John S. Norris

John S. Norris (1804 – July 25, 1876) was an American architect.

For other people with the same name, see John Norris (disambiguation).
John S. Norris
Born1804
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 25, 1876 (aged 72)[1]
Blauvelt, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationArchitect

He was born and raised in New York City, where he began his career as a mason. He advanced to being a builder and eventually listed himself in the telephone directory as an architect.

He went to Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1839, where he first supervised construction, and then received his first independent commission to design the Wilmington Custom House in 1843. While working on that commission, he was asked to design the Savannah Custom House in Savannah, Georgia, which was built from 1848 to 1852. This led to numerous commissions in Savannah, including the Andrew Low House, the Mercer House, Massie Common School House and the Green-Meldrim House.[2][3] Norris also designed the Unitarian Church, which was originally built in 1853 on Oglethorpe Square; this church was designed for free people of color. The church has since been moved to Troup Square, where it is now The Unitarian Universalist Church of Savannah.[4] Norris also designed light houses for the Savannah River and Cockspur Island.

Personal life

In 1853 Norris purchased what is now known as the Blauvelt-Norris-Burr-House in Blauvelt, New York,[5] where he lived until his death in 1876 at the age of 72.[1]

Norris was married to Sarah Ann, who died on May 23, 1865,[6] at the age of 50.[7]

Norris' daughter, Josephine M. Barlow, died on May 15, 1864, of heart disease.[8] She had married Frederick C. Barlow three years earlier.[9]

Publications
  • Wilmington Custom House, 1843, Wilmington, North Carolina. Demolished in 1915
    Wilmington Custom House, 1843, Wilmington, North Carolina. Demolished in 1915
  • St James Episcopal Church, 1839-1840, Wilmington
    St James Episcopal Church, 1839-1840, Wilmington
  • Wilmington Market House, ca. 1840, Wilmington (possible collaboration, main architect Benjamin Gardner)
    Wilmington Market House, ca. 1840, Wilmington (possible collaboration, main architect Benjamin Gardner)
  • Cape Fear Bank, 1840, Wilmington
    Cape Fear Bank, 1840, Wilmington
  • Masonic Hall, 1841, Wilmington (possible attribution, demolished)
    Masonic Hall, 1841, Wilmington (possible attribution, demolished)
  • Armand J. DeRosset, Jr., House (now the City Club Inn), ca. 1842, Wilmington (possible collaboration, main architect Christopher Dall)
    Armand J. DeRosset, Jr., House (now the City Club Inn), ca. 1842, Wilmington (possible collaboration, main architect Christopher Dall)
  • Georgia Historical Society Library, 1846-1849, Savannah
    Georgia Historical Society Library, 1846-1849, Savannah
  • Savannah Customhouse, 1846-1852, Savannah
    Savannah Customhouse, 1846-1852, Savannah
  • Chatham Artillery Armory, 1847-1849, Savannah (demolished)
    Chatham Artillery Armory, 1847-1849, Savannah (demolished)
  • Cockspur Island Lighthouse, 1848-1849, east of Cockspur Island
    Cockspur Island Lighthouse, 1848-1849, east of Cockspur Island
  • Andrew Low House, 1849, Savannah
    Andrew Low House, 1849, Savannah
  • Joseph Fay House (now Knights of Columbus Headquarters), 1849, Savannah
    Joseph Fay House (now Knights of Columbus Headquarters), 1849, Savannah
  • P. R. Dickinson House, ca. 1850, Wilmington (possible attribution, demolished in 1900)
    P. R. Dickinson House, ca. 1850, Wilmington (possible attribution, demolished in 1900)
  • Alexander A. Smets House (now SCAD’s Morris Hall), 1853, Savannah
    Alexander A. Smets House (now SCAD’s Morris Hall), 1853, Savannah
  • Green-Meldrim House, ca. 1853-1856, Savannah
    Green-Meldrim House, ca. 1853-1856, Savannah
  • Independent Presbyterian Church, 1855, Savannah
    Independent Presbyterian Church, 1855, Savannah
  • Massie Common School House, 1855-1856, Savannah
    Massie Common School House, 1855-1856, Savannah
  • First Presbyterian Church, 1855-1872, Savannah (demolished)
    First Presbyterian Church, 1855-1872, Savannah (demolished)
  • William F. Brantley House, 1857, Savannah
    William F. Brantley House, 1857, Savannah
  • Noah B. Knapp House, 1857, Savannah
    Noah B. Knapp House, 1857, Savannah
  • Edmund Molyneux House (now Oglethorpe Club), 1857, Savannah
    Edmund Molyneux House (now Oglethorpe Club), 1857, Savannah
  • Abrahams Home for Indigent Females (now SCAD’s Norris Hall), 1858, Savannah
    Abrahams Home for Indigent Females (now SCAD’s Norris Hall), 1858, Savannah
  • Charles W. Rogers Houses, 1858, Savannah
    Charles W. Rogers Houses, 1858, Savannah
  • Charles B. King House, 1858, Savannah
    Charles B. King House, 1858, Savannah
  • John B. Gallie House, 1858, Savannah
    John B. Gallie House, 1858, Savannah
  • Stoddard’s Lower Range, 1858–59, Savannah
    Stoddard’s Lower Range, 1858–59, Savannah
  • Addition to the Screven House Hotel, ca. 1858-1860, Savannah (demolished)
    Addition to the Screven House Hotel, ca. 1858-1860, Savannah (demolished)
  • Stoddard’s Upper Range, 1859, Savannah
    Stoddard’s Upper Range, 1859, Savannah
  • Mercer Williams House, ca. 1859-1866, Savannah
    Mercer Williams House, ca. 1859-1866, Savannah

References
  1. Obituary 1 -- No Title - New York Times, July 27, 1876
  2. "Norris, John S. (1804-1876)".
  3. "John Norris (1804-1876)".
  4. Unitarian Universalist Church of Savannah website
  5. Blauvelt-Norris-Burr-House - Historical Marker Database
  6. Died. - New York Times, May 24, 1865
  7. Died - Rockland County Journal, June 10, 1865
  8. Died. - New York Times, May 16, 1864
  9. Married. - New York Times, January 14, 1861
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