Ernest C. S. Holmboe (1873–1954) was an American architect, renowned for his contributions to architecture in West Virginia.

Life and career E. C. S. Holmboe was born in Denmark in 1873, where he studied architecture for four years.Marietta (OH) Daily Leader 14 March 1901: 5.Circleville School NRHP Nomination. 1995. He later relocated to Chicago, where he was educated at the Art Institute of Chicago. In the early and mid 1890s he practiced as an architect in Chicago,Engineering Record 25 Nov. 1893: 419. New York.Engineering News 10 Jan. 1895: 13. New York. but by 1899 he had relocated to the much smaller city of Marietta. In 1901 he formed a partnership with Robert C. Lafferty, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia. Lafferty was sent to Clarksburg, West Virginia to open a branch office. Soon afterwards, Holmboe moved the firm's chief office to Clarksburg, and Lafferty ran another branch office, this time at Bluefield. Holmboe & Lafferty grew to become the most prominent architectural firm in the Clarksburg region, but was dissolved in 1920, soon after the end of World War I.

After a brief period alone, Holmboe established a new partnership with Guy M. Pogue, who had been educated by Charles W. Bates and been a practicing architect in Wheeling for five years.American Contractor 28 Aug. 1915: 80. Chicago. Holmboe & Pogue appears to have lasted for only a few years, but completed several major projects, including four county courthouses.

After the dissolution of Holmboe & Pogue, Holmboe practiced on his own at least until the 1940s,Engineering News-Record 22 Aug. 1946: 180. New York. though few projects are known. Holmboe died in 1954.Gravesite, Bridgeport Cemetery, Bridgeport, West Virginia

Influence and legacy Holmboe was well regarded as a designer of fraternal buildings, especially Elks lodges. Buildings of this type by Holmboe & Lafferty were built in such faraway states as Florida and North Dakota.

Works

E. C. S. Holmboe, until 1901 1899 - Elks Home, 410 Front St, Marietta, OhioEngineering News 31 Aug. 1899: 70. New York. Burned in 2001. 1900 - Masonic Temple, 308 Front St, Marietta, OhioAmerican Architect and Building News 15 Dec. 1900: xiii. Boston.

Holmboe & Laffery, 1901-1920 1902 - Cottrill Opera House, East Ave, Thomas, West VirginiaCottrill Opera House NRHP Nomination. 1979. 1902 - Elks Opera House, 212 Federal St, Bluefield, West Virginia Remodeled by the firm in 1908.Manufacturers' Record 16 April 1908: 64. Baltimore. 1902 - Miners' and Merchants' Bank Building, 172 East Ave, Thomas, West VirginiaThomas Commercial Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1998. 1903 - Bank of Pine Grove Building, Allen Addition St, Pine Grove, West VirginiaClarksburg (WV) Daily Telegram 5 Jan. 1904. 1903 - Empire National Bank Building, 400 W Main St, Clarksburg, West VirginiaStone Nov. 1903: 84. New York. 1903 - Virgil L. Highland House, 240 E Main St, Clarksburg, West VirginiaQuality Hill Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1985. 1904 - Braxton County Jail, Main St, Sutton, West VirginiaEngineering News 11 Aug. 1904: 67. New York. 1904 - Grafton Banking and Trust Building, W Main & Ethel Sts, Grafton, West VirginiaManufacturers' Record 2 June 1904: 454. Baltimore. Demolished. 1904 - St. Mary's Hospital, Washington Ave, Clarksburg, West VirginiaOhio Architect and Builder May 1904: 68. Cleveland. Demolished. 1904 - West Side School (former), 304 Beech St, Grafton, West Virginia 1905 - Garrett County Jail, E Alder St, Oakland, MarylandFeldstein, Albert L. Postcard History Series: Garrett County. 2006. Demolished in the 1970s. 1905 - Old Main, Marshall College, Huntington, West VirginiaEngineering News 11 May 1905: 177. New York. 1906 - McGuffey and Wilson Halls (Remodeling), Ohio University, Athens, OhioAmerican Architect and Building News 21 July 1906: xi. Boston. Conversion into dormitories. 1906 - Welch High School (former), Howard St, Welch, West VirginiaSchool Board Journal Sept. 1906: 27. Milwaukee. Burned. 1907 - First Baptist Church (former), 100 Duhring St, Bluefield, West VirginiaChambers, S. Allen. Buildings of West Virginia. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. 1907 - Lantz Hall, Massanutten Academy, Woodstock, VirginiaManufacturers' Record 21 June 1907. Baltimore. 1907 - Morgan County Courthouse, 202 Fairfax St, Berkeley Springs, West VirginiaMorgan County Courthouse NRHP nomination. 2005. Destroyed by fire in 2006. 1907 - Tunnelton Bank Building, North St, Tunnelton, West VirginiaManufacturers' Record 13 April 1907. Baltimore. 1908 - Elks Home, 1015 4th Ave, Huntington, West VirginiaEngineering Record 22 Aug. 1908: 42a. New York. 1909 - Administration Building, Salem College, Salem, West VirginiaAdministration Building NRHP Nomination. 1989. 1910 - Citizens National Bank Building, 47 Church St, Philippi, West VirginiaEngineering Record 28 May 1910: 66. New York. 1910 - Cumberland City Hall, N Center St, Cumberland, MarylandAmerican Architect 31 Aug. 1910: 10. 1910 - Elks Home, 411 W Pike St, Clarksburg, West VirginiaPlumbers' Trade Journal, Steam and Hot Water Fitters' Review 1 May 1910: 560. Burned in 2002. 1910 - Haymond Apartments, 444 W Main St, Clarksburg, West VirginiaEngineering Record 5 Feb. 1910: 68. New York. 1911 - Rhea Terrace Apartments, Rhea Ter, Fairmont, West VirginiaEngineering Record 18 Feb. 1911: 74i. New York. 1911 - Whitescarver Hall, Broaddus College, Philippi, West VirginiaWhitescarver Hall NRHP Nomination. 1990. 1912 - Elks Home, 103 W Frederick St, Staunton, VirginiaLather Aug. 1912: 32. Cleveland. 1912 - Elks Home, 425 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FloridaEngineering News 5 Dec. 1912: 381. New York. Demolished in 1962. 1912 - Harpers Ferry High School (Old), 847 Washington St, Harpers Ferry, West VirginiaSchool Board Journal March 1912: 50. 1912 - Thomas W. Koon House, 221 Baltimore Ave, Cumberland, MarylandKoon, Thomas House NRHP Nomination. 1982. 1912 - Miners Hospital, Hospital Rd, Frostburg, MarylandEngineering News 19 Sept. 1912: 191. New York. Demolished in 1997. 1913 - Parsons High School, 501 Chestnut St, Parsons, West VirginiaEngineering News 27 Feb. 1913: 45. New York. Demolished. 1913 - Second National Bank Building, 102 S Main St, Culpeper, VirginiaWilson, Richard Guy. Buildings of Virginia: Tidewater and Piedmont. 2002. 1913 - Robinson Grand Theater, 444 West Pike Street, Clarksburg, WV 1914 - Columbia Street School, 311 Columbia Street, Cumberland, MarylandEngineering and Contracting 5 Aug. 1914: 47. Chicago. 1914 - Elks Club, 139 W 5th St, East Liverpool, OhioEngineering and Contracting 30 Dec. 1914: 30. Chicago. 1914 - First M. E. Church, 1539 W Pike St, Adamston, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 4 April 1914: 46. Chicago. 1914 - Clyde E. Hutchinson House (Sonnencroft), Morgantown Ave, Fairmont, West VirginiaWest Virginia: A Guide to the Mountain State. 1941. Demolished in the 1960s. 1914 - Moorefield Graded and High School, 400 N Main St, Moorefield, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 4 April 1914: 45. Chicago. Demolished. 1915 - Elks Home, 424 5th St NE, Devils Lake, North DakotaAmerican Contractor 17 July 1915: 81. Chicago. Demolished. 1916 - Gilmer County Jail, 201 N Court St, Glenville, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 1 April 1916: 74. Chicago. 1916 - Sperry Hall, Massanutten Academy, Woodstock, VirginiaConcrete Evidence of the Superiority of Security Portland Cement. 1916. 1917 - Hepzibah Public School, Shinnston Pk, Hepzibah, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 16 June 1917: 63. Chicago. 1918 - Ellsworth School, 504 Cherry St, Middlebourne, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 20 March 1918: 56. Chicago. 1918 - Victory High School, 1636 W Pike St, Adamston, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 2 March 1918: 60. Chicago. 1920 - Roosevelt-Wilson High School (former), 116 Pennsylvania Ave, Nutter Fort, West Virginia

Holmboe & Pogue, from 1920 1921 - Hampshire County Courthouse, 50 S High St, Romney, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 18 June 1921: 69. Chicago. 1922 - Ritchie County Courthouse, 115 E Main St, Harrisville, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 16 Dec. 1922: 52. Chicago. 1922 - Sistersville Junior High School (former), Work St, Sistersville, West VirginiaIron Age 17 Aug. 1922: New York. 1922 - Tyler County Courthouse (Remodeling), 121 Court St, Middlebourne, West VirginiaTyler County Courthouse and Jail NRHP Nomination. 1980. 1923 - Virginia Lee Harrison Gymnasium, Massanutten Academy, Woodstock, VirginiaLantz Hall NRHP Nomination. 1992."Sturdy Design for Virginia Lee Harrison Gymnasium". Building Age 1926: 116. Presently a dormitory. 1924 - Pleasants County Courthouse, 301 Court Ln, St. Marys, West VirginiaPleasants County Courthouse NRHP Nomination. 2004.

E. C. S. Holmboe 1927 - Robinson Grand Theater, 444 West Pike Street, Clarksburg, WV (remodel after fire) 1929 - Shepherdstown High School (Old), 54 Minden Ave, Shepherdstown, West VirginiaManufacturers' Record 1929: 91. Baltimore. 1937 - Circleville School, Price Way, Circleville, West Virginia

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