User:JPRiley/Harpster

Harpster & Bliss was an American architectural firm, active in Akron, Ohio from 1907 until 1925. It was the partnership of architects Milton E. Harpster (1871-1949) and J. Frederick Bliss (1874-1925).

John Frederick Bliss (1874–1925) was born in Baden. In 1889 his family moved to Akron and in 1893 he was apprenticed to the architectural firm of Weary & Kramer. George W. Kramer withdrew from the firm in 1894 and Bliss eventually rose to be Weary's chief assistant, being in charge of the office in later years. In 1903 he withdrew to form the firm of Bunts & Bliss with Edward H. Bunts.^[1][2]

Milton Eugene Harpster (1871–1950) was born on a farm near Findlay, Ohio. He was educated in the district schools and at the Findlay College preparatory school before going on to Cornell University. He graduated in 1896 with a BS in architecture. He was awarded a traveling fellowship which allowed him to travel and study in Italy and elsewhere, after which he returned to Cornell and earned a MS in architecture in 1897. After working for architects in Cincinnati he returned to Findlay in 1900 and formed the partnership of Kramer & Harpster with local architect W. L. Kramer. In 1904 he moved to Akron and took over the practice of Weary, who was retiring.^[1][3] In February 1907 Bunts died, and in March Bliss and Harpster combined their practices to form Harpster & Bliss.^[4]

Their work was the feature of the April 1909 issue of The Ohio Architect and Builder, a regional trade journal. The journal's editors stated that their work "cleary demonstrates that the city so widely known for its progressiveness in the manufacturing line, appreciates fully the value of artistic residences and buildings."^[1] Weary had been the leading architect in Akron and the firm maintained that reputation through at least Bliss' death in 1925.^[2]

After Bliss' death Harpster continued the firm under the name Harpster & Billman with Frank W. Billman (1882–1940). Billman had joined the Weary office in 1903 and, with the exception of an architectural education at the University of Pennsylvania, had been employed by the firm since that time. Billman's declining health forced his retirement in 1934; he died six years later.^[5][6] Harpster practiced independently until his own death in 1950.^[7]

Bliss was identified at the time as responsible for the firm's residential projects and so designed the mansion at Anna–Dean Farm (1910, demolished) for O. C. Barber and Harbel Manor (1912, demolished) for Harvey S. Firestone.^[2]

College football player and coach Howard Harpster was Harpster's son.^[7]

• 1905 First Presbyterian Church (former), Akron, Ohio^[2][8]
  • Designed by Bunts & Bliss.
• 1910 Anna–Dean Farm, Barberton, Ohio^[7][2]
  • The farm and estate of O. C. Barber.
• 1911 South High School, Akron, Ohio^[7]
  • Demolished.
• 1912 First United Methodist Church, Akron, Ohio^[7]
  • Burned in 1994.
• 1912 Harbel Manor, Akron, Ohio^[2]
  • The home of Harvey S. Firestone. Demolished.
• 1914 West High School (former), Akron, Ohio^[7]
• 1918 Akron Armory, Akron, Ohio^[7]
  • Demolished.
• 1919 University Club (former), Akron, Ohio^[9]
  • After the club disbanded in 1987 the building was used by the University of Akron, which renamed it the Paul E. Martin Center. NRHP-listed.
• 1924 Summit County Courthouse annex, Akron, Ohio^[7][10]
  • Originally completed in 1908 to a design by J. Milton Dyer. NRHP-listed.

Harpster & Bliss were the most prominent architects in Akron during their partnership. Their best-known work is the Anna–Dean Farm, a model farm begun in 1909 for O. C. Barber. Though most of the buildings including the mansion have been demolished, five buildings on the property have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. Three other buildings in Akron have also been listed, though one has been demolished. Other works contribute to listed historic districts.

• House for Louis P. Dettling,^[a] 134 Oakdale Ave, Akron, Ohio (1907)^[11]
• Christ Church UCC, 301 N Main St, Orrville, Ohio (1908)^[1]
• House for J. Nobil,^[a] 82 Oakdale Ave, Akron, Ohio (1908)^[11]
• House for J. V. Swartz,^[a] 397 Woodland Ave, Akron, Ohio (1908)^[11]
• Oak Street School, 209 W Oak St, Orrville, Ohio (1908, demolished 2008)^[1]
• "Anna–Dean Farm" for O. C. Barber,^[b] 5th St SE, Barberton, Ohio (1909-10, partially extant)^[12]
• House,^[a] 163 Oakdale Ave, Akron, Ohio (1910)^[11]
• Nantucket Building,^[c] 17-23 S Main St, Akron, Ohio (1910)^[13]
• East Market Street Church of Christ, 864 E Market St, Akron, Ohio (1912, NRHP 1989)^[14]
• House,^[a] 393 Woodlawn Ave, Akron, Ohio (1912)^[11]
• House for Frank H. Mason, 615 Lathan Ln, New Franklin, Ohio (1913-14, NRHP 1995, demolished)^[15]
• Bowen School (former),^[c] 70 N Broadway St, Akron, Ohio (1916)^[13]
• House,^[a] 407 Woodland Ave, Akron, Ohio (1918)^[11]
• Masonic Temple,^[c] 103 S High St, Akron, Ohio (1917)^[13]
• House for Byron R. Barder, 1041 W Market St, Akron, Ohio (1919, NRHP 1987)^[16]
• Hazelwood School (former), 127 Hazelwood Ave, Barberton, Ohio (1920)
• Summit County Courthouse Annex, 209 S High St, Akron, Ohio (1922, NRHP 1974)^[17]
• Lakemore School, 1584 Wilson St, Lakemore, Ohio (1924)^[18]
• Masonic Temple,^[c] 107 5th St NW, Barberton, Ohio (1925)^[19]

• Portage Path School, 55 S Portage Path, Akron, Ohio (1907-08, demolished)^[20]