Pierce & Bickford

Pierce & Bickford was an American architectural firm active in Elmira, New York, from 1891 to 1932. It was formed as the partnership of architects of Joseph H. Pierce (1855-1932)[1] and Hiram H. Bickford (1864-1929), with later partner Robert T. Bickford (1894-1988).[2]

Pierce & Bickford
Practice information
PartnersJoseph H. Pierce; Hiram H. Bickford; Robert T. Bickford
FoundersJoseph H. Pierce; Hiram H. Bickford
Founded1891
Dissolved1932
LocationElmira, New York
The Elmira City Hall, designed by Pierce & Bickford and completed in 1895.
The Presbyterian Church of McGraw, built in 1901.
The First Baptist Church of Painted Post, originally built in 1860 and redesigned by Pierce & Bickford in 1915.
Hamilton Hall at Elmira College, designed by Pierce & Bickford in association with Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch & Abbott of Boston.

Partners and history

Joseph Hart Pierce was born September 2, 1855, in Dundee, New York, to Herschel W. Pierce, a carpenter and builder, and Mariette (Pierce) Pierce. He attended the Dundee schools and the Starkey Seminary of Lakemont, New York, from which he graduated in 1878. After a period as a carpenter, in 1880 he moved to Elmira where he joined the office of architect Warren H. Hayes as a drafter. In 1881 Hayes relocated to Minneapolis, and Pierce purchased his Elmira practice. In 1884 he formed the firm of Pierce & Dockstader with Otis Dockstader as his partner. This was dissolved in 1890 over an ethics dispute between the partners. After an additional year of private practice, Pierce then formed the firm of Pierce & Bickford with Hiram H. Bickford.[3][4]

Hiram Hooker Bickford was born November 22, 1864, in Barre, Vermont, to Daniel G. Bickford, also a carpenter and builder, and Cloe Marie (Hooker) Bickford. He was educated in the Barre Academy in Vermont before joining the office of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, architect Henry M. Francis as a student drafter. In 1887 he moved to Elmira and was hired as a drafter by Pierce & Dockstader, becoming Pierce's partner in 1891. In 1920 the partnership was expanded to include Bickford's son, Robert T. Bickford, as junior partner. The three became equal partners in 1925. The elder Bickford died November 8, 1929, with Pierce and the younger Bickford continuing in partnership.[5] Pierce retired from the partnership effective January 1, 1932, and died August 28.[6] Robert T. Bickford practiced architecture under his own name into the 1970s, and died in 1988.

Pierce joined the American Institute of Architects in 1889, followed by Bickford in 1893. Both served terms as president of the Central New York chapter.

Legacy

A number of their works are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places.[7]

Pierce and Bickford were among the co-founders of the Chemung County Historical Society.

Architectural works

Works by J. H. Pierce, 1881-1884 and 1890-1891

Works by Pierce & Dockstader, 1884-1890

Works by Pierce & Bickford, 1891-1932

Further reading
  • Modern Buildings (Elmira: Pierce & Dockstader, 1890)
  • Roger G. Reed, Architects of Standing, Pierce & Bickford, Elmira, N.Y. 1890-1932 (Elmira: Chemung County Historical Society, 1983)

Notes
  1. A contributing property to the Near Westside Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1983.
  2. Formerly a contributing property to the Elmira Civic Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1980.
  3. Home of the architect. A contributing property to the Clinton–Columbia Historic District, NRHP-listed in 2015.
  4. Formerly a contributing property to the Horseheads 1855 Extension Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1980.[17]
  5. A contributing property to the Clifton Springs Sanitarium Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1990.
  6. A contributing property to the Maple Avenue Historic District, NRHP-listed in 2013.
  7. A contributing property to the Geneva Downtown Commercial Historic District, NRHP-listed in 2014.
  8. A contributing property to St. Patrick's Parochial Residence-Convent and School, NRHP-listed in 1992.
  9. A contributing property to the Dundee Village Historic District, NRHP-listed in 2007.
  10. A contributing property to the Elmira Civic Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1980.
  11. Later the World War Memorial Library.
  12. A contributing property to the Athens Historic District, NRHP-listed in 2004.
  13. As supervising architects for Edward L. Tilton of New York City.
  14. A contributing property to the Elmira College Old Campus, NRHP-listed in 1984.
  15. A contributing property to the North Main and West Water Commercial Historic District, NRHP-listed in 2016.
  16. As supervising architects for Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch & Abbott of Boston.
  17. As supervising architects for Robert D. Kohn of New York City.

References
  1. "Joseph H. Pierce - Chemung County, NY Biographies". Onlinebiographies.info. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
  2. Michael Herschensohn (December 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Clifton Springs Sanitarium". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Retrieved 2009-09-14. See also: "Accompanying 13 photos".
  3. Ausburn Towner, Our County and its People: A History of the Valley and County of Chemung (Syracuse: D. Mason & Company, 1892): 115.
  4. "Joseph H. Pierce" in History of the Genesee Country 3 (Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1925): 706-709.
  5. AIA records for Hiram H. Bickford
  6. AIA records for Joseph H. Pierce
  7. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  8. Near Westside Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1983)
  9. F. M. Howell and Company NRHP Registration Form (1984)
  10. Waverly Village Hall NRHP Registration Form (2003)
  11. Elmira Civic Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1980)
  12. Clinton–Columbia Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2015)
  13. First Baptist Church of Watkins Glen NRHP Registration Form (2001)
  14. Jesse Robinson House NRHP Registration Form (1991)
  15. First Congregational Presbyterian Church NRHP Registration Form (1984)
  16. Parkhurst Memorial Presbyterian Church NRHP Registration Form (2012)
  17. Horseheads 1855 Extension Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1980)
  18. Mercia Tinker, Horseheads (Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2013)
  19. Clifton Springs Sanitarium NRHP Registration Form (1979)
  20. Maple Avenue Historic District Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2013)
  21. Geneva Downtown Commercial Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2014)
  22. St. Patrick's Parochial Residence-Convent and School NRHP Registration Form (1992)
  23. Dundee Village Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2007)
  24. Smith's Opera House NRHP Registration Form (1979)
  25. Elmira Civic Historic District Doundary Amendments NRHP Registration Form (2020)
  26. Elmira Heights Village Hall NRHP Registration Form (1982)
  27. World War Memorial Library NRHP Registration Form (1995)
  28. Fire Station No. 4 NRHP Registration Form (1988)
  29. Dundee Methodist Church NRHP Registration Form (2005)
  30. Presbyterian Church of McGraw NRHP Registration Form (2002)
  31. Woodlawn Cemetery and Woodlawn National Cemetery NRHP Registration Form (2004)
  32. Steuben County - Hornell
  33. Sayre Historical Society, Sayre (Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2010)
  34. Athens Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2004)
  35. Elmira College Old Campus NRHP Registration Form (1984)
  36. First Baptist Church of Painted Post NRHP Registration Form (1999)
  37. "Former Erwin Town Hall". Real NEX. RealNEX. Retrieved 25 May 2019. Former Erwin Town Hall was designed by Pierce & Bickford Architects. 3 story brick building with finished basement.
  38. North Main and West Water Commercial Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2016)


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