Harry S. Coombs

Harry S. Coombs (1878-1939)[1] was an American architect practicing in Lewiston, Maine. He was the son of and successor to architect George M. Coombs.

Harry Stevens Coombs
BornOctober 27, 1878
Lewiston, Maine
DiedMay 17, 1939
Lewiston, Maine
NationalityUnited States
OccupationArchitect
BuildingsCentral Maine General Hospital, Rumford Municipal Building, Hotel Herbert, Stearns High School, Lewiston High School, Togus VA Hospital, Brunswick High School
Callahan Block, Lewiston, 1910.
Davis Memorial Library, Bridgton, 1912.
Public Library, Fort Fairfield, 1912.
Public Library, Oakland, 1914.
Goodspeed Memorial Library, Wilton, 1915.
Municipal Building, Rumford, 1915.
Hotel Herbert, Kingfield, 1917.
National Bank Building, Norway, 1926.
Togus VA Hospital, Chelsea, 1932.
High School, Brunswick, 1936.

Biography

Harry Coombs was born in 1878 to George M. Coombs, a partner in the leading Lewiston architectural firm of Stevens & Coombs. He attended the public schools, before moving on to Bowdoin College. He graduated in 1901, and immediately entered his father's office, now Coombs & Gibbs.[1] He worked with his father until his death in May 1909, at which point he gained his father's share in the partnership.[2] Coombs & Gibbs was dissolved sometime in 1910, breaking into two firms, Coombs Brothers and Gibbs & Pulsifer. Coombs Brothers was composed of Harry Coombs and his brother, Frederick N. Coombs.[3] They split in 1912, and Harry continued on his own. In 1928 he made Alonzo J. Harriman a partner,[4] and Coombs & Harriman lasted until the former's death in 1939.[1]

Legacy

After Coombs' death, Harriman relocated the office to Auburn, where it is still in operation as Harriman Architects + Engineers.

At least nine of his designs have been individually placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and several others contribute to listed historic districts.

Style

Prior to the 1930s, almost all of Coombs' work was in the Colonial Revival style. Larger examples of this are his administration building at the Central Maine General Hospital, the Rumford Municipal Building, Stearns High School at Millinocket, and the former Lewiston High School. He designed very few Gothic Revival buildings, and those that are known were all built in the first few years of his practice. Of these, the Franklin School in Auburn is most notable. Beginning in the 1930s, Coombs and his partner Harriman began to adopt the Art Deco style for many of their works, most significantly the hospital at Togus and the since-demolished High School at Brunswick.

Architectural works

Coombs & Gibbs, 1909-1910

Coombs Brothers, 1910-1912

Harry S. Coombs, 1912-1928

Coombs & Harriman, 1928-1939
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References
  1. Bowdoin Alumnus June 1939: 140.
  2. Second Callahan Block NRHP Nomination. 1986.
  3. The Architects' Directory and Specification Index. 1913.
  4. Pencil Points 1944: 40.
  5. American Architect 30 June 1909: 8.
  6. Coombs, Viola House NRHP Nomination. 1991.
  7. Winthrop Street Historic District NRHP Nomination. 2001.
  8. Lewiston (ME) Evening Journal 28 Oct. 1911.
  9. American Machinist 14 March 1912: 76.
  10. Dalton Holmes Davis Memorial Library NRHP Nomination. 1988.
  11. Fort Fairfield Public Library NRHP Nomination. 1988.
  12. Engineering Record 29 March 1913: 47.
  13. American Contractor 13 Sept. 1913: 54.
  14. School Board Journal March 1915: 25.
  15. Edwards, Keith. "Augusta’s Colonial Theater wins national historic designation". http://www.centralmaine.com/. 28 Oct. 2014.
  16. Oakland Public Library NRHP Nomination. 2000.
  17. Goodspeed Memorial Library NRHP Nomination. 1988.
  18. Municipal Building NRHP Nomination. 1979.
  19. American Contractor 1 May 1915: 75.
  20. American Contractor 30 Dec. 1916: 41.
  21. American Contractor 13 Oct. 1917: 44.
  22. American Contractor 8 June 1918: 50.
  23. American Contractor 16 Aug. 1919: 54.
  24. Maine Insane Hospital (Boundary Increase) NRHP Nomination. 2001.
  25. American Contractor 7 Oct. 1922: 43.
  26. American Contractor 22 Oct. 1921: 56.
  27. American Contractor 2 Sept. 1922: 48.
  28. Engineering News-Record 1925: 55.
  29. Norway Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1988.
  30. Metalcraft 1930: 191.
  31. Bulletin of the American Hospital Association. 1930: 168.
  32. Hotel Monthly 1931: 92.
  33. Lather Nov. 1931: 33.
  34. Smith, Timothy L. Images of America: Togus, Down in Maine: The First National Veterans Home. 1998.
  35. Bridgemen's Magazine 1935: 343.
  36. Bridgemen's Magazine 1936: 410.
  37. Historic Lewiston: A Self-Guided Tour of Our History, Architecture and Culture. 2001.
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