Penn Varney (1859–1949) was an American architect in practice in Lynn, Massachusetts, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Life and career Penn Varney was born November 15, 1859, in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, to Augustus J. Varney, a sawmill owner, and Mercy (Hussey) Varney. He was educated in the local schools, and in 1882 moved to Lynn where he was first employed by architect Holman K. Wheeler as a drafter. In 1888 he left Wheeler to open his own office. During the first few years he was in partnership with Alfred W. Call in the firm of Call & Varney. Varney practiced architecture in Lynn for at least forty years."Penn Varney" in Municipal History of Essex County in Massachusetts 4, ed. Benjamin F. Arrington (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1922): 357.
Personal life In 1893 Varney was married to Emma L. Hussey, and they had one son. In later life they lived in Rowley, Massachusetts. Varney died there April 27, 1949.
Legacy At least five buildings designed by Varney have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.
The Alabama architect William Leslie Welton received his initial architectural training in Varney's office.History of Alabama and Her People 3 (New York: American Historical Society, 1927): 470.
Architectural works Charles F. Piper house, 22-24 N Main St, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire (1892)New Hampshire Homes (Concord: James A. Wood, 1895) Danversport School (former), 10 West St, Danvers, Massachusetts (1893–94)Historic Building Detail: DAN.323 East Lynn Odd Fellows Building, 301 Essex St, Lynn, Massachusetts (1895)"Building Intelligence" in American Architect and Building News 50, no. 1033 (October 12, 1895): xvii. Marcy Street School, Marcy St, Southbridge, Massachusetts (1898, demolished)"Illustrations" in American Architect and Building News 60, no. 1170 (May 28, 1898): 71. St. Joseph R. C. School, 29 Green St, Lynn, Massachusetts (1898)"Contracting News" in Engineering Record 38, no. 7 (July 16, 1898): 152. Amesbury Public Library, 149 Main St, Amesbury, Massachusetts (1900)"Building Intelligence" in American Architect and Building News 67, no. 1264 (March 17, 1900): x. Schenectady Public Library (former), Union St and Seward Pl, Schenectady, New York (1901–03) Henry S. De Forest house, 718 Union St, Schenectady, New York (1902)"Building Intelligence" in American Architect and Building News 76, no. 1372 (April 12, 1902): xii. Melrose Public Library, 69 W Emerson St, Melrose, Massachusetts (1903–04, NRHP 1988)Historic Building Detail: MEL.85 Miller Building, 522 Congress St, Portland, Maine (1904, NRHP 1996)Christopher W. Closs, Porteous, Mitchell and Braun Company Building NRHP Registration Form (1996) Aldrich Public Library, 6 Washington St, Barre, Vermont (1907–08, NRHP 2015)Frank A. Beard, Aldrich Public Library NRHP Registration Form (2015) Foster Building, 508 State St, Schenectady, New York (1907, NRHP 1991)Foster Building NRHP Registration Form (1991) Masonic Hall, 258 Main St, Saco, Maine (1907)Tom Hardiman and Russell Wright, Saco Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1998) Sanford City Hall, 919 Main St, Sanford, Maine (1907)"Contracting News" in Engineering Record 55, no. 1 (January 5, 1907): 71. Depositors Trust Company Building, 33 Water St, Skowhegan, Maine (1909)Frank A. Beard, Skowhegan Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1982) Lynn Classical High School (former), 33 N Common St, Lynn, Massachusetts (1909–11) Elks Lodge, Division St, Amsterdam, New York (1910, demolished)Gerald R. Snyder and Robert von Hasseln, Amsterdam (Charleston, Arcadia, 2010) Central Fire Station, 25 Central St, Stoneham, Massachusetts (1916, NRHP 1984)"Proposals" in Boston Evening Globe, January 14, 1916, 15. Hull Town Hall, 253 Atlantic Ave, Hull, Massachusetts (1919–21)"Massachusetts" in American Contractor 40, no. 3 (January 18, 1919): 56. Colonel Nathaniel Shatswell School (former), 15 Green St, Ipswich, Massachusetts (1925–26)"Solving Ipswich School Problem" in Newburyport Daily News, July 21, 1925, 2. Salisbury Police and Fire Station (former), 18–24 Railroad Ave, Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts (1929)"Propose New Fire and Police Station at Salisbury Beach" in Newburyport Daily News, March 6, 1929, 8.
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