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Langsam, Walter
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Cincinnait, Ohio
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- Slide presentation given by Walter E. Langsam on Desjardins & Hayward, a firm active in the Cincinnati, Ohio area in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Desjardins, S. (Samuel) E. ("Dizzy") (Forestville, Mich., 1856-1916) Highly individual, even eccentric architect; conceivably trained at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts (but not listed by Chafee) or possibly in an atelier as a Frenchman. Practiced on own 1882-1892, 1905, and 1910; with A.W. Hayward, 1893-1903 and 1913-1916; with John G. Drainie, 1906; with John F. Sheblessy, 1907-1909; with Rowland G. Bevis, 1911-1912. Desjardins, buttressed by his various partners and staff, was one of the most creative of Cincinnati’s architects for 30 years, with a fanciful flair in massing, outline, and decoration, often combining elements from different historic sources in a remarkably free way. It was Desjardins’ Cincinnati City Hall competition project, for instance –rather than the more conventional Richardsonian Romanesque design of the winning competitor, Samuel Hannaford & Sons– that was published in the influential American Architect & Building News (9/10/1887). Among Desjardins' and his firm's most important works are the 7th Presbyterian Church at 1721 Madison Rd., SEC Cleinview Ave., E. Walnut Hills, which burnt several years ago (the striking tower remains above the modern sanctuary); as well as churches of the Christian denomination in Paris, Winchester, and Cynthiana, Ky. A 1904 account mentions a distillery in Old Mexico, a summer cottage in Nova Scotia, and a church in Alaska. The Greek Revival Bell House in Bell Court in Lexington, Ky., was lavishly remodeled by Desjardins after a fire in the 1880s, and is now open to the public. It was suburban residences, however, that probably gave Desjardins' picturesque talent the freest rein. A most valuable source, The Autograph Book of Suburban Houses, prepared by Desjardins & Hayward in 1895, has just been discovered. It appears to consist of about 175 sheets of exquisite India-ink original drawings (hence the name "Autograph Book") of about 75 houses, most in the Cincinnati area (but not including the Ravogli House). For each residence, there is a perspective of the exterior, in great detail and framed by convincing foliage; a number of houses also have first and second floor plans, and a very few also have interior views of the entrance-stair-halls. These designs vary from Richardsonian Romanesque, Chateauesque, "Queen Anne" and Shingle Style, to early Colonial Revival, but usually have quaint features of their own. The interior plans also reveal some fantastic spatial affects, particularly in the treatment of staircases and polygonal rooms. Many of these houses survive, although some are in deteriorated condition in no-longer-fashionable neighborhoods. Desjardins & Hayward exhibited residences in Cincinnati (as part of the AIA Circuit Drawings show) at the 1st exhibit sponsored by the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Institute of Architects held at the Cincinnati Art Museum in 1901; designs for a university and a church at the 2nd CAIA/CA (1902); and a court house, competition design for the Cincinnati Law school, et al., at the 3rd CAIA/CAM (1903). Desjardins & Sheblessy, interestingly, exhibited also at the 1st CAIA/CAM (1901; when J.F. Sheblessy was probably still located in Louisville); and various buildings at the 4th CAIA/CAM (1908). An article on "The Genius of Michael Angelo [sic]" by Desjardins, originally given before the Cincinnati Chapter of the AIA on May 20, 1902, was published in The American Architect, LXXVI, 1382 (June 21, 1902), 91-93. Obituary, Western Architect & Builder, XXIV, 7 (12/1916); Desjardins & Hayward advertisement, "A Tour of Fourth Street, Cincinnati" (ca. 1892); numerous listings for individual buildings in AA&BN, IA, AR, and WA&B; Nuxhall, SGC, 23, Lot 2.
- Creator/Author:
- Langsam, Walter
- Submitter:
- Walter Langsam
- Date Uploaded:
- 10/23/2024
- Date Modified:
- 10/31/2024
- License:
- Public Domain Mark 1.0