Frederick C. Sauer
Encyclopedia
Frederick C. Sauer was a German-American
architect
, particularly in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, region of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Sauer, a German
-born immigrant
to the United States
, was a stonemason
, bricklayer
and carpenter
while studying at Technical school
in Wittenberg
, before studying at Stuttgart
. He moved to Pittsburgh from Germany in 1880, established a Pittsburgh office in 1884, established the Aspinwall-Delafield Land Company in 1904, and built about a dozen Catholic churches in the area. Perhaps his most notable works are St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (1891) in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, St. Mary of the Mount Church (1896) on Mount Washington
in Pittsburgh, Saint Mary Magdalene Church in Homestead
(1895), Latimer School (1898) in East Allegheny
on the North Side of Pittsburgh, the old St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church (1900) in Troy Hill
, and the St. Nicholas Croatian Church
in Millvale
(1922). In 1898, Sauer built a home for himself in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania
. After remodeling his chicken coop
in an eccentric mode in 1928 and 1930, he gradually transformed a wooded hillside into an architectural fantasy, and a complex of castlesque buildings and landscape features in Fantastic architectural
style gradually took shape and was progressively added to by Sauer until his death in 1942. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as an historic district
entitled the Sauer Buildings Historic District
. "It is the most bizarre collection of buildings in Western Pennsylvania
," says Franklin Toker
, professor of art
and architecture
at the University of Pittsburgh
.
List of known buildings designed by Sauer in chronological order:
Italics denote a Nationally Registered Historic Place
:
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, particularly in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, region of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Sauer, a German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
-born immigrant
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, was a stonemason
Stonemasonry
The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of civilization - creating buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone from the earth. These materials have been used to construct many of the long-lasting, ancient monuments, artifacts, cathedrals, and cities in a wide variety of cultures...
, bricklayer
Bricklayer
A bricklayer or mason is a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".The training of a trade in...
and carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
while studying at Technical school
Technical school
Technical school is a general term used for two-year college which provide mostly employment-preparation skills for trained labor, such as welding, culinary arts and office management.-Associations supporting technical schools:...
in Wittenberg
Wittenberg
Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a city in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the river Elbe. It has a population of about 50,000....
, before studying at Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. He moved to Pittsburgh from Germany in 1880, established a Pittsburgh office in 1884, established the Aspinwall-Delafield Land Company in 1904, and built about a dozen Catholic churches in the area. Perhaps his most notable works are St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (1891) in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, St. Mary of the Mount Church (1896) on Mount Washington
Mount Washington (Pittsburgh)
Mount Washington is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's south city area. It has a zip code of 15211 and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by both the council members for District 3 and District 2 .It is known for its steep hill overlooking the Pittsburgh skyline, which was...
in Pittsburgh, Saint Mary Magdalene Church in Homestead
Homestead, Pennsylvania
Homestead is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, in the "Mon Valley," southeast of downtown Pittsburgh and directly across the river from the city limit line. The borough is known for the Homestead Strike of 1892, an important event in the history of labor relations in the United...
(1895), Latimer School (1898) in East Allegheny
East Allegheny (Pittsburgh)
East Allegheny, also known as Deutschtown, is a neighborhood on Pittsburgh's North Side. It has a ZIP Code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 1...
on the North Side of Pittsburgh, the old St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church (1900) in Troy Hill
Troy Hill
Troy Hill is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It has a zip code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 1 ....
, and the St. Nicholas Croatian Church
St. Nicholas Croatian Church
St. Nicholas Croatian Church is a Roman Catholic church in Millvale, Pennsylvania. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is noted for its murals by Maxo Vanka, painted in 1937 and 1941, such as "Labor Sacrificed on the Altar of Greed" and "The Capitalist".-External links:*...
in Millvale
Millvale, Pennsylvania
Millvale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Allegheny River, opposite Pittsburgh. In the past, it had iron manufactures, saw works, stone works, lumber mills, breweries, etc. In 1900, the number of people residing here totaled 6,736; in 1910, 7,861; and in 1940, 7,811...
(1922). In 1898, Sauer built a home for himself in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania
Aspinwall, Pennsylvania
Aspinwall is a borough on the Allegheny River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. It is essentially a residential place. In 1900, 1,231 people resided in Aspinwall, and that number rose to 2,592 in 1910, and 3,170 by 1920...
. After remodeling his chicken coop
Chicken coop
A chicken coop is a building where female chickens are kept. Inside there are often nest boxes for egg laying and perches on which the birds can sleep, although coops for meat birds seldom have either of these features....
in an eccentric mode in 1928 and 1930, he gradually transformed a wooded hillside into an architectural fantasy, and a complex of castlesque buildings and landscape features in Fantastic architectural
Fantastic architecture
Fantastic architecture is an architectural style featuring attention grabbing buildings. Such buildings can be considered as works of art, and are normally built purely for the amusement of its owner....
style gradually took shape and was progressively added to by Sauer until his death in 1942. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as an historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
entitled the Sauer Buildings Historic District
Sauer Buildings Historic District
Sauer Buildings Historic District, located between 607–717 Center Avenue in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania, consists of a group of buildings designed and built by Frederick C. Sauer from 1898 until his death in 1942...
. "It is the most bizarre collection of buildings in Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
," says Franklin Toker
Franklin Toker
Franklin Toker is a professor of the History of Art and Architecture at the University of Pittsburgh and the author of eight books on the history of art and architecture, ranging from the excavations he conducted under Santa Reparata, Florence to 21st century American Urbanism. He is a President...
, professor of art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
and architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
.
List of known buildings designed by Sauer in chronological order:
Italics denote a Nationally Registered Historic Place
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
:
- The Rectory of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church (1890) at 21 Pius Street in the South Side Slopes neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
- St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (1891) at 21st and Smallman Streets in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, PA
- Hitzrot House (1892) at 626 Market Street in McKeesport, PennsylvaniaMcKeesport, PennsylvaniaMcKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census...
(Former house of Dr. Henry W. Hitzrot, who died in 1906, then the Fraternal Order of EaglesFraternal Order of EaglesFraternal Order of Eagles International is a fraternal organization that was founded on February 6, 1898, in Seattle, Washington by a group of six theater owners including John Cort , brothers John W. and Tim J. Considine, Harry Leavitt , Mose Goldsmith and Arthur Williams...
bought the building in 1911) - St. Mary Magdalene Church (1895) at 1008 Amity Street in Homestead, PennsylvaniaHomestead, PennsylvaniaHomestead is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, in the "Mon Valley," southeast of downtown Pittsburgh and directly across the river from the city limit line. The borough is known for the Homestead Strike of 1892, an important event in the history of labor relations in the United...
- St. Mary of the Mount Church (1896) at 403 Grandview Avenue in the Mount WashingtonMount Washington (Pittsburgh)Mount Washington is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's south city area. It has a zip code of 15211 and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by both the council members for District 3 and District 2 .It is known for its steep hill overlooking the Pittsburgh skyline, which was...
neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA - Latimer School (1898) at Tripoli and James Streets in East AlleghenyEast Allegheny (Pittsburgh)East Allegheny, also known as Deutschtown, is a neighborhood on Pittsburgh's North Side. It has a ZIP Code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 1...
on the North Side of Pittsburgh, PA - Sauer House (1898) at 625 Center Avenue in Aspinwall, PennsylvaniaAspinwall, PennsylvaniaAspinwall is a borough on the Allegheny River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. It is essentially a residential place. In 1900, 1,231 people resided in Aspinwall, and that number rose to 2,592 in 1910, and 3,170 by 1920...
(Sauer's home and the first dwelling built on what would later become the Sauer Buildings Historic DistrictSauer Buildings Historic DistrictSauer Buildings Historic District, located between 607–717 Center Avenue in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania, consists of a group of buildings designed and built by Frederick C. Sauer from 1898 until his death in 1942...
, a collection of buildings he designed, built, and worked on for the rest of his life) - St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church (1900) at 1326 East Ohio Street in the Troy HillTroy HillTroy Hill is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It has a zip code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 1 ....
neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA - St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church (1901 to 1903) at 128 Shaw Avenue in Turtle Creek, PennsylvaniaTurtle Creek, PennsylvaniaTurtle Creek is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 5,349 at the 2010 census. George Westinghouse gave life to the place by constructing a manufacturing plant nearby. Turtle Creek takes its name from a small stream that flows into the...
(Torn down, now a parking lot. New church called St. Colman's at Hunter and Thompson Streets.) - St. Nicholas Croatian ChurchSt. Nicholas Croatian ChurchSt. Nicholas Croatian Church is a Roman Catholic church in Millvale, Pennsylvania. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is noted for its murals by Maxo Vanka, painted in 1937 and 1941, such as "Labor Sacrificed on the Altar of Greed" and "The Capitalist".-External links:*...
(1922) at 24 Maryland Avenue in Millvale, PennsylvaniaMillvale, PennsylvaniaMillvale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Allegheny River, opposite Pittsburgh. In the past, it had iron manufactures, saw works, stone works, lumber mills, breweries, etc. In 1900, the number of people residing here totaled 6,736; in 1910, 7,861; and in 1940, 7,811... - "Heidelberg" (1928–1930) three-story apartment house in fantastic architecturalFantastic architectureFantastic architecture is an architectural style featuring attention grabbing buildings. Such buildings can be considered as works of art, and are normally built purely for the amusement of its owner....
style. Considered by some critics to be the main structure of the Sauer Buildings Historic DistrictSauer Buildings Historic DistrictSauer Buildings Historic District, located between 607–717 Center Avenue in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania, consists of a group of buildings designed and built by Frederick C. Sauer from 1898 until his death in 1942...
, and perhaps the catalyst for Sauer's experiments in architectural fantasy. Sauer continued to work on the buildings in this district until his death in 1942.