Warren R. Briggs

Warren R. Briggs (1850–1933) was an American architect who worked in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Biography

Briggs was born 6 June 1850, in Malden, Massachusetts. He attended Harvard University and worked for Boston architects Cummings & Sears. In 1872 he won a scholarship enabling him to attend the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris for two years. He studied there in the atelier of Louis-Jules André, who had also taught RichardsonAmerican Architect and Building News 16 Feb. 1884: 75. Upon his return in 1874 he secured a position with the noted Boston firm of Peabody & Stearns. In 1876 he began to work for unidentified Bridgeport architect, possibly George Palliser, whose work Briggs' early designs resemble. In 1877 he established an independent practice.American Architect and Building News 26 May 1877: 164. In 1878 he submitted designs in the competition for the new Indiana State House in Indianapolis, which were not accepted.Beardsley, Tom. "Warren Richard Briggs, Architect Extraordinaire". Willimantic (CT) Chronicle 9 Nov. 1996.

In 1892, Briggs submitted a design for the Connecticut state building at the 1893 Columbian Exposition due to be held in Chicago the following year. The Commissioners responsible for the representation of Connecticut at the Exposition selected his submitted design "for a state building to cost around $10,000"."Connecticut at The Columbian Exposition" Press of the Case, Lockwood and Brainard Company, Hartford, CONN, 1898 The building was erected at the Exposition grounds in Chicago by the end of 1892 and by the culmination of the Exposition it had seen thousands of visitors pass through its doors and received favourable reviews lauding its "thoroughly homelike structure" "The Book of The Fair" Bancroft, Hurbert Howe, Chicago, 1893

He worked alone until 1914, when he re-established his firm as Briggs & Caldwell, with Edward B. Caldwell, Jr. This firm lasted until 1916 when Caldwell established his own practice, and Briggs returned to his. Briggs has no known works after 1919 or so, possibly retiring after this.American Contractor 6 Dec. 1919: 55. He later moved permanently to the town of Stratford, Connecticut, where he died 30 May 1933, at the age of 82. Many of the Briggs & Caldwell-era buildings had Caldwell as primary designer.Engineering and Contracting 23 June 1915: 33. He became well known as an architect of civic structures, and authored several books on school architecture, most prominent of which was Modern American School Buildings, published in 1899 and reissued in 1909. This work combined new information with that which Briggs had previously published, in book or article form. It was also liberally illustrated with designs by Briggs, both built and not built.Briggs, Warren R. Modern American School Buildings. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1899.

Brigg was a baseball devotee, and played at Harvard while a student there. In 1874, immediately prior to his return to the United States, he organized the first baseball game in England. He is also believed to have assisted in the invention of the catcher's mask.Morris, Peter. A Game of Inches: The Stories Behind the Innovations that Shaped Baseball. Chicago: Ivan I. Dee, 2010.

Architectural works

Stamford Savings Bank "The Old Red Bank", Stamford, CT"The Feeling is Mutul" Yates, Neal E. The Feeling Is Mutual. New Hartford, CT: Yates Communication, 2011. Print. Sands Seely House, 11 Forest St., Stamford, CT (1878) – Demolished.American Architect and Building News 21 Sept. 1878. Bridgeport High School, Congress St., Bridgeport, CT (1880) – Demolished.American Architect and Building News 26 June 1880: 289. John H. Perry House, 134 Center St., Southport, CT (1880)American Architect and Building News 26 June 1880: 289. C. O. Miller Store, 184 Atlantic St., Stamford, CT (1882) – Altered beyond recognition.American Architect and Building News 8 Dec. 1883. New Britain State Normal School, 27 Hillside Pl., New Britain, CT (1882) – Now apartments."New Britain Normal School (1883)". historicbuildingsct.com. 2 Nov. 2013. Connecticut State Building, Columbian Exposition Grounds, Chicago, IL (1893) – Dismantled, possibly returned to New Haven. Myrtle Avenue School, 325 Myrtle Ave., Bridgeport, CT (1884) – Many of Bridgeport's public schools were built with front lawns. Many schools, including this one, had an addition built there."Myrtle Avenue/Jefferson School (1884)". historicbuildingsct.com. 9 Jan. 2015. North Avenue School, 1375 North Ave., Bridgeport, CT (1884) – Addition in front.American Architect and Building News 3 Nov. 1883: 216. Rogers School, 100 Pleasant St., Fairhaven, MA (1884)American Architect and Building News 3 Nov. 1883: 216. Taunton High School, Washington & N. Pleasant Sts., Taunton, MA (1884) – Demolished.American Architect and Building News 3 Nov. 1883: 216. United Bank Building, 948 Main St., Bridgeport, CT (1884–85) – Occupied by the Bridgeport National and City Savings Banks. Demolished 1912.Orcutt, Samuel. A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut. New Haven (CT): Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, 1886. Danbury National Bank Building, 248 Main St., Danbury, CT (1887–88) – Altered.Hill, Susan Benedict. History of Danbury, Conn., 1684–1896. New York: Burr, 1896. Fairfield County Courthouse, 172 Golden Hill St., Bridgeport, CT (1887–88) – Expanded by Briggs 1914–16. Seaside Institute, 299 Lafayette Ave., Bridgeport, CT (1887) – Altered.Seaside Institute NRHP Nomination. 1982. Clinton Avenue School, 287 Clinton Ave., Bridgeport, CT (1888–89) – Addition in front.Building 4 Feb. 1888: 3. Achille F. Migeon House (Laurelhurst), 215 Forest St., Torrington, CT (1890–91)Migeon Avenue Historic District NTHP Nomination. 2002. Lavinia L. Parmly House, 219 Park Ave., Bridgeport, CT (1890) – Now Cortright Hall of the University of Bridgeport."Cortright Hall". http://hcap.artstor.org/. Council of Independent Colleges. 2006. Web. Meriden City Hall, 142 E. Main St., Meriden, CT (1890–91) – Replaced a building by S. M. Stone. Burned 1904.History of New Haven County, Connecticut. New York: W. W. Preston & Co., 1892. Y. M. C. A. Building, 835 Main St., Bridgeport, CT (1890–91) – Demolished.Waldo, George C., Jr. History of Bridgeport and Vicinity. New York: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1917. Charles B. Baker House (Greynook), 72 Park Ave., Bridgeport, CT (1891). 1982.Scientific American, Building Edition Aug. 1895: 19. Olivet Congregational Church, 2102 Main St., Bridgeport, CT (1891)Engineering Record 3 Aug. 1891: 164. St. Paul's Universalist Church, 9 Norwood St., Meriden, CT (1891–93)Sanitary News 31 May 1890: 58.An Historic Record and Pictorial Description of the Town of Meriden, Connecticut. Meriden (CT): Journal Publishing Co., 1906. Stamford Yacht Club, 97 Ocean Dr. W., Stamford, CT (1891) – Burned 1914.Picturesque Stamford: A Souvineer. 1892. Birmingham National Bank Building, 248 Main St., Derby, CT (1892)Catalogue of the 9th Annual Exhibition of the Architectural League of New York, December, 1893. 1894. Connecticut State Building, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, IL (1892–93) – Demolished."The Connecticut Building". Iron Age 21 April 1892: 772. Broadview Farm, 72 Hospital Ave., Danbury, CT (1894) – The city almshouse. Demolished.Hill, Susan Benedict. History of Danbury, Conn., 1684–1896. New York: Burr, 1896. Enoch P. Hincks House, 515 Washington Ave., Bridgeport, CT (1894)"Enoch P. Hincks House (1894)". historicbuildingsct.com. 19 Sept. 2011. Lincoln School, Stratford & Central Aves., Bridgeport, CT (1895–97) – Demolished.Engineering Record Aug. 26 1893: 211.Waldo, George C., Jr. History of Bridgeport and Vicinity. New York: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1917. Willimantic City Hall & Windham County Courthouse, 979 Main St., Willimantic, CT (1895) – Now the Windham Town Hall.Electrical World 27 April 1895: 517. Locust Avenue School, 26 Locust Ave., Danbury, CT (1896)Locust Avenue School NRHP Nomination. 1985. St. Mary's R. C. School, Elizabeth & Cottage Sts., Derby, CT (1898) – Demolished 1969.Derby Historical Society. Images of America: Derby. Charleston (SC): Arcadia, 1999.Briggs, Warren R. Modern American School Buildings. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1899. Bridgeport Protestant Orphan Asylum, Ellsworth St. & Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, CT (1899–1900) – Demolished.Brickbuilder Sept. 1899: 192. Fairfield County Courthouse, 71 Main St., Danbury, CT (1899)Engineering Record 12 Nov. 1898: 527. Boys Club of Bridgeport, 277 Middle St., Bridgeport, CT (1900)Engineering Record 7 April 1900: 334. Department of Police and Public Charities Building, Fairfield Ave. near Courtland St., Bridgeport, CT (1900–01) – Demolished.Engineering News 14 Sept. 1899: 85. N. Y., N. H., & H. R.R. Station, 710 Water St., Bridgeport, CT (1904) – Demolished.Engineering News 30 July 1903: 65. Masonic Hall, 16–20 Park Pl., Naugatuck, CT (1907) – Heavily altered."High Building of Blocks". Cement World Feb. 15 1909: 774. Sherman School, Fern St., Southport, CT (1913–14) – Demolished.American Architect 1913: 72. Fairfield County Courthouse (Expansion), 172 Golden Hill St., Bridgeport, CT (1914–16) – Doubled the size of the building.Stone July 1914: 374. Clubhouse, Brooklawn Country Club, 500 Algonquin Rd., Fairfield, CT (1915)Engineering Record 31 July 1915: 50. Dwight C. Wheeler House, 250 Brooklawn Ave., Bridgeport, CT (1915) – Stripped of much detail.American Contractor 12 June 1915: 52. George W. Hawley House, 108 Lookout Dr. N., Fairfield, CT (1915)American Contractor 27 Feb. 1915: 47. Southern New England Telephone Co. Building, 2362 Main St., Stratford, CT (1916)American Contractor 22 Jan. 1916: 45. Stratford Trust Co. Building, 2366 Main St., Stratford, CT (1916)American Contractor 4 March 1916: 67. City National Bank Building, 929 Main St., Bridgeport, CT (1918) – Demolished.American Contractor 16 Nov. 1918: 28.

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