Jefferson L. Coburn

Jefferson Lake Coburn (1835–1917) was an American architect in Maine. Many of his works were completed as a member of the architectural firm Coburn & Sons.

Jefferson Lake Coburn
Jeff. L. Coburn, 1894
Born(1835-03-30)March 30, 1835
Buckfield, Maine
DiedOctober 3, 1917(1917-10-03) (aged 82)
Falmouth Foreside, Maine
NationalityAmerican
OccupationArchitect

Life and career

Jefferson Lake Coburn, known professionally as Jeff. L. Coburn, was born March 30, 1835, in Buckfield, Maine, to Hiram Coburn and Eliza (Gardner) Coburn. He was raised in Carthage. When the American Civil War began, he enlisted in the 10th Maine Infantry Regiment, and later reenlisted with the 29th Maine Infantry Regiment. In 1864 his company was attached to the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry Regiment, and later that year he was transferred to the 1st Maine Cavalry Regiment, with which he saw out the rest of the war. He was discharged with the rank of second lieutenant.[1][2] In later life he claimed to have been the only man who was wounded after the surrender of Lee.[3]

Sometime after the war he moved to Lewiston, where he worked as a contractor and builder until at least 1882.[4] By 1884 he was working instead as an architect.[5] Circa 1889 he reestablished his practice as Coburn & Sons, though only one of his sons was living. Coburn continued to practice past his son's death in 1897 until at least 1901, and probably retired shortly thereafter.[6]

Personal life and death

Coburn was married first in 1860 to Lois Emerson, and they had one daughter: Cedell Coburn (1860–1947). After his first wife died in 1863, he married second to Mary Frances Allen. They had one daughter, Lora Lee Coburn (1864–1866) and two sons, Leon Coburn (1869–1887) and Forest G. Coburn (1871–1897).[3] Coburn died October 3, 1917, at Falmouth Foreside.[3]

Legacy

At least six buildings designed by Coburn, alone and with his son, have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. Others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works

Notes
  1. A contributing property to the Main Street–Frye Street Historic District, NRHP-listed in 2009.
  2. A contributing property to the Main Street Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1989.
  3. A contributing property to the Lewiston Commercial Historic District, NRHP-listed in 2018.

References
  1. John M. Gould, History of the First-Tenth-Twenty-ninth Maine Regiment (Portland: Stephen Berry, 1871)
  2. Genealogy of the Descendents of Edward Colburn/Coburn (Lowell: Walter Coburn, 1913): 159 and 286.
  3. "Maine News Notes" in Oxford Democrat, October 9, 1917.
  4. Edmund S. Hoyt, Legislative Manual for the Year 1882-83 (Augusta: State of Maine, 1882)
  5. Directories
  6. Hendricks' Architectural, Engineering & Mechanical Directory of the United States (New York: Samuel E. Hendricks Company, 1901)
  7. James C. Lord House NRHP Registration Form (1978)
  8. Main Street–Frye Street Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2009)
  9. A. A. Garcelon House NRHP Registration Form (1986)
  10. Healy Asylum NRHP Registration Form (1979)
  11. Osgood Building NRHP Registration Form (1986)
  12. St. Hyacinth School and Convent NRHP Registration Form (2013)
  13. American Architect and Building News (September 15, 1894): xiv.
  14. First McGillicuddy Block NRHP Registration Form (1986)
  15. American Architect and Building News (August 7, 1897): 3.
  16. Thompson, Franics Nims (1941). "52 Years at Heron Island". hivis.org.
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