Truman I. Lacey

Truman I. Lacey (1834–1914) was an American architect in practice in Binghamton, New York from 1872 until 1914.

Truman I. Lacey
Born(1834-01-11)January 11, 1834
DiedNovember 25, 1914(1914-11-25) (aged 80)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationArchitect
The Security Mutual Life Insurance Company Building in Binghamton, completed in 1905.

Life and career

Truman Isaac Lacey was born January 11, 1834, in Braintrim Township, Pennsylvania, to David Lacey, a carpenter, and Ruth (Lake) Lacey.[1][2] Lacey was a descendant of Isaac Lacey, a Connecticut native who settled in Pennsylvania in the 1790s. In 1856 Lacey moved with his parents and siblings to Auburn Township, Susquehanna County,[1] and in 1857 upon his marriage he moved to Wyalusing. As a young man, he worked variously as a carpenter and cabinetmaker. In 1871, he was declared bankrupt.[3] In 1872 Lacey moved the family to Binghamton, where he established himself as an architect. At the time, the only other architect in the area was Isaac G. Perry.

Lacey was a private practitioner until 1888, when he formed a partnership with his eldest son, B. Taylor Lacey, in the new firm of T. I. Lacey & Son. In 1889 Lacey's younger son, Arthur T. Lacey, also began working in his office. In 1892, they opened a branch office at Scranton, under the management of B. Taylor. In 1902 Lacey reorganized the partnership, with B. Taylor as his partner for work done in the Scranton office, and Arthur T. as partner for that in Binghamton. Circa 1908 B. Taylor left to practice in Scranton on his own account. Lacey and his younger son practiced together until his death in 1914. Arthur T. Lacey and his sister, Genevieve Lacey, continued the firm under its original name.[4] After Genevieve retired, Arthur T. Lacey admitted his own sons as partners beginning in 1928, and practiced until his own death in 1959. His two sons continued the firm until 1976.

Lacey joined the Western Association of Architects in 1888, which was merged with the American Institute of Architects in 1889, but allowed his fellowship to lapse in 1895.[5]

Personal life

Lacey was married twice.[1] In 1857 he married Juliette Gaylord of Wyalusing. She died in 1858.[6] Later the same year he married Clarissa Pamela Burch of Auburn.[2] They had a total of seven children, all born in Wyalusing:

  • Effie Amelia Lacey (1860–1879)[2]
  • Freddie Lacey (1861–1862)[2]
  • Genevieve Lacey (1862–1944)[2]
  • Anna Juliette Lacey (1864–1920)[2]
  • Bascom Taylor Lacey (1866–1958)[2][7]
  • Truman Powell Lacey (1868–1869)[2]
  • Arthur Truman Lacey (1870–1959)[2]

Prior to his bankruptcy, Lacey had become fairly prosperous in Wyalusing. In 1869, he built a substantial home for his family at 129 Church Street in the borough. The house incorporates elements of the Italianate and Carpenter Gothic styles and is included in the Wyalusing Borough Historic District. After moving to Binghamton, he built a new house at 114 Park Avenue in the Southside neighborhood of Binghamton. Built probably in the 1870s, the house features elaborate Stick style detail.

Mrs. Lacey died December 18, 1909, in Binghamton, followed by her husband on November 25, 1914, at the age of 80.[2]

Legacy

At least nine buildings designed by Lacey have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works

Notes

  1. A contributing property to the Wyalusing Borough Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
  2. A contributing property to the Johnson City Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
  3. A contributing property to the Court Street Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

References

  1. "Alonzo F. Lacey" in Commemorative Biographical Record of Northeastern Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Company, 1900): 448–449.
  2. Edwin Welch Burch, A Burch Book (Council Bluffs: Edwin W. Burch, 1925): 45–46.
  3. Bradford Reporter, April 13, 1871.
  4. "Arthur Truman Lacey" in Binghamton and Broome County, New York: A History 3, ed. William Foote Seward (New York and Chicago: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1924): 204.
  5. Proceedings of the Thirty-sixth Annual Convention of the American Institute of Architects (Washington: American Institute of Architects, 1903): 174.
  6. D. Craft, Historical Discourse of the Wyalusing Presbyterian Church (Wyalusing: Wyalusing Presbyterian Church, 1870)
  7. Pocono Record, June 16, 1958, 10.
  8. Vestal Central School NRHP Registration Form (2010)
  9. "Tabernacle United Methodist Church - Binghamton, NY - This Old Church on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com.
  10. Your Home Library NRHP Registration Form (2005)
  11. First Baptist Society of Bath NRHP Registration Form (2013)
  12. Court Street Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1984)
  13. R. M. Stocker, History of the First Presbyterian Society of Honesdale (Honesdale: Herald Press Association, 1906)
  14. Monroe County Courthouse NRHP Registration Form (1979)
  15. Carbondale City Hall and Courthouse NRHP Registration Form (1983)
  16. Drovers Inn and Round Family Residence NRHP Registration Form (2010)
  17. "In Other Cities," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 71, no. 1828 (March 28, 1903): 601.
  18. Newark Valley Municipal Building and Tappan-Spaulding Memorial Library NRHP Registration Form (2006)
  19. Saints Cyril and Methodius Slovak Roman Catholic School NRHP Registration Form (2007)
  20. Nichols High School NRHP Registration Form (1996)
  21. Johnson City Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2011)
  22. Marlborough Building NRHP Registration Form (2008)
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