Frederic Joseph DeLongchamps (June 2, 1882 – February 11, 1969) was an American architect. He was one of Nevada's most prolific architects, yet is notable for entering the architectural profession with no extensive formal training. He has also been known as Frederick J. DeLongchamps, and was described by the latter name in an extensive review of the historic importance of his works which led to many of them being listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in the 1980s.

Life

Early life and education

Born Frederic Joseph DeLonchamps in Reno, Nevada on January 2, 1882, he was raised in Washoe County, graduating from Reno High School in 1900, then the University of Nevada in 1904 with a degree in mining engineering.

Career

DeLongchamps was employed as a mining engineer and draftsman in Inyo County, California before he embarked on a career in architecture. He spent a short time in San Francisco where he may have apprenticed, but he returned to Nevada in 1907 and formed a partnership with Ira W. Tesch. From 1909 to 1938, DeLongchamps maintained his own firm and became one of Nevada's most prolific architects. He designed both private and public buildings including nine county

courthouse A courthouse or court house is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English-spe ...

s in Nevada and California. He was awarded the contract to design the Nevada Buildings for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915), winning a silver medal for his work. DeLongchamps was appointed Nevada State Architect in 1919 and was the only person to hold the position, which was abolished in 1926. During this time, he designed many state buildings. In 1939,

George L. F. O'Brien George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...

joined DeLongchamps in partnership in Reno, and

Hewitt Wells Hewitt C. Wells (1915 - October 2, 1989) was an American architect. He designed buildings in San Francisco, California and Nevada, including the National Register of Historic Places-listed Washoe County Library in Reno. Life Wells was born in 19 ...

added his name to the association in 1962. The architectural firm of DeLongchamps, O'Brien and Wells continued to design buildings, mainly in the Reno area, into the 1960s.

Legacy

DeLongchamps died in Reno, Nevada on February 11, 1969. He was survived by his son, Galen (08 Aug 1916-22 Jul 2001). He was the father-in-law of the noted poet and artist Joanne de Longchamps (that is how she spelled the name), who married DeLongchamps's adopted son Galen. Russell Mills is one who worked as a draftsman for DeLongchamps and went on to have a career as an independent architect.

Works

Many of DeLongchamps' works have been listed on the National Register. His works include: *

Alpine County Courthouse Alpine County Courthouse is a building built in 1928 in Markleeville, California. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The courthouse was constructed of a light cream colored massive rhyolite tuff which was quarrie ...

, 14777 CA 89,

Markleeville, CA Markleeville (formerly, Markleville) is a census-designated place (CDP) and the county seat of Alpine County, California, United States. The population was 210 at the 2010 census, up from 197 at the 2000 census. History Jacob J. Marklee founded ...

, NRHP-listed *

Carson City Public Buildings The Carson City Public Buildings, on Carson St. in Carson City, Nevada is a set of historic buildings dating back to 1920. There are three contributing buildings. The set was listed on the National Register of Historic Places The National ...

, Carson St.,

Carson City, NV Carson City is an Independent city (United States), independent city and the capital of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 58,639, making it the List of cities in Nevada, sixth largest ...

, NRHP-listed * Douglas County Courthouse, 1616 Eighth St., Minden, NV, NRHP-listed * Douglas County High School, 1477 US 395,

Gardnerville, NV Gardnerville is an unincorporated town in Douglas County, Nevada, adjacent to the county seat of Minden. The population was 6,211 at the time of th2020 Census U.S. Route 395 runs through the center of Gardnerville. State Route 207, known as ...

, NRHP-listed *

Douglass-Frey Ranch The Douglass-Frey Ranch in Churchill County, Nevada was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. The main feature of the property is the Douglass Mansion, built during 1918–1920, which is a rare Prairie School work by archit ...

NRHP 15000796, Churchill County, Nevada *

Fallon City Hall The Fallon City Hall, at 55 E. Williams Ave. in Fallon, Nevada, was built between 1930 and 1931. It was designed by architect Frederick DeLongchamps in Mission/Spanish Revival style. It is a 14,000 square foot one-story building built over a ...

, 55 E. Williams Ave.,

Fallon, NV Fallon is a city in Churchill County in the U.S. state of Nevada. The population was 9,327 at time of the 2020 census. Fallon is the county seat of Churchill County and is located in the Lahontan Valley. History The community was first populat ...

, NRHP-listed * Farmers Bank of Carson Valley, 1597 Esmeralda Ave., Minden, NV, NRHP-listed *

Joseph Giraud House The Joseph Giraud House, at 442 Flint St. in Reno, Nevada, United States, is a historic house that was designed by prominent Nevada architect Frederick DeLongchamps Frederic Joseph DeLongchamps (June 2, 1882 – February 11, 1969) was an Am ...

, 442 Flint St., Reno, NV, NRHP-listed *

Humboldt County Courthouse (Nevada) The Humboldt County Courthouse is a courthouse in Winnemucca, Nevada, the county seat of Humboldt County, Nevada, which was completed in 1921. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 1983. It was designed in Cl ...

, NRHP-listed *

I.O.O.F. Building, Mason Valley The I.O.O.F. Building, Mason Valley, located at 1 S. Main St. in Yerington, Nevada, is a building designed by prominent Nevada architect Frederick J. DeLongchamps that was built in 1913–14. It was listed on the National Register of Historic ...

, 1 S. Main St., Yerington, NV, NRHP-listed * Immaculate Conception Church, 590 Pyramid Way,

Sparks, NV Sparks is a city in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. It was founded in 1904, incorporated on March 15, 1905, and is located just east of Reno. The 2020 U.S. Census counted 108,445 residents in the city. It is the fifth most populous city in ...

, NRHP-listed * Lyon County Courthouse, 31 S. Main St., Yerington, NV, NRHP-listed *

MacKay School of Mines Building The Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering (formerly Mackay School of Mines) is a specialized school within the University of Nevada, Reno. It is named after John Mackay, father of Clarence Mackay. Programs and facilities Part of the Co ...

, University of Nevada, Reno campus, Reno, NV, NRHP-listed *

Manzanita Hall The Harker School is a private, non-profit school located in San Jose, California. Founded in 1893 as Manzanita Hall, Harker now has three campuses: Bucknall, Union, and Saratoga, named after the streets on which they lie. About The Bucknall ca ...

, University of Nevada, Reno campus, Reno, NV.University of Nevada, Reno. Facilities Services. Campus Architectural Drawings Collection; AC 0645. University Archives, University Libraries; University of Nevada, Reno. * McCarthy-Platt House, 1000 Plumas St., Reno, NV, NRHP-listed * Minden Butter Manufacturing Company, 1617 Water St., Minden, NV, NRHP-listed *

Minden Inn The Minden Inn is a historic hotel building located at 1594 Esmeralda Avenue in Minden, Nevada. Built from 1912 to 1916, the building was designed by prominent Nevada architect Frederic Joseph DeLongchamps Frederic Joseph DeLongchamps (June 2, ...

, 1594 Esmeralda Ave., Minden, NV, NRHP-listed *

Minden Wool Warehouse The Minden Wool Warehouse is a historic building at 1615 Railroad Avenue in Minden, Nevada. Built in 1915, it was designed by prominent Nevada architect Frederic Joseph DeLongchamps for Minden founder H. F. Dangberg, as the headquarters of the D ...

, 1615 Railroad Ave., Minden, NV, NRHP-listed *

Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Passenger Station The Nevada–California–Oregon Railway Passenger Station (also known as the Lakeview Depot) is a historic train station in Lakeview, Oregon, United States. It was built in 1912 by contractor I. A. Underwood from plans by architect Frederic D ...

, 1400 Center St. Lakeview, OR, NRHP-listed * Nevada State Capitol (legislative wings only) * Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad Depot, Reno, Nevada *

Mary Lee Nichols School The Mary Lee Nichols School, located at 400-406 Pyramid Way in Sparks, Nevada, was built in 1917 and expanded in 1920 and 1927. It was designed by architect Frederick DeLongchamps Frederic Joseph DeLongchamps (June 2, 1882 – February 11, 19 ...

, 400-406 Pyramid Way,

, NRHP-listed *

Oats Park Grammar School The Oats Park Grammar School, at 167 E. Park St. in Fallon, Nevada, is a historic school built in 1914. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal g ...

, 167 E. Park St.,

, NRHP-listed *

Pershing County Courthouse The Pershing County Courthouse in Lovelock, Nevada is a Classical Revival building built in 1920–21. The courthouse's plan is hexagonal with a circular dome over the central circular courtroom. The building was designed by Frederic Joseph DeLong ...

, 400 Main St.,

Lovelock, NV Lovelock is the county seat of Pershing County, Nevada, United States, in which it is the only incorporated city. It is the namesake of a nearby medium-security men's prison and a Cold War-era gunnery range. Formerly a stop for settlers on the ...

, NRHP-listed *

Reno National Bank-First Interstate Bank The Reno National Bank-First Interstate Bank, at 204 N. Virginia St. in Reno, Nevada, is a Classical Revival building that was built in 1915. History It was designed by architect Frederick J. DeLongchamps. (excerpt from TR submission?) and ...

, 204 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV, NRHP-listed * Riverside Hotel, 17 S. Virginia St., Reno, NV, NRHP-listed *

US Post Office-Reno Main The former Reno Main Post Office, located at 50 S. Virginia St. in Reno, Nevada, was built in 1933. The post office was designed by noted Nevada architect Frederic J. DeLongchamps and was built by the MacDonald Engineering Co., of Chicago, at c ...

, 50 S. Virginia St., Reno, NV, NRHP-listed * Vachina Apartments-California Apartments, 45 California Ave., Reno, NV, NRHP-listed * Washoe County Courthouse, 117 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV, NRHP-listed *

Washoe County Library-Sparks Branch The Washoe County Library-Sparks Branch, at a prominent corner location at 814 Victorian St. in Sparks, Nevada, is a historic building that was designed by Nevada architect Frederick J. DeLongchamps and was built in 1931. Also known as Sparks Jus ...

, 814 Victorian St.

, NRHP-listed * Webster School * Whittell Estate, 5000 NV 28 Incline Village, NV, NRHP-listed

Awards

*Silver medal, Panama Pacific International Exposition, 1915, Nevada Buildings *Distinguished Service Award, University of Nevada, Reno, 1966

References

A Guide to the Frederic J. Delongchamps Architectural Drawings And Papers Collection
, University of Nevada, Reno ;Notes

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Delongchamps, Frederic Joseph 1882 births 1969 deaths People from Reno, Nevada Architects from Nevada Reno High School alumni 20th-century American architects