Electus D. Litchfield
Encyclopedia
Electus D. Litchfield, FAIA
(1872–1952) was leading American architect and town planner of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, practicing in New York City. His firm, Electus D. Litchfield, established in 1926, practiced at 80 Fifth Avenue until he disestablished it in 1950.
. He worked in various firms until establishing his own in 1926, designing a number of commercial buildings.
"He was a devotee of municipal beautification." He was one of the main architects and town planners of Yorkship Village, nearby the shipyard in Camden, New Jersey
, a World War I industrial town of 2,000 homes. "He was also an architect for the Red Hook slum clearance and housing project, assisted in reconstruction of Bellevue Hospital, and designed the Brooklyn Masonic Temple."
Outside of New York, Litchfield designed "many public and commercial buildings and monuments, including the Denver post office and courthouse; the public library in St. Paul; the National Armory in Washington, and a monument to the Lewis and Clark expedition at Astoria, Ore." He disestablished his firm in 1950.
, he fought a proposal to renovate Central Park with numerous baseball fields.
He was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, member of the Architectural League of New York, New York Fine Arts Federation, the Beaux Arts Institute of Design, and Building Revision Commission (1906–1907), a former director of the Citizens Housing and Planning Council, a founder of the New York Building Congress, and a "former governor of the Society of Colonial Wars of New York, and a member of the General Society of Colonial Wars, the City Club of New York and The Pilgrims."
"Lieutenant Cox had helped carry the dying Capt. James Lawrence below decks of the frigate Chesapeake during a battle with the British at Boston Harbor. As the result of leaving the scene of the fighting while senior uninjured officer, Mr. Cox was demoted.
"For forty years, Mr. Litchfield sought to have the Navy remove the stigma of that decision. On Sept. 8 he won his fight when the Navy presented to him at St. Barnabas a certificate of restoration of Mr. Cox's commission authorized by the President and the Congress."
, and son, Burnham Litchfield of Edgartown, Massachusetts
.
FAIA
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects is a postnomial, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects...
(1872–1952) was leading American architect and town planner of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, practicing in New York City. His firm, Electus D. Litchfield, established in 1926, practiced at 80 Fifth Avenue until he disestablished it in 1950.
Career
Born 1872 in New York City, he graduated from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and Stevens Institute of TechnologyStevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
. He worked in various firms until establishing his own in 1926, designing a number of commercial buildings.
"He was a devotee of municipal beautification." He was one of the main architects and town planners of Yorkship Village, nearby the shipyard in Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, a World War I industrial town of 2,000 homes. "He was also an architect for the Red Hook slum clearance and housing project, assisted in reconstruction of Bellevue Hospital, and designed the Brooklyn Masonic Temple."
Outside of New York, Litchfield designed "many public and commercial buildings and monuments, including the Denver post office and courthouse; the public library in St. Paul; the National Armory in Washington, and a monument to the Lewis and Clark expedition at Astoria, Ore." He disestablished his firm in 1950.
Organization membership
In the 1930s, as president of the Municipal Art SocietyMunicipal Art Society
The Municipal Art Society of New York, founded in 1893, is a non-profit membership organization that fights for intelligent urban planning, design and preservation through education, dialogue and advocacy in New York City....
, he fought a proposal to renovate Central Park with numerous baseball fields.
He was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, member of the Architectural League of New York, New York Fine Arts Federation, the Beaux Arts Institute of Design, and Building Revision Commission (1906–1907), a former director of the Citizens Housing and Planning Council, a founder of the New York Building Congress, and a "former governor of the Society of Colonial Wars of New York, and a member of the General Society of Colonial Wars, the City Club of New York and The Pilgrims."
Lieutenant William S. Cox Rehabilitation
"Mr. Litchfield had come into the news as the grandson of William S. Cox, a naval lieutenant in the War of 1812, whose commission had been revoked by court-martial in 1814."Lieutenant Cox had helped carry the dying Capt. James Lawrence below decks of the frigate Chesapeake during a battle with the British at Boston Harbor. As the result of leaving the scene of the fighting while senior uninjured officer, Mr. Cox was demoted.
"For forty years, Mr. Litchfield sought to have the Navy remove the stigma of that decision. On Sept. 8 he won his fight when the Navy presented to him at St. Barnabas a certificate of restoration of Mr. Cox's commission authorized by the President and the Congress."
Death and legacy
He was a lifetime New Yorker, residing at 171 East Seventy-third Street. He died aged 80 at St. Barnabas Hospital (Bronx, New York). He was survived by his widow Elizabeth, daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Lamble of Sarasota, FloridaSarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
, and son, Burnham Litchfield of Edgartown, Massachusetts
Edgartown, Massachusetts
Edgartown is a town located on Martha's Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,779 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dukes County. Edgartown has the largest population and area in the entire Dukes County and Martha's Vineyard.- History :In 1642....
.