Witt, Seibert & Halsey
Witt, Seibert & Halsey | |
---|---|
Practice information | |
Partners | Sidney Stewart; Bayard Witt; Eugene C. Seibert; Fred H. Halsey; Robert Reinheimer Jr. |
Founders | Sidney Stewart |
Location | Texarkana, Arkansas and Texas |
Significant works and honors | |
Buildings | Texarkana Municipal Building; U. S. Post Office and Courthouse |
Witt, Seibert & Halsey was an American architectural firm based in the twin cities of Texarkana, Arkansas and Texarkana, Texas, with a practice extending into Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. It was founded by architect Sidney Stewart, but achieved prominence under Bayard Witt and Eugene C. Seibert.
History
Bayard Witt was born in 1880 in Witt's Foundry, Tennessee. He worked as a railroad laborer and foreman before obtaining an apprenticeship in civil engineering. In 1904 he moved to Texarkana, Arkansas, joining the office of architect Sidney Stewart,[1] who had been practicing in Texarkana since at least 1900.[2] By 1907, Witt was a partner in the firm of Stewart & Witt.[3] Eugene Charles Seibert was born in 1878 in Berea, Ohio. He attended the Case School of Applied Science and Columbia University before entering the office of prominent Fort Worth architects Sanguinet & Staats. In 1908, he moved to Texarkana, joining Stewart & Witt. In 1909, Sidney Stewart chose to return to his native Canada.[1] The firm was then established in 1909 as Witt & Seibert.[4] Fred H. Halsey was added as partner in 1911, the firm becoming Witt, Seibert & Company. Halsey had attended Washington University in St. Louis, and had also worked in Fort Worth.[1] Halsey's name was added to the firm's in 1919. The partnership was dissolved in 1937, when Seibert left to form his own practice.[1] Witt & Halsey continued briefly, separating in 1940. Witt continued alone until 1944, when he took Robert Reinheimer Jr. as partner in Witt & Reinheimer, which was dissolved upon Witt's death in 1947.[5] Seibert maintained his independent practice until his death in 1941. He was also mayor of Texarkana, Arkansas from 1934 to 1939.[1] Halsey entered government service after dissolving his partnership with Witt, but later returned to architectural practice. He died in 1978.[1]
Legacy
After Bayard Witt's passing, Reinheimer continued the practice as Reinheimer & Cox and Reinheimer, Cox & Associates into the 1970s.[5] The firm is responsible for a number of properties which have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places for their architectural significance.
Architectural works
Year | Building | Address | City | State | Firm | Notes | Image | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1904 | Texarkana Industrial College | 29th St and Garland Ave | Texarkana | Arkansas | Sidney Stewart | Later the Texarkana Baptist Orphanage. Demolished. | [6] | |
1905 | First Presbyterian Church | 516 Pecan St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Sidney Stewart | File:Texarkana April 2016 076 (First Presbyterian Church).jpg | [7] | |
1907 | Little River County Courthouse | 351 N 2nd St | Ashdown | Arkansas | Sidney Stewart | Listed on the NRHP in 1976. | [8] | |
1908 | C. A. Johnston House | 2015 Beech St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Stewart & Witt | A contributing property to the Beech Street Historic District, listed on the NRHP in 2010. | [9] | |
1910 | George W. Bottoms House | 500 Hickory St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt & Seibert in association with C. D. Hill & Company of Dallas | Listed on the NRHP in 1982. | [10] | |
1910 | Dr. Henry A. Longino House | 317 W Main St | Magnolia | Arkansas | Witt & Seibert | Listed on the NRHP in 1982. | File:Dr. H.A. Longino House.JPG | [11] |
1911 | Arkansas High School | Hickory and E 10th Sts | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Demolished. | [12] | |
1911 | Thomas M. Dean House | 1520 Beach St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt & Seibert | Listed on the NRHP in 1976. | File:DeanHouse1.JPG | [13] |
1912 | First National Bank Building | 100 Main St | Mount Vernon | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Altered. Presently the Franklin County Library. | [14] | |
1912 | S. S. P. Mills & Son Building | Texarkana Ave and Main St | Wilton | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Listed on the NRHP in 1996, but was removed in 2017 after being demolished in 2016. | File:S.S.P. Mills and Son Building, mid-demolition.JPG | [15] |
1912 | Texarkana National Bank Building | 100 E Broad St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Home to the firm's offices. Now altered. | File:Texarkana April 2016 101 (Capital One Bank Tower).jpg | [16] |
1913 | Arnold and Greeson Stores | 102-104 W Main St | Prescott | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | A contributing property to the Prescott Commercial Historic District, listed on the NRHP in 2008.[17] | [18] | |
1913 | Dining Hall and Caraway and McCrary Halls | Third District Agricultural School | Magnolia | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Demolished. | [19] | |
1913 | First M. E. Church | Chestnut and 4th Sts | Lewisville | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Listed on the NRHP in 1996. | File:First Methodist Church, Lewisville, AR.JPG | [20] |
1913 | Masonic Temple | 314 Main St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Company | [21] | ||
1915 | Dr. G. W. Chisholm House | 930 E 5th St St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Demolished. | [22] | |
1915 | Peoples Bank and Loan Company Building | Spruce and 3rd Sts | Lewisville | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Listed on the NRHP in 1996. | File:Peoples Bank and Loan Building, Lewisville, AR.JPG | [23] |
1916 | Eugene C. Seibert House | 1701 Beech St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | A contributing property to the Beech Street Historic District, listed on the NRHP in 2010. | [9] | |
1916 | National Building | 100 E 2nd St | Hope | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | A contributing property to the Hope Historic Commercial District, listed on the NRHP in 1995. | File:Hope May 2018 17 (National Building).jpg | [24] |
1917 | Emmet M. E. Church | 207 S Walnut St | Emmet | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | [25] | ||
1917 | Leonidas Foster House | 420 N Spruce St | Hope | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Company | Listed on the NRHP in 1991. | File:Foster House in Hope, Arkansas 001.jpg | [26] |
1919 | William C. Brown House | 2330 Central Ave | Hot Springs | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 1986. | File:W. C. Brown House.JPG | [27] |
1923 | Buhrman-Pharr Hardware Company Building | 620 E 3rd St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | A contributing property to the Buhrman–Pharr Hardware Company Historic District, listed on the NRHP in 2004. | [28] | |
1923 | Planters Bank and Trust Company Building | 103 N Main St | Nashville | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | [29] | ||
1923 | Sidney A. Umsted House | 404 Washington St | Camden | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 1995. | File:Umsted House Bed and Breakfast in Camden, AR IMG 2253.JPG | [30] |
1923 | Texarkana National Bank Annex | 100 E Broad St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey in association with Sanguinet, Staats & Hedrick of Fort Worth | Home to the firm's offices. Now altered. | File:Texarkana April 2016 101 (Capital One Bank Tower).jpg | [31] |
1924 | Caddo Valley Academy | 9th and Main Sts | Norman | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 2002. | [32] | |
1924 | Texarkana City Hall | 220 Texas Blvd | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey in association with C. H. Page & Brother of Austin | File:Texarkana April 2016 001 (Texarkana Texas City Hall).jpg | [33] | |
1925 | First M. E. Church | 700 S Broadway St | Smackover | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | A contributing property to the Smackover Historic Commercial District, listed on the NRHP in 1990. Presently the Smackover Library. | [34] | |
1925 | St. John Episcopal Church | 117 Harrison St | Camden | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 2017. | File:St. Johns Church 010 (2).jpg | [1] |
1926 | Saenger Theatre | 211 W 2nd St | Hope | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Demolished. | [35] | |
1927 | Texarkana Junior College | W 16th and Pine Sts | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 2014 as part of the Texarkana Junior College and Texas High School. Demolished 2023 | [36] | |
1927 | Texarkana Municipal Building | 216 Walnut St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 2004. | File:Texarkana April 2016 057 (Municipal Auditorium and Texarkana Fire Department).jpg | [37] |
1928 | Collins Home | 1915 Olive St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | [38] | ||
1928 | Mullins Court | 605 Hickory St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 2007. | File:Mullins Court.JPG | [39] |
1928 | Texarkana Country Club | 1 Country Club Ln | Texarkana | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | [38] | ||
1929 | Sevier County Courthouse | 115 N 3rd St | De Queen | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | File:De Queen August 2018 25 (Sevier County Courthouse).jpg | [40] | |
1929 | Texas High School | 1915 Pine St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 2014 as part of the Texarkana Junior College and Texas High School Demolished 2023. | File:TexarkanaJuniorCollege1.jpg | [36] |
1930 | Jamison Building | 513-515 W 3rd St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | [41] | ||
1931 | Central Christian Church | 903 Walnut St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | File:Central Christian Church, Texarkana, TX IMG 6402.jpg | [42] | |
1931 | Pike County Courthouse | 1 Courthouse Sq | Murfreesboro | Arkansas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Listed on the NRHP in 1986. | File:Pike County Courthouse, Arkansas.jpg | [43] |
1932 | U. S. Post Office and Courthouse | 500 N State Line Ave | Texarkana | Arkansas and Texas | Witt, Seibert & Halsey in association with Perkins, Chatten & Hammond of Chicago | Listed on the NRHP in 2000. | File:The federal courthouse and post office in Texarkana. Like the city, this building is half in Texas (to the left in this photo) and half in Arkansas LCCN2014630234.tif | [44] |
1933 | Trinity M. E. Church | 300 N Vienna St | Ruston | Louisiana | Witt, Seibert & Halsey | Demolished. | [45] | |
1938 | Cass County Office Building | 119 N Kauffman St | Linden | Texas | Witt & Halsey | [46] | ||
1939 | Miller County Courthouse | 400 Laurel St | Texarkana | Arkansas | Eugene C. Seibert | Listed on the NRHP in 1998. | File:Texarkana April 2016 091 (Miller County Courthouse).jpg | [47] |
1940 | Stevens Courts | 2220 W 15th St | Texarkana | Texas | Witt & Halsey in association with James N. McCammon of Dallas | All demolished except for administration building. | [48] |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 St. John's Episcopal Church NRHP Nomination (2017)
- ↑ American School Board Journal, September 1900, n.p.
- ↑ Manufacturers' Record, January 24, 1907, 53.
- ↑ A number of sources indicate that Witt & Seibert was formed in 1908, but at least once source indicates that Stewart & Witt remained active into 1909. A notice in the American School Board Journal for August 1909 indicates they had been commissioned to design a school in Cookville, Texas.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Reinheimer, Robert, Jr.," Who's Who in the South and Southwest (Marquis Who's Who, 1976): 641.
- ↑ American School Board Journal, September 1904, 23.
- ↑ Realty Record and Builder, April 1905, n.p.
- ↑ Little River County Courthouse NRHP Nomination (1976)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Beech Street Historic District NRHP Nomination (2010)
- ↑ Bottoms House NRHP Nomination (1982)
- ↑ Dr. H. A. Longino House NRHP Nomination (1982)
- ↑ Western Contractor, July 5, 1911, 21.
- ↑ Dean House NRHP Nomination (1976)
- ↑ Tradesman, December 19, 1912, 52.
- ↑ S. S. P. Mills and Son Building NRHP Nomination (1996)
- ↑ "$200,000 Viaduct of Texarkana," Tradesman, July 4, 1912, 33.
- ↑ Prescott Commercial Historic District NRHP Nomination (2008)
- ↑ Tradesman, March 13, 1913, 50.
- ↑ Tradesman, May 22, 1913, 51.
- ↑ First Methodist Church NRHP Nomination (1996)
- ↑ Tradesman, March 6, 1913, 55.
- ↑ American Contractor, June 5, 1915, 100.
- ↑ Peoples Bank and Loan NRHP Nomination (1996)
- ↑ Hope Commercial Historic District NRHP Nomination (1995)
- ↑ Arkansas Most Endangered Places
- ↑ Foster House NRHP Nomination (1991)
- ↑ W. C. Brown House NRHP Nomination (1986)
- ↑ Buhrman–Pharr Hardware Company Historic District NRHP Nomination (2004)
- ↑ Manufacturers' Record, March 29, 1923, 101.
- ↑ Sidney A. Umsted House NRHP Nomination (1995)
- ↑ Manufacturers' Record, August 9, 1923, 110.
- ↑ Caddo Valley Academy Complex NRHP Nomination (2002)
- ↑ William L. Lebovich, America's City Halls (Preservation Press, 1984): 141.
- ↑ Smackover Historic Commercial District NRHP Nomination (1990)
- ↑ Moving Picture World, November 20, 1926, 156.
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Texarkana Junior College and Texas High School NRHP Nomination (2014)
- ↑ Texarkana, Arkansas, Municipal Building NRHP Nomination (2004)
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Manufacturers' Record, 1928.
- ↑ Mullins Court NRHP Nomination (2007)
- ↑ Manufacturers' Record, May 16, 1929, 81.
- ↑ "Details - the Jamison Building - Atlas Number 5037009488 - Atlas: Texas Historical Commission".
- ↑ 1931 - Central Christian Church - Texarkana, TX
- ↑ Pike County Courthouse NRHP Nomination (1986)
- ↑ Texarkana U. S. Post Office and Federal Building NRHP Nomination (2000)
- ↑ Ruston Daily Leader, October 14, 1933, 1.
- ↑ "Cass County | US Courthouses".
- ↑ Miller County Courthouse NRHP Nomination (1998)
- ↑ Bridgemen's Magazine, 1940, 147.