Charles F. Lembke (March 4, 1865 – July 18, 1923) was an American architect and contractor who was prominent in Valparaiso, Indiana. Lembke built many downtown Valparaiso-area buildings, such as the

Memorial Opera House The Porter County Memorial Hall, also known as Memorial Opera House, is an historic Grand Army of the Republic memorial hall located in Valparaiso, Indiana. It was the meeting place of Chaplain Brown GAR Post No. 106, one of 592 GAR posts in India ...

(National Register, 1984), Carnegie public Library, Hotel Lembke, and several local schools.National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form; US Dept of the Interior, National Park Service; Dr. David J. Loring Residence and Clinic; Bertha Stalbaum & Alice Vietzke; Valparaiso Woman's Club; Valparaiso, Indiana, June 11, 1984 Lembke was born to German immigrants Christian Lembke and Caroline Nuppnau Lembke. He completed his education in his hometown of Valparaiso, then went on to Valparaiso University, completing his education in the School of Architecture at the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the b ...

. He returned to Valparaiso and formed the Charles Lembke company with his two brothers, William and Henry. Because state law would not allow an architect to build the structure he designed, Charles managed the design business and Henry managed the construction business; they built much of what they designed.''Charles Lembke Designed Many Schools, University Buildings''; Karin Anderson; Vidette Messenger, Dec 7, 1966 Charles grandson stated in 1966 that the family felt that Charles best work as DeMotte Hall on the campus of Valparaiso University. Constructed in 1915 as the Agriculture and Domestic Science Building, the building served the university after 1959 as the Valparaiso School of Law.

Awards

At the

Paris Exposition of 1900 The Exposition Universelle of 1900, better known in English as the 1900 Paris Exposition, was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from 14 April to 12 November 1900, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate developmen ...

, the French Society of Architects awarded Charles Lembke First Place and the Gold medal for the best two-room school house made of brick.Valparaiso, A Pictorial History; George E. Neeley; G. Bradley Publishing; St. Louis, Missouri; 1989; pg 47, 140, 186-87 This was the Center Township District No. 3 School.

Projects

Charles Lembke contributed a significant number of structures to Valparaiso and Porter County. He is credited with 28 residences, 18 schools, and 27 business. between 1900 and 1923.Porter County Interim Report, Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory; Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana & Indiana Department of Natural Resources; Indianapolis, Indiana; July 1991 * 1871, Porter County Jail, S. Washington, builder * 1881, Telephone Building, architect * 1890, Lembke House, 304 Morgan St., Valparaiso * 1890, Vidette Messenger Building, 163-167 W. Lincolnway, architect * 1891, Christian Hospital, 108 E. Jefferson St., architect, razed ca 1978Images of America, Valparaiso,, Looking Back, Moving Forward; Lanette Mullins; Arcadia Publishing; Chicago, IL, 2002; pg 18 * 1893,

Memorial Hall A memorial hall is a hall built to commemorate an individual or group; most commonly those who have died in war. Most are intended for public use and are sometimes described as ''utilitarian memorials''. History of the Memorial Hall In the aft ...

, 104 E. Indiana, architect * 1895, Center Township District No. 1 School, aka Flint Lake School, SR 49 at 500 N., architect, razed 2000 * 1896, Jackson Township District No. 5 School, 300 E, architect * 1898, Columbia School, 500 E. Indiana, architect, razed 1965 * 1899, Gardner School, W. Jefferson St, builder * ca. 1900; Center Township District No. 3 School, architect, * 1900. Science Building (Baldwin Hall), Valparaiso University, College Place; razed 1996 Science Hall and Medical Building, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana; 1913; Postcard; Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Auburn Post Card Manufacturing Company; Postmark: April 29, 1913, Cincinnati, Ohio; Collection: Steven R. Shook * 1900/12, J. Lowenstines and Sons, 57-63 N Franklin, architect, burned ca. 1992 * 1904, Valparaiso Central School, 305 N. Franklin St., architect, burned 1938 * 1905, Porter County Home, south S.R. 2 * 1905, Steve L. Finney House/Joseph Urschel House, 202 N. Michigan, architect * 1906, Dr. David J. Loring Residence and Clinic, 102 N. Washington St, architect * 1906-07, Biology and Medical Building, Valparaiso University, College Place, architect, razed ca 1995 * 1907, Lembke Hall, Valparaiso University, S. College St. (demolished 1996) * 1909, Altruria Hall, Valparaiso University, College at Brown St, razed 1985 * ca 1910; Music Hall (Kinsey Hall), Valparaiso University, College St., architect, burned 1970 * 1912-13, Charles Thune House, 357 W. Jefferson St, builder * 1914, Valparaiso Carnegie Library, 107 E. Jefferson St., builder. demolished 1995 * 1915, ca; Agriculture and Domestic Science Building, Valparaiso University, College at Freeman, architect; In 1959, it was renamed DeMotte Hall * 1923, Hotel Lembke, 23 N. Lafayette St. at Jefferson, builder, razed 1988 * Auto Dealership, 212-216 E. Lincolnway, architect, first poured concrete structure in Valparaiso. * Memorial Theater, W. Lincolnway, architect,''Chas. Lembke, Active Valparaiso Business man, Died Today'', Evening – Messenger Newspaper; Valparaiso, Indiana; July 18, 1923 * Premier Theater, N. Franklin, architect * Specht-Finney Building, Main (Lincolnway) at Franklin, architect * St. Clair School, Union Township, west of Cooks Corner Elementary School., architect, razed ca 1943 * Bogarte Building, Bookstore, at Valparaiso University.

Patents

Charles Lambke was awarded three patents on internal combustion engines.U.S. Patent Office Record files. Accessed March 5, 2014

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lembke, Charles F. 19th-century American architects 1923 deaths 1865 births Valparaiso University alumni People from Valparaiso, Indiana American people of German descent