author
1865–1950
An architect, designer, and terra-cotta manufacturer, this turn-of-the-century writer brought a builder’s eye to the look and feel of a house. His surviving book blends practical advice with a strong sense that good materials and design can give a home real character.
Born in Hempstead, Long Island, on January 29, 1865, he studied art and architectural drawing at Pratt Institute in New York. He went on to work with the Boston Terra Cotta Company and, after that firm dissolved, founded his own business specializing in architectural terra cotta in the Philadelphia area.
He is best remembered in the book world for The Story of the House (1899), a richly illustrated work that offers suggestions in brickwork and home design. The book reflects both his technical knowledge and his interest in how architecture could shape the personality of a home.
Records from architectural history sources note that he lived until 1950. While not a widely known literary figure, his work remains of interest for readers drawn to historic house design, decorative building materials, and the craftsmanship of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.