimmer, Ed “.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, June 18, 2014. Accessed April 15, 1985.1215 N. 9th StreetGeorgian RevivalFiske, Meginnis, and Schaumberg1925YES ***H.E. Sidles House2110 A StreetPrairie School HouseFiske1913YES *Home Economics BuildingEast CampusFiske and Dieman1905NO ***J.R. Moyer House1140 S. 20th StreetColonial RevivalFiske and Meginnis1916YES *Lincoln Drug Company Building801 P StreetwarehouseFiske1905YES *Lincoln Fixture and Supply Co. Building826 P StreetwarehouseFiske and Meginnis1922YES Loup City Township Carnegie LibraryDolberg, Jill “.” Nebraska State Historical Society. National Park Service, June 7, 2007. Accessed April 15, 1985.625 N Street, Loup City, NENeoclassical RevivalFiske and Meginnis1917YES **Love Memorial Co-op HallEast CampusMeginnis and Schaumberg1941NO ***Mayor Don Lover House1953 B StreetTudor RevivalFiske and Meginnis1916YES ***Meeker Anderson House1950 C StreetTudor Revival/ Prairie styleFiske1916YES **Mueller TowerCity CampusMeginnis and Schaumberg1949NO Municipal Lighting and Waterworks Plant2901 A StreetNeoclassical RevivalFiske and Meginnis1921YES ***N.C. Rogers House2145 B StreetJacobethan RevivalFiske and Miller1914YES ***Old Delta Upsilon House1701 E StreetEclectic RevivalMeginnis and Schaumberg1931YES Prescott Elementary School2024 S. 20th StreetElizabethan RevivalFiske and Meginnis1920NO *** The Reese House1990 C StreetTudor Revival/ PrairieFiske and Meginnis1907YES *** Senator Elmer J. Burkett House1944 B StreetPrairieFiske and Miller1914YES *Stacy Brothers Fruit Co.800 P StreetwarehouseFiske1912YES *** The Stuart Aunties House1935 D StreetTudor Revival/ PrairieFiske1911YES ***W.E Chapin House1979 D StreetTudor Revival/ PrairieFiske and Miller1913YES ***Whitney-Stephenson-Merritt House1965 B StreetSecond Italian Renaissance RevivalFiske1916YES Whittier Junior High School2200 Vine StreetNeoclassical RevivalFiske and Meginnis1923NO * buildings in Historic Haymarket District ** buildings on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's campus *** houses in Mount Emerald Historic District
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