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Piers ac-~~:n; !fQPP!'d i fo. :'.fr. g mto '. · 0 GD t • ~ -- . ,· Icoped f1 Pr:vate htnl'ral ' JS, whl m5trn- S('J"Vit'es werP. hl"ld Thursday In the Ii m"ch- j tnr EbE>r Francis Piers. 72, Z730 ; wa~ th! Uf'd at l Harrison Avt'., thf' archltc-ct ' wa~ Jasl who d('signerl South Ogden I On th 1 I f1gh S<'hool and the lltah con[:;ider State• Tubf>rculo"ls Hospital. dt>nts in •-·-T ~M• . .Pl:en dted~f'""II ,!'llr•~ ~<>ts up in a R0y hb,p1taJ \\'C'!ln!'~rlny. Highlan Hf' <lPslg-n!'d O\Pr :3()() t)uiJrt. 1whil~ S ·l ings in th<: Ogden arei1: He 118.00, W t H I practieed with his '!on, John an<i Ea~1 em Y I L. ln rr•c·Pnt y!'ar .... :\tr. PiC'rs Janrf hM lf'Case wac; a r:rn dtwr,-. of 1/H' T'111vPr- 1timri1 t ;'\filk; 1.sity nf Color atlri and )ln::;sn- South J his;h- , C'/111'<<•tts ln!< tJ11tt<· of Tt'<'hnol -, tlmc>s. I I i I I I I • i O f.:'\'. .ciuc.r~ , '1i" \\a,; Ln1 n ,Tllll<'- 2 Sl11cp t 1SR!) \'T'arrttg IIida:, s ' in J)<'m ,.., t lw snn of :\Ti. an<I r r n w ;\fl''i. Wal!t'l' s\ . Ptl'r-.. _\u g. 7, shirt; l 'IJ.\ h,.. mar 11,·d '.\far y fta(' fkatps I l<f'C'k in OgctNi. Shi' dit'tl F<·h ~t girl I 11), 1961. Mr. Pi(,r<; w1s a iir,u F'ooo. \t!'nant in the Na<·al Air Corp'g P r s 111 \Vorld War 1 d<>nts m hf'f'n Inv th·Pably progrnrn "'' h<1ol<1 ' ini:;. 1$34 1 :i!t£1r's Survivors art> his sons, -Joh,, R , Co1. · I... Oeden, and Eber F. Phira w~ve; Jr., Los AnarPlcs: a daughtc.-r, 'Mn. 1 ,n for .:\fr,. Mary Lou ~ta<'khnu.,P, . Pwq,ont olf lrng / A 1<.·nd1a. C':ill r.; two ~randct11J. / tnlrl po f' Fur- dn••1 and two brolhPr!I. Trmplf• ' i;oml'o!H fiC'nt,·: / f'wr,; , Los An~wlrc;, 1111d fA> ..,Jk r·hl<>f r01 UIIP o( Prri .... nrn\'f'f \.l"lll'fl ,, ' thr<'f' · - -- ---- - --·-- ' ..... .• :**************************** !>es C:or ...• Piers, Eber F. Eber Francis Piers was a new draftsman in the firm of Smith and Hogdson when he began designing residences in the Eccles subdivision in 1910. He was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1889 to a middle class family who sold farm implements. During adolescence he assembled various engineering devices such as a written telegraph and designed and built his own photographic laboratory. Piers began work with Ernest P. Varian, a prestigious Denver architect, and later, while in the employ of Walter Ware, studied Chicago School architects; namely Jenny, Sullivan and Wright. These early experiences led him to enroll in Colorado's School of Architectural Engineering, but he became disenchanted and returned to Ogden. In 1908 at 19 years old, Piers accepted employment as a draftsman for Smith and liodgson. Two years later he was designing residences in the Eccles Subdivision and he soon opened an office of his own. Piers continued the thread of Hodgson's Prairie Style fonnat with greater commitment to stylistic purity. He tastefully employed Wrightian pier ornamentation, yet his structures were unique in characteristic ways. He also designed many buildings in other, more eclectic modes. 0Jmpiled by Allen Roberts, August 1987 · - · · · · - A l3 l0GR / \P11 ICAL SKETCH OF mm F .P l l :RS b y John L . P i e r s 1 I t1"1as a S u n d r 1 y 111o rn in~ J ; th ey e a rw a s 1927 . T h e 111, Ji nw a t e r pump fo r th en c1'/ 13unk and O f f i c e Bu i ld ing h ad f a i l e d . T h e[ 3 1 J i l d i 1 1 u[n< J in c e r ,f e a r f u l o fMond ay ' s op en ing ,h ad c a l l e dt h e _A r c h i t e c ttoth eb o i l e r roo r :1 tosu rv ey th ep rob l em . A l l e f f o r t s tol o c a t ea r ep a i rm anh ad f a i l e d . P a t i e n t l y , h e a r ing th eEng in e e ro u t , th eA r c h i t e c ts a i d ,"H a rm ,s o r n e o n e pu tt h i sda111n pump t o g e t h e r ,and w e c an pu l l_ i ta p a r t . G e t you rl .oo l ! ; .11 L a t et h a t Sund ay , so111 e1vh a th agg a rd , th et1 ·10 m en e1 r e1 ·g edf rom th eb o i l e rr o om . . . . Mond ay ' s op en ing v1 a s·a s s u r e d . Su ch w e r e th ew a y s o f Eb i : rP i e r s -A r c h i t e c t . Eng in e e r , Inv en to r . ~~~~~ ~ ~\ J~ ~ ~~ ~ \ ~ : Eb e r. . F r a~ c i s·P i e r s·1 , ,1as bo rn inD env e r , c c i 1 o · r a · q _ o · : sn · .188 .9"o fm i d d l e c l a s s· p ar cnt s . L itt1 eis kn mom o fh is earlytr aces, andon ly a gli mpse o fh is sr e co rd ed . A s h e c1pp ro a ch cd h i st e e n s ,i tb e c a r n e app a r en t . f o . n 1 c 1 t i v ey e c 1 r si I th a th e wou ld no t fo l lowh i sf a t h e r ' st r a d e( as e l l e ro ff a rmimp l em en t s ) , ~ bu t wou ld choo s e tof ) l f fSUC th es c i en c r .S and th in9 sr .11 : c t r i c a l and 1 1 1 e c h c 1 n i c a l . ~ ~ \ \~ B e ing a s o l i t a r yy o u t h ,a l t o g e t h e rs e l f s u f f i c i e n tand c o n f i d e n t ,h e ~1a s ~~ c e r t a i nt h a th i sf a s c i n a t i o nw i th th em a rv e l s o fa n ew t e c h n o l o g i c a lag e ~--~0 1vou l dl e adtosom e th ing . A l thou9h h et o l e r a t e d ,fo r111 a ls c h o o l i n g ,h e found ~ p l e a s u r ei nh i s mvn exp e r im en t a t ionand i n v e s t i g a t i o n . Inh i st e e n s ,h e ~ \ ) a s s emb l ed aw i r e l e s s t e l e g r a p h ,eng in e e r eda s t e ame n g i n e ,g round a l en sfo r ar e f l e c t i n gt e l e s c o p _ l ! : ,~ n dd e s ign ed and bu i_ l _ t_ h i s 01·111 pho tog r~_p_h i c J_ abo r ; i to ry . "< pu r ing h i sf in a1 · -y e a r. ihh igh~-~ c _N : io r ; ·_ a ·· cou r s ei n1 1 i e c h a n i . c a1 . .c ; l r aw in g. . l e _ 9 ~~Jg ; $. ~ ) ,~ v i .· h i sf i r s tjobi na r c h i t e c t u r e~ . . i rt I ![. . ~\)) . . . t~ y . .S . . r i E r n s t-r · . , :Va' r i a n ; ~~ O~nv e rA r c h i t e c to f .con s~d e rob l ep r e s t .~g e ,_h _ ad d e ' ~ J. ~ l . v { t J ' s1gn ed , am o n go t h e rb u i l d r n g s ,· th eD env e rA t h l e t i cC luh ,T h eF i r s t Chu r ch o f LJ l; v· "~ C h r i s t . S c ie n~i s t ,and th e .0n t l _ e~ sl l~ t e l inCo1 o r ad _ ~ .~ p r~ngs .·· n · ·-' f s · b e~· i e · v i r J {.._ul l ~ C · th~ th 1 s o f f 1 c e: o : f e r e ? ·P i e r sh i sf i r s temp loym~n ta s_ _ a d~~ t. t s _m a n..\ . / h~ l r .a_ U,, .1 . , . { f l . . .O .,L. ,, t~ 1 s wo rk ~ n d.d u nn g 111s sub~ e~u ent. emp loym en ti n~ ~ __ o ff~c~ -? !\.~alt~rHor., ; /P~ \ ~f ' ~ · f .1 e r~s t u d i e d. and b e c am ef am i l~ a rw i th th~w o r ko fU i eC . h i c a \ JO S cho ? l·q f /.{ L . ~ 1 ' i f · A r c h1t e c t s ;n am e ly J enny , Su ll1 v a n and Wn gh t . Th e s ee a r l y1mp r e s s ion sand tf ; j . . · t i i sen thu s i a smf o rt h i sn ew a r c h i t e c t u r een cou r ag ed h i111 toe n r o l l inth e ,S choo lo fA r c h i t e c t u r a l Eng in e e r ing a tth eU n i v e r s i t yo f Co lo r ado . <'A f t : c· f ' :a ( y e a ro fd j s s a t j s f a c t iC l . J l and d i s i l l u s i o nm e n t inwh a t. . · h e-t e rm ed" s e c o n d r a t e ·e x e r c i s e si nE co l ed e sB e aux -A r t s " ,P i e r se l e c t e d tol e a v eth es choo l..f o . r , em p 1 oy11gnL Jn . __Q~_ 9 _ e _ !1_ , : . ,U t ah . d .' 1 J u l i u sA . Sm i th ,C . :1 rp en t e r , B r idg eB u i l d e r , and A r c h i tec tw a s th es e n i o r p a r t n e r inth ef i rmo fSm i th &Hodg son . T h eo f f i c ew a s inn e ed o fa d r a f t snh ln tocomp l e t e th ed r a 1 1 i n g sf o ra n e1v O g d e nH i g hS choo la t25 th & Mon ro e . l fn · 1908 a tth e · · · · ag eo f 19 ,P i e r s·9 . c c e p t ed th ej o b . A t th a t .t im e , inOgd en , A r ch i t ect t1 r eand th es t a t eo ft 'hea r t1-1<Js ini t si n f a n c y . A l t e r :·bm y _ e a r s_o f /l ' i o , ; . -~; · em p l o ym en t ,P i. e r s. l e f . tS r n i t l : )__,&~odg son and op en ed h i s o• , . . , ,n:_ q f_ f i c e . T h eu rmv th o f th eP i e r s 'o f f i c e1 -1as no t im rn e . d i a t e ; th ev : o r kw a s s p a r s eand comm i s s ion s _ c t fJ : , ..\W e r esm a11 . / ,1,1.f ~ t ' { 7 u t t l t~? 11 ,(J , . e .~ /l-(c,_/a v JYI-( , i>, lV J>I\ '. . , . , ~ - \ jI j . J J : . . , - r ur.)11/J .. / v . -T h eM r s: ·G eo rg' e '.T .--M au1 e / r es i d en c ev ia s ad i f f r n : n tk ind o fhou s e . G u i l t /[· . · in1911 ,t h i sc h · 1 e l l i n g ,u n l i k e th eub iqu i tou s and '> t y li 1 .ed r c v i v u l s ,s to od a p u r t . I tex p r e s s ed a s y rnp a thy f o ri t ssu r round in ' ]S a r i df i11ed th en eed so f i t s0 1-m e r . Th i s un ado rn ed s t r u c t u r eb o r r o 1 1 e ds t r en r J th f r om tho s eth in< j s "o r0 i1n i c "m u c h l i k eth eP r a i r i e! lou s e so fF r ank L lo1cl ~ l r ' i~h t . T h e1 -1 id e p rot ect i v ec v ~ s, t h c10\'1 horiz o nt a 11 ine s, an d th e IIn I ir okr .n f c nc str ati o n, l e n ta f e e l i n go f. s h e l t e rand convo su r e toth ehou s e . Th e r ew a s n on e ed to p l a s t e rmong r e l o rnum en t so fa p a s te r ao nt h i s ;i th ad i t s01 , :n i d e n t i t yand ; b e au ty . T h ep l an \ v a s un iqu e . T h eu su a lo s t e n t a t i o u sf r o n t· en t ry1 , ,1as con sp i cu _ ou s ly m i s s ing and1 , a sr ep l a c edb y an in fo rm a ls i d ee n t r y ,s h e l t~ r e db ya o r t e co ch e r e . T h ei n t e r i o r ,l ik en edtoth ee x t e r i o r ,· w a s f a i t h f u l toth e 1R t~ n t i r es ch em e . M a rk ed by lowc e i l i n g s ,op en and f low ings p a c e s ,and th e 1 r 1 I 0111n ip r e s en ti , r i n d o v , ,L h c_i n t e r i o rc r e a t e di ls en s eo fp r o t e c t i o nw i thou t s u c r i f i c i n ga n c c r . s s i l ry i lbund i ln c eo fl i g h tand v c n t i l t i t i o n . To comp l e t e L i l es ch em e ,c . in i r rnovu t iv esy s t emo f ho t-v 1 t 1 t e r rud i a l . ionw a s in t rodu c eda t s t r u t e g i ca r e a s top rov id e zon e so fd r a f t l e s s com fo r t in ·w in t e ry Ogd en . i l l i n g sa ss e tf o r t hw e r e : · 1B To P r o f e s s i o n a lS e r v i c e sR end e r ed 5% on S l i ,907 .37 $595 .37 To D in ing Rm . F r e i z e 72 h r s . @ 75¢ un h r . To t a l F e eD u e 0 0 ~ j t ) . $G '19 .37 {. ~- .C ' th e r: e s i d c n t i a~p r o j e c t s fo l low ed ,n o t a b l y , th edv , e l li n~ J sf o rE .O . ,~ l ? t t i s ,M ann e r 8 r01vn111g, - and J .S .L ev , i s . T h e Roy a l E c c l e sr e s id en c ev lcJS th el a s tina d i s t i n c t i v el i n eo fb u i l d i n g sd e d i c a t e d toth eA r c h i t e c t ' s ~ r i n c i~ l~ t h a t" a l l~ u i l d i n g s shou ld b r .f i r s t l yan e x p r e s s i o no fhon e s ty , ~ a rmon i z ,ng Lh e eno t io ,w l and f u n c t i o n a l n< ! e d so f il5o c c :up an t s and su r round i ng s , ,11 . . . ; 11 j ' h pl l , ·t l l , 1 1 1 , 1l \ ,111 l / t ) \ )11 \ , " I l l , • 11111 • , I 111•, 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ' ' " ' '11111111 111 l l iP1 / p t ; f " , 1 ,a sd ed icu l<1d in 11 J l ! i by G uv e1· 1101·Sp1· y . 111 11 , , ,1 .y , •, 11·l . i1l11il111 l ' l ,1 • ,1v,1• 1 ·m a r r i ed toM o r y R i l eK e ck , s t e pd au~h l e r toJ u l i u s / \ .S111 i t .h , f o n 1 1 e rl . ,o s s , n0 v1 r e t i r e d . M o r e co rm l i s s ion s fo l low ed , bu t ah , ay s th r .boyhood c r av ing fo r· ~ e xp e r im en t and i n v e n t i o nw a s p r e s e n t . :A t th eag eo f 27 ,· ·th e ;s e l J : . t augh _ t A r c h i t e c th ad_c r e a t e d . -.r n o r eth an . .f i f t yo r i g i n a li n v c n t i o n s · . · "in c lud ing. th e ~f i r s tau tomo t iv ed i sk b r a k e s ; -ag l a r e p r o o fau tomob i l e-l i g h t~cJ s e r i e so ( '~ . l e c t r i cb o i l e rc o n t r o l s ' ; . . n ·rnodu l a t ings t e amv a l v e , ~nd m a n y.. o th e r jn_y_ cn t i o n · s . l a t e r ;h e· a ev e l c ip ed_ a-·p i s t o n wh e e l d r i v e fo rs t e am • , c a r s .and.ell> ( l e J . i cop t e rt h a tu t i l i z e d th ep r i n c i p l eo f th ec e n t r i f u g a l ___ f an f e> r _i J smc1 iq , . . , sou r c eo fl i f t ; ·A t th et im eo fh i sd e a t h ,P i e r sh ad o v e r 150 inv en t ion sto ' · _ i i s_ ~ r e cJ it ;. _ ,o .~ / 1 , c , \ .& -G> ( } . . . / ,+ 1 >JP;_ 1 jJVA/ / ~ .. .· • ···-· -·-. ........ f ( ' . T h ey e a rw1 s ,.1917 ; -th ecoun t ry1 -1os a t1 -1 a r . "P i e r5 ,a f t e rtu rn ingh i s J \ ? r i l c t i c e _ . . ~~ ' ! . . ! -. t oChu r . . l_~ s\ . l~o _ s J :e n l i s t e d . i n th e .N av j/ \ i rCo~p s . l l i st r a i n i n g 1 \ i 1 n -S cJ1101 ego l edtoa co1111m s s1on i lS En s ign . H i s f i r s ta s s iun in cn t1 -1as to r~ ,N th eO f f i c eo f~ s. s i _ ~ ~ , , t , ~ e~ t e t_ a _ ryo f . t h e_ N i l v y , who a tI .h a tt i111 ev , a s~ r , J r~k l in ed s ev e l t . A f t e r as h o r t " s t a y ,P i e r sw a s s e n t :to ..M . I .T . f o r. sp e c i a l14 .0 . Roo ~~ traf f i1ng rFA ? ron aut i c : ~ ~~~ i n e~r i n~ f· :cou r s e s. · !h i l tl a ! : e rwoul_ d · p rov~. jn ~ v a lu ab l e'rnh1 sp r o f e s s i o n . H ew a s d i s ch a rg ed i nD r . c e111b e ro f 1918w 1 t j 1 · th e ·c o n 1 1 1 1 i s s i o n· · o f· L t :-J : g ? · 0 ·~ \ Fo l low ing t h ew a r , O g d e nb eg an a n ew d e c ad eo fy row th and p r o s p e r i t y . T e ny e a r sh ad p a s s ed and P i e r sw a s now a s e a son edA r c h i t e c t and Eng in e e r . He d e s ign ed m i lny b u i l d i n g s du r inq th et \ -1 en t i e s ; th e1 · t0 rkf low ed inand th e job sb e c am el a r~ c ri l n dm o r e comp l ex . T h o~ eo f po r t i c11 l a r no t ev / f~ r e : T h eC en t r a l J u n i o rl l ighS choo l - in ipo r t an tf o ri t sinnov c J t iv e c o n t r i b u t i o n toth ed e v e l o p 1 1 1 e n to f1 1 1 e c l ? ° n i c a la i rh , rnd l in~ J sy s t em s . {V ' -~ ' f ; /T h eS t .J o s ep h ' sP a rocl l i i l lS r .l ioo l-o r1 r .o f L11r .1f i 1 · str e i r1 fun : r . d / ,t , r . / ' q ; f _ t 6, . , , 11' " \ . . J :on c r e t ef ru rn eds t r u c t u r e s· int . l1 r !~ /r !~l .( · ( { 1 . . . ' C- r : .11 / t l I I / l'(J jl ,_r.,1,, -. / ' . ; t , · ~ ,rc , · ·Th eF i r ! °> ll l aL iu rw ll \ , r n kt111u U r f icC! B 1 J i l d i 1 1 q ·a t : . i t ! lv1 ?' , f . 1 , r yt : d i f t c r ! t .h ; Jth ad r1s it , ;f ound at.i o n a conL in uou s" raf t ." rJf r r !infur c ed con 1 I . I ' ! ' : ' ! i11.l . , ,111 lv< if , !~L~ fv l i ! t , ~ r .r e s t in t Jo n a' , ' ! • Jq fr n~d -a r e r ; 1 , 1 r k ; J b l e en u1: ' eenng fe at c o nsi d er i ng th etech n o1 og y of t he ti r . . f : ::-.• 1 ) J P o s s i b l ym o r e r em a rk ab l e ,how ev e r ,\ Je re t h ee f fo r l . c ;o fL i l eA r ch iL e e t . S in~ l eh and ( !d ly , he d e : . i~n cd th eb u i l d i n 9 , en< J in e r ? r cd th es t r u c t u r e , . d ev e lop ed th em e ch an i c a l sy s t em s , and s u p e r v i s e d th ec o n s t r u c t i o n . I •. In the sprin!J of 1929, the stock market 1vas on the 1·/ildest binge it . had ever knmvn. Everyone 1vas 1r1<1kin~J money; hov1cv1ir, t.hcrc v11:r0. so111c 011ii11011s siqns. Co11slructio11 vius down. f\n uncasinc~,'.; in forc!irin rnarkr!I.S signaled the crash; and 1.,ihat a crash it wns. Overni9ht, entire businP.sses 1ven? 1viped out; Piers 1vas no exception. His stntely office atop the new Bank was closed. With the aid of his oldest son, he began to build a temporary office in the basement of his home. All the excavation was done by hand, the 1valls were formed, and _the hand-mixed concrete \vas put into place. After a year of hard work, the project was co111plete v,ith draftin~ room, private office, work sho'p, an_d dork room. It 1vas a monumental task accomplished v1ith limited funds and the sole aid of a 13 yeor old boy. The depression deepened; bank after bunk fail cd and closed their doors. In the winter of 1 32, soup lines 1-vere for111ed ond fourteen million V/Orr.r!rs were unemployed. The Ne1v Deal arrived in 1933 ' and a nc1·1 presidr!nt told the notion that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.". N.I.R.A., W.P.A., P.\~.A., and other programs were initiated to stem the ravages of depression. Some v,orked - others failed; some were illegal, but the Roosevelt package of social . reform had been accepted. The nation was n!covering; for tile first time, the Federal Government was the Architect's major client. . At f i rs t , j ob s 1v e re s c a r c e • bu t a s t he na t i on fJ a i ne d c on f i de nc e , building started its urward climb. Buret1us s.prang up overnight; public 1vorks projects were advcrtized; and within a short ti111e, commissions for schools, hospitals, prisons, reformatories and public buildinr3s were up for grabs. The co111reti tion wus fierce and "bigness" brought uig co1111nissionc;. The game of political football wus on. ., In the su1;1111cr of 1935, Piers moved from his base111ent quarters to the Oank 8uilding he had kno1·m so v1ell. He had been ilwarded il fev1 FedP.ral projects, but the work was not the same. The order or the day was "Get the job out! Employ some people! Comrlete the paper v1ork! Make an impression!" This v,as a different kind of architr:ctura)exccllence. In spite of uovern111ental controls and political intervention, Piers successfully completed: Gay's Dormitory - Deaf and Olind School Education Ouilding - Industrial School North Ogden Junior lligh - lfober School District lltah State Tuberculosis S,1nitariu111 - Ogden, lltalt El Monte Go l f House - Ogden City As the . nation approached the forties, new problems set in. The economy was in another decline, and public 1·10rks v,cre at ii standstill. It 1>10uld take a major war to avoid another depression. War was declared; the work had stopped and Piers returned to his hand - built office. After tl'IO surgical operations und three years of inactivity, Piers i·i;Js ar;ain at v1ork; h01vever, 1·1ar, depression and sickness hud tempered his spirit. The last major v16rks of [ber F. Piers, Architect and Engineer, \·1ere the Administration Building at the Ogden Airport,(a partially completed structure), and the l~eber County Memorial Auditorium,(a building never b.uilt due to a lack in public support). John L. Piers, the second son of Eber Piers, .ioinrd his fat.her in partncr~,hir> in t.h,~ sw;111,r.r of 1952. fie 1·1as confidr.nl ~.hut the dorr.:,rnt p,·,1ct.ice of hi~ f,Jt! .~r r..culd Lt2 revi'10d. An~·,, ~1uilCinJ bo·..J ··~ ·,, .1-; (jr'.. '(~u;.J ;>~r;-r· .., · v1<1S ea(jer to r.3ke hi~ contribution to the firm. f...~. the office <;re.,.,, th~ work bccan;e plentiful - deadlines had to be met; dr.:iftsmen and consultants were hi red to meet the demands of the ti mes. 4 l ·' ')· ~· t: ··, . ,·,. 1 ./ lht , \j) •. /I ) [brr PiPrc:;, t.hr ;,tol,11 ,1n:hil.rr.t", vilio h,1d si11r111l.1~ly nurturrd f',1r.l1 p·roj1,ct, found Uw f<1c:;l pJC(! .ind quick solutions of ll,c fifties unc:;uitr.•d to his stylc. The \vOrk · carrieo on, but the a9in~1 /\1·cliitect, his health fuilinfl, retirr.d to the solitude of his private orrice. <-Qn : oe·ce111ber:. . 20,- -·1<J6l', Eber Piers died. He was 72. It nliQht be suid that the life of Eber Piers v1as frau<Jht 1·lith disappointments and misfortune. Gut this man of restless spirit found plcasuni i n the e xc i t e me n t o f i n ven t i o n a n d c re a t i on o f h i s b u i 1d i n gs . Se e 111 i n g l y no t a happy life, but for him, it wcts an enchanting way, full of 1•rnnder, selffulfillment and appeal. · (l ..,' . 1 at e rial concerni·ng Eber F . Note: The biographica rn . rs AIA Ogden, Utah, . written by his son .John L. P~e t.', Neb~ker-Moore Collec~l2 . Piers was d "The Eccles ProJeC b found un er and can e S t College library. at the Weber ta e ~· 'JU"''- nrn+ri,- .. ~ . . ,.. IIIULII · · · ·· - I I KC thf'! l'ril i ri e lfou<;0,:; nf rr.,n~ I J ,. ,. d :.', i . • _.., ., , : I, t ..,,., •"' _. C !'I.. \.f I I . f~I I I . :'t ECCLES DISTRICT ARCHITECTS LESLIE SIMMONS HODGSON Leslie Simmons Hodgson was one of the most prominent and successful Ogden architects. His designs made a unique contribution to the character of Ogden City . During his 40 -year career, he showed mastery of various architectural styles, such as Wrightian Prairie, classical revival, archaeologically authentic Egyptian, and Art Deco . Leslie Hodgson was a native son of Utah , born in Salt Lake City on December 18, 1879. His father, Oliver Hodgson, was both in 1851 in Yorkshire, England and emigrated to Salt Lake City in 1866. Oliver was a leading builder and contractor in Salt Lake City and introduced his son, Leslie, to the architectural trade. Three of his sons (Leslie, Fred and Paul) became architects. Leslie Hodgson started as a machinist (SLC Polk Directory, 1899) and then studied architecture for 5 years as a draftsman in the offices of two of Utah's most prominent architects, Samuel S. Dallas and Richard K.A. Kletting. In 1904, he received his architect's license and designed his first home. He spent 9 months as chief draftsman with the firm of Hebbard and Gill in San Diego, California . Irving Gill had worked in the Chicago office of Adler and Sullivan before moving to San Diego in 1893, and was undoubtedly acquainted with Frank Lloyd Wright who also had worked closely with Sullivan (the two most prominent designers of Prairie Style architecture). In 1906, Hodgson returned to Ogden as his wife was in ill health (i .e. allerg ies). He formed a partnership with Julius A. Smith of Ogden. Young Eber F. Piers later became a draftsman for the firm. The firm of Smith and Hodgson was very prolific . During the initial year of Smith and Hodgson's existence, the firm published a book, Architecture of Ooden: J .A. Smith and Leslie S. Hodoson, Architects, 1906 -07. The partnership with Julius Smith dissolved in 1910 just as Eccles Subdivision began to materi alize. Many of Hodgson's designs showed a flare for th e Prairi e Style . The common characteristics of his design of the Eccles homes were: 1 or 2 stories, brick or timber cornered with stucco, low pitch hip roof, large overhanging eaves, horizontal bands of windows, dark wood bands or strips, and casement type windows (leaded panes and geom etric patterns). The Prairie Style residences designed by Hodgson in the Eccles Subdivision were those for James Canse (1914), John S. Houtz (1910), Elijah A. Larkin (1911), LeRoy Eccles (Weber Club, 1917), William Wright (1911), Hugh M. Rowe (1911 ), and Patrick Healy, Jr. (proj ect architect only, 1920). Hodgson formed a new partnership with Myrl A. McClenahan in 1920 . As partners, Hodgson would do the design concept sketches for the new buildings and McClenahan would produce the detailed working drawings. It was during this partn ership that much of Hodgson's finest works were developed. The most notable buildings these partners produced were the Egyptian Theater, the Ogden Municipal Building, Ogden High School, U.S . Forest Service Building, Ben Lomond Hotel, Patterson/Nye Building, Eccles Bu ilding , Becker Brewing and Malting Company Building, the buildings of the Union Stockyards (Coliseum. Exchange Building , Sheep Barn) . Myrl McClenahan died in 1940 , and Lesli e Hodg son in 194 7. ECCLES HISTORIC DISTRICT 32 ' Hodgson was a versatile architect and designed comfortably in several styles . He worked with Neo-Classical Revival , Western Stick Style, Bungaloid and Art Deco designs . He was the leader in introducing the Art Deco to the lntermountain region. His Ogden City Municipal Building, Ogden High School , U.S. Forest Service Building, and Tribune Building remain the most significant monuments of the Art Deco Style in Utah. Hodgson also employed the Prairie Style in religious and commercial buildings, the LDS Deaf Branch and Patterson/Nye Building. As the official architect for the Ogden School Board and architect for federal agencies during World War II, as well as for the Eccles and Scowcroft families and their vast financial empires, Hodgson obtained the largest and most prestigious design commissions of his day. As a consequence , much of the modern appearance of Ogden and northern Utah may be attributed to this significant architect. EBER F. PIERS Eber Francis Piers was born in Denver, Colorado in 1889. Little is known of his early years, and only a glimpse of his formative years are recorded. As he approached his teens, it became apparent that he would not follow his father's trade (a seller of farm implements), but would choose to pursue the scien ce s and thi ng s electrical and mechanical, certain his fascination with the marvels of a new technologi cal ag e would lead to something . Although he tolerated formal schooling, he found pl easure in his own ex perimentation and investigation . In his teens, he assembled a wireless te legraph, engine ered a steam eng ine , ground a lens for a reflecting telescope, and designed and built his own photograph ic laboratory . During his final year in high school , a course in mechanical drawing led to his first job in architecture. Ernst P. Varian (a Denver Archit ect of considerable prestige) had designed the Denver Athletic Club, the First Church of Christ Scientist , and the Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs. It is believed his office offered Piers his first employment as a draftsman. While at this work and during his subsequent employment in the office of Walter Ware, Piers studied and became familiar with the work of the Chicago Sch ool of Arch itects, i.e ., Jenny, Sullivan, and Wright. These early impressions and his enthusiasm for these new architectural styles encouraged him to enroll in the School of Architectural Engin eering at th e University of Colorado. After a year of dissatisfaction and disillusionment in what he termed "second -rate exercises in Ecole des Beauz-Arts", Piers elected to leave the school for employ me nt in Ogden, Utah (in 1908 at the age of 19). The firm of Smith & Hodgson ne eded a draftsman to complete the drawings for a new Ogden High School. Piers accepted th e job . At that time in Ogden, architecture was in its infancy. After two years of employment, Piers left Smith & Hodgson and opened his own office . The growth of the Piers' office was not immediate; the -work was sparse and commissions were small . One of his commission's was the Mrs. George E. Maule residence (no longer standing) . Built in 1911, this dwelling stood apart. It expressed a sympathy for its surroundings and filled the needs of its owner. This unadorned structure borrowed strength from those things "organic" much like the Prairie Style Houses of Frank Lloyd Wright. The wide protective eaves, the low horizontal lines, and the unbroken fenestration, lent a feeling of shelter and composure to the house. There was no need to plaster mongrel ornaments of a past era on it; it had its own identity and beauty. The plan was unique. The usual ostentatious front entry was conspicuously missing and was replaced by an informal side entry, sheltered by a porte -cochere. The interior, likened to the exterior, was faithful to the entire scheme. Marked by low ceilings, open and flowing spaces, and the omnipresent window, the interior created a sense of protection without sacrificing a necessary abundance of light and ventilation . To complete the scheme, an innovative system of hot water radiation was introduced at strategic areas to provide zones of draftl ess comfort in wintery Ogden. ECCLES HISTORIC DISTRICT 33 Other residential projects followed, notably, the dwellings for E.O. Wattis, Marriner Browning, and J.S. Lewis. The Royal Eccles Residence was the last in, a distinctive line of buildings dedicated to the architect's principle that "all buildings should be firstly an expression of honesty, harmonizing the emotional and functional needs of its occupants and surroundings." The Berthana Ballroom, "The most beautiful ballroom in the West," was dedicated in 1915 by Governor Spry. In that year, Piers married Mary Rae Keck, step daughter to Julius A. Smith, his former boss. In 1917, Piers turned his practice over to Charles Wood and enlisted in the Navy Air Corps. His training in San Diego led to a commission as Ensign. His first assignment was to the Office of Assistant Secretary of the Navy, who at that time was Franklin D. Roosevelt. After a short stay, Piers was sent to M.I.T. for specialized training in Aeronautical Engineering - courses which later proved invaluable in his profession. He was discharged in December of 1918 with the commission of Lt. j.g. After his return to Ogden, more commissions followed, but always the boyhood craving for experiment and invention was present. At the age of 27, Piers had created more than fifty original inventions, including the first automotive disk brakes, a flare-proof automobile light, a series of electric boiler controls, a modulating steam valve, and many other inventions. Later, he developed a piston wheel drive for steam cars and a helicopter which utilized the principle of the centrifugal fan for its main source of lift. At the time of his death in 1961, Piers had over 150 inventions to his credit. Following the war, Ogden began a new decade of growth and prosperity. Ten years had passed and Piers was now a seasoned architect and engineer. He designed many buildings during the twenties; the work flowed in and the jobs became larger and more complex. Those of particular note were: The Central Junior High School - Important for its innovative contribution to the development of mechanical air handling systems. The St. Joseph's Parochial School - one of the first reinforced concrete framed structures in the West. The First National Bank and Office Building - a twelve-story edifice which had as its foundation a continuous "raft" of reinforced concrete in twelve feet of water, resting on a sea of mud - a remarkable engineering feat considering the technology of the times. Possibly more remarkable, however, were the efforts of Piers . Single handedly, he designed the building, engineered the structure, developed the mechanical systems, and supervised the construction. In the spring of 1929, the stock market crashed and Piers was wiped out. His stately office atop the new Bank was closed. With the aid of his oldest son, he began to build a temporary office in the basement of his home. All the excavation was done by hand, the walls were formed and the handmixed concrete was put into place. After a year of hard work, the project was complete with drafting room, private office, work shop, and dark room. As the Depression deepened, N.I.R.A., W .P.A ., P.W.A ., and other programs were initiated to stem the ravages of Depression. Some worked - others failed. The nation was recovering; for the first time, the Federal Government was the architect's major client. In the summer of 1935, Piers moved from his basement quarters back to the First Security Bank Building. He had been awarded a few Federal proj ects and successfully completed: ECCLES HISTORIC DISTRICT 34 .. Boy's Dormitory - Deaf and Blind School Educatio_o Building - Industrial School North Ogden Junior High - Weber School District Utah State Tuberculosis Sanitarium - Ogden, Utah El Monte Golf House - Ogden City As the nation approached the forties, new problems set in. The economy was in another decline, and public works were at a standstill. It would take a major war to avoid another depression. War was declared; the work had stopped and Piers returned to his hand-built office. After two surgical operations and three years of inactivity, Piers was again at work; however, the War, Depression, and sickness had tempered his spirit. The last major works of Eber F. Piers were the Administration Building at the Ogden Airport (a partially completed structure) and the Weber County Memorial Auditorium (never built). On December 20, 1961, Eber Piers died. He was 72. COMPARISON OF HODGSON AND PIERS WORKS A comparison of the works of the two architects seems worthwhile. essentially Prairie Style, were often heterogeneous in design. Hodgson's homes, while a. The Houtz Home has, in addition to Wrightian decorative vocabulary, classical brackets in large and small sets under the eaves of the porch, main roof and dormers. b. The Canse/Weeks Home is sheathed with clapboard on the first story and shingles on the second story, making it the only all-wood residence on Eccles Avenue. c. LeRoy Eccles Home is one of the largest structures in the subdivision and later became the house for the Weber Club. The building has Prairie Style features but again deviates from the norm with its tile roof, Tuscan columned front porch and po rte cochere, and classically bracketed frieze. The art glass windows with Mediterranean scenes and Roman arches bays also reflect classicist ornamentation. d. Wright/Morrell Home is a brick structure due south of and nearly identical in design to the Weeks residence. The home is unpretentious, straightforward and common in appearance. e. Larkin Home is one of the oldest and most eclectic residences in the District. It appears to be a hybrid mix of Nee-Classical Revival, Southern Colonial and perhaps Prairie Style. Due to its individualistic expression, the home enhances the visual variety of the area and provides interesting contrast to buildings such as the Hugh M. Rowe Home, the Hodgson design which most closely resembles a Wrightian Prairie Style dwelling. ECCLES HISTORIC DISTRICT 35 It is apparent that while Hodgson set the general theme for architectural design in the Eccles Subdivision, he was not intent on copying Wright or following the Prairie Style theme to a fault. His interest seems to have been to provide beautiful, liveable homes which, though varied in design, had a familial resemblance. It was left to Eber F. Piers to really give the subdivision its distinct Prairie Style flavor. Piers approached the task of continuing the thread of Hodgson's Prairie Style format with greater commitment to stylistic purity than his predecessor. None of Piers' designs were greatly diluted or "enhanced" with Nee-Classical Revival or other alien details. His designs were characteristically Wrightian, featuring two storied, low-hip roofed masses with single-story wings, porches and carports reaching out in several directions, deep eaves, emphasis on the horizontal, (especially through brick banding), oblong chimneys, ribbon windows with wooden casements, 2/3 to 1/3 height relationship of ground story to second story, brick bottom stories and plaster upper stories, heavy rectangular piers supporting porch roofs and verandas, etc. Piers also was fond of Wrightian pier ornamentation and used it tastefully. A few dormers which have been added since initial construction are the only intrusions upon Piers' carefully conceived Prairie Style designs. Yet his homes were not purely imitative; they were unique in their own ways . The plans, for example, were not as open as Wright's were. Cantilevered concrete construction and other technological features were not employed. The contribution of Hodgson and Piers was one of regional introduction to Prairie Style architecture and the further development of one of America's important architectural movements. Sources: Teddy Fullmer, "Leslie Simmons Hodgson," 1980-1981. John L. Piers. "A Biographical Sketch of Eber Piers," n.d . Biographical material on Eber Piers, "The Eccles Project," Nebeker-Moore Weber State University Library. ECCLES HISTORIC DISTRICT Collection , 36 ECCLES HISTORIC DISTRICT I. BACKGROUND A. B. C. D. The Eccles Subdivision Community Leaders Neighborhood Architectural Style 11. SIGNIFICANT HOMES IN THE ECCLES HISTORIC DISTRICT A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. Ill. 1 4 Royal & Cleone Eccles Home Lel3oy & Myrtle Eccles Home Jo.hn & Louisa Houtz Home Canse/Weeks Home Green/Sherman Home Wright/Morrell Home Eccles/Larkin Home Dr. Hugh & Vern Rowe Home Marriner & Dorothea Browning Home Patrick & Mary Healy Home Edmund & Martha Wattis Home Gwilliam/Marriner Eccles Home Ezekiel & Edna Dumke Home ECCLES DISTRICT ARCHITECTS IV. COMMON ARCHITECTURAL TERMS OGDEN CITY LANDMARKS COMMISSION, 1992 32 37 ..... ... . - ' -\· • ~ .' L :-.; Lil.I> STr\TES DEP,\RT:-.tl(' ' •. OF TIii: I :\TER IOR NATIONAL PARi-~RVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF J-IISTORIC PLACES INVE.NTORY -- NOiYllNA TION FORM ~Bf: A~s MAT*9,elt,.b A..1 CONTINUATION SHEET ! tr(al ~~ -H ISi' RECEIVED DATE ENTERED ~G, ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE Six The Eccles Avenue Subdivision was created in 1909 by David Eccles who dee,!::d lots to his family and selected other Ogden families. Two Ogden ai:-,::1.itects, Leslie O. Hodgson and Eber F. Piers., practiced independently but cooperated and coordinated their efforts in the planning and designing of the unique neighborhood. Each architect had previously been attracted to and enamored with the contemporary Prairie Style and the two determined to make the new residential style the dominating architectural theme of the project. The prairie-like setting of the subdivision was appropriate and the selected owners were pleased that the subdivision would have a certain . unity and progressiveness designed into it to set it apart from surrounding neighborhoods and their eclectic architecture. Each architect designed approximately half of the significant structures and both proved capable of working within the chosen motif. Leslie 0. Hodgson was a native son of Utah, born in Salt Lake City on D~cember 18, 1879. His father., Oliver Hodgson, a Mormon convert and Utah pioneer of 1850> was a leading builder and contractor in Salt Lake City and introduced his son, Leslie, to the arc.'litectural trade. Leslie studied architecture as a draftsman in the offices of two of Utah's most prominent architects, Samuel C. Dallas and Richard K.A. Kletting. Hodgson then gained • valuable exposure to modern residential trends as chief draftsman with the firm of Hebbard and Gill in San Diego, California. Irving Gill had worked in the Chicago office of Adler and Sullivan before moving to San Diego in 1893 and was undoubtedly acquainted with Frank Lloyd Wright who had also worked closely with Sullivan. Upon returning to Ogden to establish his own· practice in 1905, Hodgson was well exercised in designing buildings in contemporary American styles. In 1906 Hodgson became the partner of Julius A. Smith, of Ogden. Young Eber F. Piers later became a draftsman for the firm. The firm of Smith and Hodgson was very prolific until its dissolution in 1910> the year the Eccles Subdivision began to materialize. During the initial year of Smith and Hodgson's existance, the firm published a book, Architecture of Ogden: J.A. Smith and Leslie S. Hodgson, Architects, 1906-07. The p~blication displayed photographs of the oajor works of the firm including Hat~l Bigelow (now Ben Lomond Hotel), Peery's Egyptian Theatre, Union Stock Yards, Elk's Lodge, Washington School, Lorin Farr School, and numerous other public, co!Il.l-nercial·, religious and residential buildings. Hany of Hodgson's designs showed a flare for the Prairie Style. The Prairie Style residences designed by Hodgson in the Eccles Subdivision were those for James Canse (1914), John S. Houtz (1910), LeRoy Eccles, later Elijah A. Larkin house (1911)., LeRoy Eccles, later Weber Club (1917), Wi~liam Wright (1911), Hugh H. Rowe (1911), and Patrick Healy, Jr. (1920). t 2By Century Printing Co., Salt Lake City, cocpiled and published by E.T. Harris. ~~ 1 ~. ,~ ~ ~ , : ; · U> STATESOEP . \RT \ l l i \ ( ~ , · THEI : ' . TEKIOK NAT IONALPARK SERV ICE FORN?S U~. .JNLY RECE IV : :D l ' JAT IONALREG ISTEROFH ISTOR ICPLACES INVENTORY -NOM INAT IONFORM CONT INUAT ION SHEET ITEMNUMBER DATE ENTERED 8 PAGE S ev en L e s l i es .Hodgson was a ve r s a t i l ea r c h i t e c tandd e s ign ed c om f o r t a b l yi n s e v e r a ls t y l e s .H e wo rk ed w i t hN e e -C l a s s i c a lR e v i v a l ,W e s t e rn S t i c kS t y l e , Bung a lo id andM o d e r n i s t i c (A r tD e co ) d e s i g n s . H ew a s t h el e a d e ri ni n t r o d u c i n gA r tD e co t ot h eI n t e rm o u n t a i nr e g i o n . H i s Ogd en C i t y and Coun ty B u i l d i n g , Ogd en H igh S chook ,R eg ion a lF o r e s tS e r v i c eA dm i n i s t r a t i o nB u i l d i n g , andT r i b u n eB u i l d i n gr em a int h emo s ts i g n i f i c a n tmonum en t s o ft h e} l o d e r n i s t i c S t y l ei nU t ah . T h . eH e a ly hou s eonE c c l e s Av enu ew a s as e n s i t i v e"O ldE n g l i s h C o t t a g e "d e s i g n . Hodg son a l s oemp loy ed t h eP r a i r i eS t y l ei nr e l i g i o u sandcomm e r c i a l b u i l d i n g s ,t h eLDS D e a fB r an ch andN y eB u i l d i n gb e i n gt h eb e s te x t a n~ex amp l e s . O f f i c i a la r c h i t e c tf o rt h eOgd en S choo l Bo a rd anda r c h i t e c tf o rf e d e r a la g e n c i e sd u r i n gWo r ld W a r I I ,a sw e l la sf o rt h eE c c l e s andS cow c ro f tf am i l i e s and t h e i rv a s tf i n a n c i a lemp i r e s , Hodg son o b t a i n e dt h el a r g e s ta n dmo s tp r e s t i g i o u sd e s i g ncomm i s s ion so fh i sd ay . A s a con s equ en c e ,m u c ho ft h emod e rn a p p e a r a n c eo fOgd en andn o r t h e r nU t ah m a yb ea t t r i b u t e dt ot h i ss i g n i f i c a n t a r c h i t e c t . Hodg son s e r v e da sP r e s i d e n to ft h eU t ah C h a p t e ro ft h eAm e r i c an I n s t i t u t eo fA r c h i t e c t s . H ed i e di nOgd en t h e2 6 t ho fJ u l y ,1947 . Eb e rF .P i e r sh ad o n l yr e c e n t l ye n t e r e dt h ea r c h i t e c t u r a lp r o f e s s i o nwh en h eb eg and e s i g n i n gr e s i d e n c e si nt h eE c c l e ss u b d i v i s i o n . P i e r sw a sn o tl i s t e d a sana r c h i t e c ti nOgd en b u s i n e s sd i r e c t o r i e su n t i l1910 ,t h ey e a ro fcomm en c e m en to fb u i l d i n g si nth es u b d i v i s i o n . P i e r sd e s ign edhom e sf o rE dm u n d0 . W a t t i s (1914 ) ,M r s . Ru th W a t t i s Gw i l l i am (1917 ) ,E z e k i e l Dum . '< .e ( 1 9 1 7 ) ,V i r g i n i a Hou t zG r e en (1914 ) ,Roy a lE c c l e s (1920 ) ,andH a r r i n e rA d am sB rown ing (1914 ) . P i e r s 'hom e sw e r ea l lcomp l e t eda f t e r1913 ,m ak ing h im a l a t e c om e rt ot h e p r o j e c t . N e v e r t h e l e s s ,h i sd e s i g n sw e r eh a rmon iou sw i t h Hodg son ' se a r l i e r wo rk s andw e r e , i nf a c t ,mo r ep r o p e r l yW r igh t i an o rP r a i r i eS t y l e . A comp a r i sono ft h ewo rk so ft h etwoa r c h i t e c t ss e em sw o r t hw h i l e . Hodg son ' s hom e s ,w h i l ee s s e n t i a l l yP r a i r i eS t y l e ,w e r eo f t e nh e t e r o g e n e o u si nd e s i g n . Th e Hou t zr e s i d e n c eh a s ,i na d d i t i o nt oW r igh t i an d e c o r a t i v ev o c a b u l a r y , c l a s s i c a lb r a c k e t si nl a r g eand sm a l ls e t sund e r th ee a v e so ft h epo r ch ,m a in r o o fand do rm e r s . Th eW e ek ' s hou s ei ss h e a t h e dw i t hc l apbo a rdon t h ef i r s ts t o r yands h i n g l e s o~ t h es e conds t o r y ,m ak ing i t t h eon lya l l -wood r e s i d e n c eonE c c l e s Av enu e . Th eh om ei sd evo id o fs p e c i a ld e c o r a t i o n ,i sb o x l i k ei nm a s s ing andi so n l y m i l d l ys u g g e s t i v eo fW r i g h t i a n i n f l u e n c e . Th eh om eo fL eR o yE c c l e si son eo f th el a r g e s ts t r u c t u r e si nt h es u b d i v i s i o n and l a t e rb e c am e th ehou s ef o rt h eW eb e r C lub , ap r i v a t eH en ' sC l u b . Th e b u i l d i n gh a sP r a i r i eS t y l ef e a t u r e sb u ta g a i nd e v i a t e sf romt h eno rmw i t hi t s t i l er o o f ,Tu s c an co lumn ed f r o n tpo r chand p o r t ec o c h e r e , andc l a s s i c a l l y b r a c k e t e df r i e z e . Th ea r tg l a s sw indow sw i t hM e d i t e r r a n i a n s c e n e sandR om a n a r c h e db a y sa l s or e f l e c tc l a s s i c i s to r n am e n t a t i o n . l I • _ .~ l~\l _U·.DSl.-\ll ·.SDL·.P:\IU'.\11{ ; • ·01·THEl1\TUUOK FOR NATIONALPAR~~.;RVICE NPl E ONLY RECEIVED J\IA TIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY --NOMJNA TION FORM DATE ENTERED - CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE Eight The Willial;il Wright house is a brick structure due south of and nearly identical in design to the Week's residence. The home is unpretentious, straightforward and common in appearance. The older LeRoy Eccles home, later the Elijah Lark.in House, is one of the oldest and most eclectic residences in the district. It appears to be a hybrid mix of Nee-Classical Revival, Southern Colonial and perhaps Prairie Style. Due to its individualistic expression, the home seems out of character but does not distr~ct from the district. Rather, it enhances the visual variety of the area and provides interesting contrast to buildings such as the Hugh M. Rowe home, the Hodgson design which most closely resembles a Wrightian Prairie Style dwelling. The one home that definitely seems out of place is the Patrick Healy, Jr. residence, now the Real Estate Exchange Offices. The last home built in the subdivision, the Healy residence has been described by architect, John Piers (son of Eber Piers) in glowing tert!S: "The Healy home is a masterful work in the development of Old English (Cottage Style) architecture. The house has a high pitched roof punctuated by a series of dormer windows, successfully contrasted with a stucco base to form an attitude of restful domesticity. The rounded arches, the tapered brick chimney, and a canopied entrance door are remindful of an era of English Art Nouveau. This is one of the most sensitive designs in Ogden." It is apparent that while Hodgson set the general theme for architectural design in the Eccles Subdivision, he was not intent on copying Wright or following the Prairie Style theme to a fault. His interest seems to have been to provide beautiful, liveable homes which, though varied in design, had a familial resemblance. It was left to Eber F. Piers to really give the subdivision its distinct Prairie Style flavor. Piers approached the task of continuing the thread of Hodgson's Prairie Style format with greater commitment to stylistic purity than his predecessor. None of Pier's designs were greatly diluted or "enhanced'' with Nee-Classical Revival or other alien details. His designs were characteristically Wrightian, featuring two storied, low-hip roofed masses with singlestory wings, porches and carports reaching out in several directions, deep eaves, emphasis on the horizontal, (especially through brick banding), oblong chimneys, ribbon windows with wooden caseoents, 2/3 to 1/3 height relationship of ground story to second story, br~ck bottom stories and plaster upper stories, heavy rectangular piers supporting porch roofs and verandas, occasional prow roofs on smaller homes, etc. Piers was also fond of Wrigh.tian pier ornamentation and used it tastefully. A few dori!lers which have been added since initial construction are the only intrusions upon Piers' carefully I . . . v11 ; 1 f._U •j,J9i,JVVO .; ,," 10, 1.1; • : : .(;:'.Ii 1·.D STATl:S !Jl-.P.-\IU F \IL:\ I\. . THE I ~H: K IOK FOR NPS U NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RECEIVED NA 110NAL REGISTER OF HlSTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER ,NLY DATE ENTERED 8 PAGE Nine conceived Prairie Style designs. Yet his homes were not purely imitative; they were unique in their own ways. The plans, for example, were not as open as Wright's were. Cantilevered concrete construction and other technological features were not employed. Piers' architecture met the needs of his clients, as did Hodgson's. Their contribution was one of regional introduction and development of one of America's important architectural movements.