Purcell & Elmslie (P&E) was the most widely know iteration of a progressive American

architectural practice In the United States, an architectural firm or architecture firm is a business that employs one or more licensed architects and practices the profession of architecture; while in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and other countri ...

. P&E was the second most commissioned firm of the

Prairie School Prairie School is a late 19th- and early 20th-century architectural style, most common in the Midwestern United States. The style is usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in ...

, after

Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years. Wright played a key role in the architectural movements o ...

. The firm in all iterations was active from 1907 to 1921, with their most famous work being done between 1913 and 1921.

History

The firms consisted of three partnerships: Purcell and Feick (1907–10); Purcell, Feick, and Elmslie (1910–12), and Purcell and Elmslie (1913–21). Elmslie had joined the

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

-based firm in 1907, at the request of Purcell. The architects were commissioned for work in twenty-two states, participated in the competition for the National Parliament Buildings in

Canberra, Australia Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The c ...

, and prepared plans for a large institutional church, or Y.M.C.A., in

Hunan Hunan (, ; ) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the South Central China region. Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze watershed, it borders the province-level divisions of Hubei to the north, Jiangxi to ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. The two principals of the firm,

William Gray Purcell William Gray Purcell (July 2, 1880April 11, 1965) was a Prairie School architect in the Midwestern United States. He partnered with George Grant Elmslie, and briefly with George Feick. The firm of Purcell & Elmslie produced designs for buildings i ...

(1880–1965) and

George Grant Elmslie George Grant Elmslie (February 20, 1869 – April 23, 1952) was a Scottish-born American Prairie School architect whose work is mostly found in the Midwestern United States. He worked with Louis Sullivan and later with William Gray Purcell as a ...

(1869–1952) both eventually received Fellowships in the College of the

American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to su ...

. George Feick Jr. who was son of

George Feick George Feick (January 23, 1849 - November 11, 1932) was a German-American builder in Sandusky and Oberlin, Ohio. His works include the Wyoming State Capitol, multiple buildings at Oberlin College, and numerous office buildings, churches, schoo ...

, an Ohio contractor, was the original partner with Purcell. Purcell and Feick had been students together at

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...

. They rejoined to tour in Europe together during 1906-1907 and then came to

to open their partnership. The firm had offices in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis. A number of works by each of the partnerships are listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

Notable commissions

* Steven House (1909), Eau Claire, Wisconsin *

Dr. Ward Beebe House The Dr. Ward Beebe House, also known as the John Leuthold Residence, is a three-story stucco prairie house built by Dr. Ward and Bess Beebe and designed by Purcell and Elmslie in 1912. Purcell and Elmslie were prolific designers of prairie styl ...

(1912), Saint Paul, Minnesota * Josephine Crane Bradley summer residence (Bradley Bungalow) (1912) Woods Hole, Massachusetts * Edison Shop (1912) Chicago, Illinois * Merchants National Bank (1912), Winona, Minnesota * Edna S. Purcell House (1913), Minneapolis, Minnesota *

Woodbury County Courthouse The Woodbury County Courthouse is located at 620 Douglas Street in Sioux City, the county seat of Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is regarded as "one of the finest Prairie School buildings in the United States" and has been declared a Nati ...

(1918), Sioux City, Iowa

William L. Steele William LaBarthe Steele (May 2, 1875 – March 4, 1949) was an American architect from Chicago, Illinois. He is considered a principal member of the Prairie School Architectural Movement during the early 20th century. Career After graduating f ...

, Architect, Purcell & Elmslie, Associated Architects (George Grant Elmslie, designing architect) Works include (with attribution):

Works by Purcell & Feick

* Feick Building, built 1909, at 158-160 E. Market St. Sandusky, OH (Purcell & Feick), NRHP-listed * Steven House, built 1909, at 606 Second Ave.

Eau Claire, WI Eau Claire (; ) (French for "clear water") is a city mostly located in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, of which it is the county seat, and with a small portion in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. It had a population of 69,421 in 2020, making it the state' ...

(Purcell & Feick), NRHP-listed *

Stewart Memorial Presbyterian Church Stewart Memorial Presbyterian Church, now Redeemer Missionary Baptist Church, is a Prairie School church in the Lyndale neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Prairie School architecture was uncommon for use in churches. This ...

, built 1910, at 116 E. 32nd St. Minneapolis, MN (

Purcell & Feick Purcell & Elmslie (P&E) was the most widely know iteration of a progressive American architectural practice. P&E was the second most commissioned firm of the Prairie School, after Frank Lloyd Wright. The firm in all iterations was active from 1907 ...

), NRHP-listed

Works by Purcell, Feick & Elmslie

* A. B. C. Dodd House, built 1910, at 310 3rd Ave.

Charles City, IA Charles City is a city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Iowa. Charles City is a significant commercial and transportation center for the area. U.S. Routes 18 and 218, Iowa Highway 14, and the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railro ...

(

Purcell,Feick & Elmslie Purcell & Elmslie (P&E) was the most widely know iteration of a progressive American architectural practice. P&E was the second most commissioned firm of the Prairie School, after Frank Lloyd Wright. The firm in all iterations was active from 1907 ...

), NRHP-listed *Two or three works in the NRHP-listed

Bismarck Cathedral Area Historic District The Bismarck Cathedral Area Historic District, also known as The Hill, is a historic district that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). A first area was NRHP-listed in 1980. The original listing included 47 contribu ...

, roughly bounded by Hannifan and N 1st Sts., Aves. C and A West

Bismarck, ND Bismarck () is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the state's second-most populous city, after Fargo. The city's population was 73,622 in the 2020 census, while its metropolitan popula ...

(Purcell, Feick & Elmslie), NRHP-listed, specifically the

residences at 120 Avenue A West, at 610 Raymond Street, and at 402 Avenue B West. The Patrick E. Byrne House (120 Avenue A West) was built in 1912; the Timothy R. Atkinson House (402 Avenue B West) was built c.1910. and * Merchants National Bank, built in 1912, at 102 E. 3rd St.

Winona, MN Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the state of Minnesota. Located in bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf. The city is named after legendary figure Winona, who ...

(Purcell,Feick & Elmslie), NRHP-listed * Dr. Oscar Owre House, built 1912, at 2625 Newton Ave., S., Minneapolis, MN (Purcell,Feick & Elmslie), NRHP-listed * Merton S. Goodnow House, built 1913, at 446 S. Main St.

Hutchinson, MN Hutchinson is the largest city in McLeod County, Minnesota, United States. It lies along the South Fork of the Crow River. The population was 14,599 at the 2020 census. History The Hutchinson Family Singers (John, Asa, and Judson Hutchinson) ...

(Purcell,Feick & Elmslie), NRHP-listed * Charles and Grace Parker House, built 1913, at 4829 Colfax Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN (Purcell,Feick & Elmslie), NRHP-listed *

Dr. John H. Adair House The Ezra Abbott House is a historic house in Owatonna, Minnesota, United States. Built in 1913, it was designed by architects Purcell, Feick & Elmslie in Prairie School style patterned onto American Foursquare massing. The house was listed on ...

, built 1913, at 322 E. Vine St.

Owatonna, MN Owatonna () is a city in Steele County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 25,599 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Steele County. Owatonna is home to the Steele County Fairgrounds, which hosts the Steele County Free Fair i ...

(Purcell,Feick & Elmslie), NRHP-listed *Madison State Bank, Madison, Minnesota, built 1913, razed 1968

Works by Purcell & Elmslie

*One or more works in

College Hills Historic District The College Hills Historic District is a residential historic district in Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. It includes architect-designed homes by Purcell and Elmslie and other ar ...

, roughly bounded by Colombia Rd., Amherst Dr., Bowdoin Rd., Corporate Limit, University Bay, and Harvard Dr.

Shorewood Hills, WI Shorewood Hills is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. It was established in 1927. The population was 2,169 at the 2020 census. Entirely surrounded by the city of Madison and Lake Mendota, it is part of the Madison Metropolitan St ...

(Purcell and Elmslie), NRHP-listed *

Community House, First Congregational Church Community House, First Congregational Church is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It was built in the Prairie School architectural style in 1914. On July 18, 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places The National R ...

, 310 Broadway

(Purcell & Elmslie), NRHP-listed * Exchange State Bank, NW corner of Main and 1st Sts. Grand Meadow, MN (Purcell & Elmslie), NRHP-listed *

First National Bank (Rhinelander, Wisconsin) The First National Bank in Rhinelander, Wisconsin was built in 1911. It is a Sullivanesque building designed by architects Purcell & Elmslie. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Place ...

, 8 W. Davenport St.

Rhinelander, WI Rhinelander is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, Wisconsin, Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,285 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. History The area that eventually became the city of Rhine ...

(Purcell & Elmslie), NRHP-listed * First National Bank of Adams, 322 Main St. Adams, MN (Purcell & Elmslie), NRHP-listed * First State Bank of LeRoy, Main St. and Broadway LeRoy, MN (Purcell & Elmslie), NRHP-listed * Dr. J. W. S. Gallagher House, 451 W. Broadway St.

(Purcell & Elmslie), NRHP-listed * Jump River Town Hall, S of WI 73 Jump River, WI (Purcell & Elmslie), NRHP-listed *

Kasson Municipal Building The Kasson Municipal Building, also known as Old City Hall, is a historic building located on Main Street in Kasson, Minnesota, United States. Built in 1917, it was designed by Purcell & Elmslie in the Prairie School architecture, Prairie School s ...

, 12 W. Main Kasson, MN (Purcell & Elmslie), NRHP-listed * Mrs. Richard Polson House, N of Spooner Spooner, WI (Purcell & Elmslie), NRHP-listed *

William Gray Purcell House The Edna S. Purcell house (now known as the Purcell–Cutts House) was designed by the firm of Purcell, Feick and Elmslie for architect William Purcell and his family in 1913. It is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The dwelling is a notable ...

, 2328 Lake Pl. Minneapolis, MN (Purcell & Elmslie), NRHP-listed * Windego Park Auditorium/Open Air Theater, between S. Ferry St. and Rum River

Anoka, MN Anoka ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 17,142 at the 2010 census. Anoka is the "Halloween Capital of the World" because it hosted one of the first Halloween parades in 1920. It c ...

(Purcell & Elmslie), NRHP-listed *

, 7th and Douglas Sts.

Sioux City, IA Sioux City () is a city in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 in the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Iowa. The bulk of the city is in Woodbury County, ...

(Purcell & Elmslie), NRHP-listed

Photo gallery

File:Stewart Mem Church 2.jpg,

; Minneapolis, Minnesota 1910, Purcell & Feick File:Oscar Owre.jpg, Oscar Owre House; Minneapolis, Minnesota 1911 File:Merchants National Bank Winona.jpg,

Merchants National Bank (Winona, Minnesota) Merchants National Bank is a bank building in Winona, Minnesota, United States, designed in the Prairie School architectural style. It was built in 1912 and features elaborate terracotta and stained-glass ornamentation. It was listed on the Nat ...

, 1912 by

Purcell and Elmslie Purcell & Elmslie (P&E) was the most widely know iteration of a progressive American architectural practice. P&E was the second most commissioned firm of the Prairie School, after Frank Lloyd Wright. The firm in all iterations was active from 1907 ...

File:Parker House 1.jpg, Parker House; Minneapolis, Minnesota 1912-13 File:Purcell and Elmslie Purcell-Cutts House MIA 9092.jpg, Edna S. Purcell House; Minneapolis, Minnesota 1913 by

File:Hoyt House 1.jpg, E.S. Hoyt House; Red Wing, Minnesota 1913 File:McKinley Town Hall Jump River.jpg, McKinley Town Hall; Jump River, Wisconsin 1915 File:Woodbury-county-courthouse.jpg,

; Sioux City, Iowa 1916-18; with associated architect

File:Exchange State Bank.jpg, Exchange State Bank in

Grand Meadow, Minnesota Grand Meadow is a city in Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The city is on the boundary between Grand Meadow Township and Frankford Township, and it is politically independent of both townships. The population was 1,139 at the 2010 censu ...

References

External links

Purcell and Elmslie
at Organica {{DEFAULTSORT:Purcell and Elmslie Architecture firms of the United States Design companies established in 1907 Prairie School architecture * Fellows of the American Institute of Architects Defunct architecture firms based in Minnesota Defunct architecture firms based in Pennsylvania Defunct architecture firms based in Illinois Design companies disestablished in 1921 1907 establishments in Minnesota 1921 disestablishments in Minnesota