Elmer H. Fisher

Elmer H. Fisher
Born 1840
Unknown
Died 1905
Los Angeles, CA United States
Occupation Architect
Buildings Pioneer Building
Austin A. Bell Building

Elmer H. Fisher (1840–1905) was an architect best known for his work during the rebuilding of the American city of Seattle after it was devastated by fire in 1889.

Life

Fisher's Pioneer Building, shortly after its completion in 1890.

Fisher claimed to have been born in Scotland and moved to Massachusetts at age 17 where he received an architectural apprenticeship in Worcester. This now appears to be untrue according to the City of Seattle's research.[1] He also claimed to have lived in Minneapolis, Denver and Butte before moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1886.[2] His career in the region began with designing buildings in the cities of Victoria and Vancouver in Canada and Port Townsend in Washington.[1]

Fisher came to Seattle in 1889 before the Great Seattle fire devastated the city. He is considered the most prolific of the architects involved in rebuilding the city for designing almost half of the major downtown buildings between 1889 and 1891.[3] Due to financial problems, he left his career as an architect to run a hotel that he had previously designed and built.[4]

In 1893, a former mistress brought a civil suit against Fisher. Although he was acquitted, the scandal ruined his reputation. He moved to Los Angeles where he failed to reestablish his architectural career.[2]

Work

On June 6, 1889, a fire destroyed most of Seattle's business district. The buildings were primarily constructed of wood so the large-scale rebuilding campaign focused on new "fireproof" buildings constructed of brick, stone and iron. Fisher designed many of the new buildings and some can still be seen in what is now the Pioneer Square neighborhood.[5]

Fisher favored the Richardsonian Romanesque style which led to a unity of appearance in the district.[5] He also tended to divide the facades of his buildings into a grid, a style influenced by Victorian architecture.[6]

His best-known work is the Pioneer Building in Seattle. It was completed in 1892 for Henry Yesler and it served as a "prestige office address" throughout the decade.[7] It won an award from the American Institute of Architects for “being the finest building West of Chicago”.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Summary for 300 Occidental Way / Parcel ID 5247800695". City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Fisher, Elmer". Pacific Coast Architecture Database. University Of Washington. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Summary for 119 Yesler Way / Parcel ID 5247800545". City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Summary for 105 1st Ave / Parcel ID 5247800046". City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  5. 1 2 "Pioneer Square-Skid Road Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Summary for 219 1st Ave / Parcel ID 5247800105". City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Pioneer Building". National Park Service. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Summary for 606 1st Ave / Parcel ID 0939000150". City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
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