Jump to content

User:JPRiley/Cervin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Olof Z. Cervin
Olof Z. Cervin, c. 1917
Born(1868-10-18)October 18, 1868
DiedDecember 2, 1949(1949-12-02) (aged 81)
NationalityUnited States
OccupationArchitect
St. John's Lutheran Church in Rock Island, designed by Cervin in the Tudor Revival style and completed in 1907.
The Fort Armstrong Theatre in Rock Island, designed by Cervin & Horn in the Mediterranean Revival style and completed in 1921.
Zion Chapel of Bethphage Mission in Axtell, Nebraska, designed by Cervin & Stuhr in the National Romantic style and completed in 1931.
The Rock Island City Hall, designed by Cervin & Stuhr in the Art Deco style and completed in 1940.

Olof Z. Cervin AIA (October 18, 1868 – December 2, 1949) was an American architect of Swedish heritage. He practiced architecture in Moline and Rock Island, Illinois from 1896 until his retirement in 1949, shortly before his death. The firm Cervin established in 1896 has been incorporated into the firm now (2024) known as Studio 483 Architects.

Life and career

[edit]

Olof Zakarias Cervin was born October 18, 1868, in Paxton, Illinois, to Anders Richard Cervin, a professor at Augustana College, and Emma C. Cervin, née Thulin. His father was a native of Kristianstad, Sweden, who had immigrated to the United States in 1864. He was a prominent figure in the Augustana Synod. The family moved to Rock Island in 1875 with the college. Cervin was educated at Augustana College and Columbia University, graduating from the latter in 1894 with an AM. He worked as a drafter for architects in Rock Island, Chicago and New York City before opening his own Moline office in 1896. Likely due to his family connections, the same year he was appointed architect to the Augustana Synod.[1] In 1909 he relocated to Rock Island, opening new offices in the Safety Building, which he had designed. Cervin's most notable and long-running clients were Swedish and Lutheran institutions.[2] In 1914 he was chosen architect of the Bethphage Mission in Nebraska, and designed buildings there until his death.[3]

In 1918 he formed the partnership of Cervin & Horn with architect Benjamin A. Horn.[4] Among the partnership's first major works was a United States Housing Corporation housing development for Rock Island Arsenal workers.[5] In 1926 the partnership was expanded to include William Stuhr.[6] Horn withdrew in 1928 and the firm continued as Cervin & Stuhr. Cervin retired from practice in April 1949.[2]

Cervin was chairman of the Rock Island city planning commission from 1920 to 1923 and of the zoning commission from 1925 to 1929.[2]

Personal life

[edit]

Cervin was married twice. He was first married in 1909 to Ruth Engberg of Chicago. They had three children, two sons and one daughter. Ruth died in 1929, and Cervin married second in 1931 to Dora Carlson. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the chamber of commerce and local fraternal organizations. He was a congregant of St. John's Lutheran Church, the building of which he designed. In November 1949 Cervin and his wife were seriously injured in a car accident. She recovered, but he developed pneumonia and died December 2, 1949 at the age of 81.[2]

Legacy

[edit]

After Cervin's retirement and death, Stuhr continued the firm as a sole principal. In 1963 it was renamed Stuhr, Parkhurst & Appier. In 1966 Stuhr retired, and the the firm was renamed Parkhurst, Appier, Marolf & Mogler under the leadership of Howard M. Parkhurst.[7] In 1970 it was renamed Parkhurst, Appier, Marolf Associates and in 1980, with Parkhurst's retirement, it became Appier & Marolf & Associates.[8] In 1993 the firm merged with Scholtz-Gowey & Associates of Davenport, Iowa, to become Scholtz-Gowey-Marolf Architects, with offices in both cities.[9] In 1998 they merged with John Gere Associates of Bettendorf, Iowa, successors to the practice of Frederick G. Clausen, to form Scholtz-Gowey-Gere-Marolf Architects.[10] In 2015 the firm was involved in its most recent merger with Gere-Dismer Architects of Rock Island to form Studio 483 Architects.[11]

At least three buildings designed by Cervin and his partners have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works

[edit]

Olof Z. Cervin, 1896–1918

[edit]

Cervin & Horn, 1918–1926

[edit]

Cervin, Horn & Stuhr, 1926–1928

[edit]

Cervin & Stuhr, 1928–1949

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Ernst W. Olson, The Swedish Element in Illinois: Survey of the Past Seven Decades (Chicago: Swedish-American Biographical Association, 1917): 147-149 and 641-642.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Complications of injuries incurred in accident end life of Olof Z. Cervin, 81," The Rock Island Argus, December 2, 1949.
  3. ^ a b c d Bethphage Mission NRHP Registration Form (2013)
  4. ^ "Personal" in The American Architect 113, no. 2196 (January 23, 1918): 95.
  5. ^ Robert Craik McLean, "United States government housing: number two project for war workers housing at Arsenal, Rock Island, Illinois" in The Western Architect 28, no. 1 (January 1919): 6-8.
  6. ^ "Personal" in The American Architect 129, no. 2496 (May 5, 1926): 18.
  7. ^ "William Stuhr retires after over 40 years as architect," The Rock Island Argus, February 5, 1966.
  8. ^ "Designer of many Q-C buildings retires," The Rock Island Argus, January 15, 1980.
  9. ^ "Architecture firms announce merger," The Rock Island Argus, October 16, 1993.
  10. ^ "Two design firms merge," The Rock Island Argus, January 30, 1998.
  11. ^ Jennifer Dewitt, "Missman, Q-C architecture firms merge," The Muscatine Journal, November 14, 1915.
  12. ^ Garfield Elementary School NRHP Registration Form (2017)
  13. ^ Broadway Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1998)
  14. ^ "A new pipe organ" in Lutheran Companion (October 13, 1917): 512.
  15. ^ Fort Armstrong Theatre NRHP Registration Form (1980)
  16. ^ Downtown Rock Island Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2020)
  17. ^ Arsenal Courts Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2020)