John F. Reynolds, usually known as J. F. Reynolds, was an architect of Sioux City, Iowa and Lincoln, Nebraska. He designed schools and courthouses. Several of his works have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) for their architecture.
One of his salient works is the Perkins County Courthouse, built during 1926–27, which has been described as a "fine example" of County Citadel design, with Classical Revival architecture elements. It was designed by Reynolds to include stone pilasters that were changed to brick to reduce costs; the courthouse contract finally approved was for $126,000. It was listed on the NRHP for its architecture and its history. (document at NPS with three photos from 1988, readable in MSIE)
From a 1933 lawsuit involving farm land in Texas, it is known that Reynolds was considering a move from Iowa to Texas in 1930–31, but failed to find professional work there.Horton v. Reynolds court case (65 F.2d 430 (8th Cir. 1933))
Projects
Works include (with attribution): Belden Public School (1924), Dodge Street, Belden, Nebraska within David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. "Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects", part of the Encyclopedia of Nebraska History Perkins County Courthouse (1926–27), Lincoln St. between 2nd and 3rd Sts. Grant, Nebraska (Reynolds, J. F.), NRHP-listed Thurston County Courthouse (1927 conversion from school to courthouse), Main St. between 5th and 6th Sts. Pender, Nebraska (Reynolds, J. F.), NRHP-listed with (also at NebraskaHistory.Org) (? same building as Third Thurston County Public School (1927), Southside Main between 5th & 6th, Pender, Nebraska ?) Crookston Public School (ca. 1930), Main between Oak & 2nd, Crookston, Nebraska Ainsworth City Hall (1935–36), Ainsworth, NebraskaThe Living New Deal: City Hall, Ainsworth, NE Hampton Auditorium (1938), Hampton, NebraskaThe Living New Deal: Hampton Auditorium, Hampton, NE Dixon County Courthouse Addition (1939–1940), 3rd and Iowa Sts., Ponca, Nebraska (Reynolds, J.), NRHP-listed (with 3 photos included) (also available from NPS: text and two photos from 1989, readable in MSIE)
Construction of Reynolds' designs for a city hall in Ainsworth, Nebraska (1935) and for an auditorium in Hampton, Nebraska (1938) were partially funded by Public Works Administration grants, at 50% and 30% respectively.
References
External links Encyclopedia of Nebraska History: John F. Reynolds, Architect