EDGAR M. LAZARUS, ARCHITECT: LIFE AND LEGACY

EDGAR MARKS LAZARUS, JR.
BUILDINGS, PROJECTS, AND MISCELLANEOUS WORKS

Compiled by Edward H. Teague
Updated June 16, 2015

Architects or draftsman who worked with Lazarus include Robert Barrett, William M. Ellicott (1891-1895/6), Joseph W. Heiler (1916-1917), Charles Kable (1906-1907), Ellis F. Lawrence (1906), Frank Logan (1911-1914), Raymond MacNaughton (1905-1906), Morris Whitehouse (1909-1910), J. Andres Fouilhoux (1909-1910), Carl L. Linde (1907-1908?)

ELLICOTT & LAZARUS
Portland, Oregon (1891-1895); Baltimore, Maryland (1895)
Houses designed during the tenure of the firm, Ellicott & Lazarus, have not included Ellicott in the identification.

Cohen, I. Leeser, House. 
Completed: 1892
Address: 2343 NW Irving St.
Documentation: Alphabet Historic District

Cook, James, House.  (Friedlander House).
Completed:  1891
Address: 2233 NW Flanders St., Portland, Oregon
Documentation: Alphabet Historic District

Diamond Point Quarantine Station.
Date: 1893, contribution unknown
Address:  Sequim, Washington
Documentation:  Morning Oregonian

Goldsmith, Bernard, House.
Completed: 1892 (completed by Nov. 1892).
Address:  1507 NW 24th Ave.; Historic address: 321 24th N.
Documentation: Building activity; Fine structures built in 1892. [B. Goldsmith, $4200 house], Morning Oregonian (Nov. 4, 1892), 8.; Society [Fred H. Rothchild moves to house], Morning Oregonian (April 23, 1893), 11.
Note:  Converted from an apartment house to offices in 1964.

Heusner, George F., House.  (Edward D. McKee House)
Completed: 1894-1896
Address:  333 NW 20th Ave.
Documentation: National Register 1978; Alphabet Historic District

Livingston, R., House. 
Exhibited design: 1895 
Address:  Portland, Oregon
Source: NYAL 1895 Exhibition

Maryland University Hospital.  (University Hospital of Baltimore)
Designs: 1895.  Completed:  1896.
Address:  Lombard Ave., Baltimore, Maryland
Source: PAC ; Medical Journal

Nurses Home for Bishop Morris.  Project (Good Samaritan Hospital Nurses Home?)
Designs:  189? (watercolor)
Source: OHS Collections.

EDGAR LAZARUS (U. S. superintendent of construction for public works, 1896-1904, and private practice)

Ahavai Sholom Synagogue.
Designs: 1904.  Completed:1904.  Demolished: September 1978.
Documentation: Morning Oregon: Jews of Oregon

Ainsworth Building – Project (Addition)
Designs: March 1907
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

Ainsworth Building – Alterations
Designs: 1908.  Completed: July 1908.
Address:  Portland, Oregon
Documentation:  Portland Daily Abstract

Bartlett, F. J., House.
Completed:  1905.  Destroyed.
Address:  SW 12th Ave. and Harrison St.
Documentation: Morning Oregonian 

Bradley, John S., House (Bradley-Holman House)
Completed: 1906
Address:  2111 Sw Vista Ave.
Documentation: National Register

Carey, Judge Charles H., House
Completed:  1903.
Address:
Documentation:  MDR: Latta

City Park Entrance. (Washington Park).  Project.
Drawing: March 1909
Address:  Burnside St. & SW Vista Ave.
Documentation:Morning Oregonian

Clatsop County Courthouse. 
Designs: 1903.  Construction: 1906-1907.  Completed: 1908
Address: 749 Commercial St., Astoria, Oregon
Documentation: National Register, Listed 1984; Morning Oregonian; Portland Daily Abstract

Columbia Building. 1905.  (Blazier Brothers Building). West Park Ave and Washington St. (now O’Bryant Park).
Plans, 1904. Opened, December 1904-January 1905.  Demolished, 1971.  Now O’Bryant Square.

Commercial Club.  Project, Competition for New Building
Designs:  1906.
Documentation:  Charles Kable Time Log,

Eastern Oregon State Normal School Building.
Completed: 1901.
Address:  Weston, Oregon.

Fleischner & Mayer Warehouse.
Designs: August 1906.  Completed: May 1907.
Documentation:  Historic Alphabet District National Register; Morning Oregonian

Gunst, M. A., & Company, Cigar Store – Alteration.
Completed: October 1906
Address:  SW 3rd Ave., near SW Alder St.

Haas, Herman, Hardware Company.
Address:  Weiser, Idaho.
Designs: June 1909.  Completed: 1909.
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract;  Weiser

Hazelwood Creamery, Selling-Hirsch Building
Completed: 1906
Address:
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract; Morning Oregonian

Hirsch, Mrs. Solomon, House
Designs: 1906.  Completed: 1907
Address:  W. Burnside St., between SW St. Clair Ave. & SW Vista Ave.
Documentation:  Portland Daily Abstract; Morning Oregonian

Holman Transfer Company Garage.
Designs: September 1906.  Completed: 1906-1907
Address: NW 7th Ave., NE corner of NW Hoyt St.
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

Hotaling Building.  Remodel. (Pacific Coast Rubber Company Building)
Completed: 1909
Address:  53 SW 1st Ave., between SW Ankeny St. & W. Burnside At.

Hotaling Building.  Project for new building.
Designs: March 1909
Address:  53 SW 1st Ave., between SW Ankeny St. & W. Burnside At.

Hotel Portland Annex.  Competition Project.
Date: March 1907
Address:  SW Yamhill St., between SW 6th Ave. and SW 7th Ave.
Documentation:  Portland Daily Abstract

Lowengart Factory & Warehouse.
Completed: 1905
Address: 515 NW 10th Ave., Portland, Oregon
Documentation: Morning  Oregonian

McCracken, J., Warehouse.
Completed:  1904.
Address:  corner of 11th and Irving streets
Documentation:  Oregonian 7/29/1904, 7

Morrow County Courthouse. 
Designs:  1902.  Completed: 1903.
Address:  100 Court St., Heppner, Oregon. 
Documentation:  National Register

Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club.
Completed:  1895
Address: 10th Ave. and Yamhill St.
Source: Obituary; NYAL 1895

National Realty & Trust Company Flats. 
Designs: March 1909.  Status unknown.
Address:  SW Terrace Dr.  (Ravensview Add., blocks 1 & 2
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

Neighborhood Guild House. For the Council of Jewish Women.
Designs:  1904.  Completed:  1905.  Destroyed.
Address:  Hall St. and Lincoln St.
Documentation:  Jews of Oregon; Morning Oregonian

Olympian Buffet. 
Completed:  1906
Address:  300 Washington St. [historic address].
Documentation:  Morning Oregonian

Oregon Agricultural College Mechanical Hall (Mechanic Arts Building; Apperson Hall). 
Completed: 1898. 
Address:  1491 NE Campus Way, Corvallis, Oregon
Documentation: National Register

Oregon Agricultural College Power Plant. 
Completed:  1899.  Destroyed.
Source: Oregon Secretary of State Biennial Report, 1900.

Oregon Agricultural College Gymnasium (Gladys Valley Gymnastics Center)
Completed: 1898
Documentation: National Regiser

Oregon Road Club Bowling Alley House.
Completed:  1895. 
Documentation:  Morning Oregonian

Oregon Savings Bank.
Designs:  January 1906.  Completed: 1906?  Destroyed:  1928?
Address:  Northeast corner of Washington Street and 6th Street (Equitable Bldg.)
Documentation:  Morning Oregonian

Oregon State Capitol.  Secretary of State’s Office.  Alterations. 
Completed:  1899.  Destroyed.
Source: Oregon Secretary of State Biennial Report, 1900.

Oregon State Capitol.  Repairs. 
Compoleted:  1900.  Destroyed.
Source: Oregon Secretary of State Biennial Report, 1900.

Oregon State Hospital (Asylum).  New Wing.
Completed:  1899.
Address:  Salem, Oregon
Source: Oregon Secretary of State Biennial Report, 1900.

Oregon State Hospital Receiving Ward, Central Section. (Oregon State Asylum; Dome Building)
Designs:  June 1909.  Completed: 1910. 
Address:
Documentation:  Morning Oregonian

Oregon Water Power & Railway Company Building.  Alterations.
Designs: July 1906.  Completed: August 1906.
Address:  SW 1st Ave., NE corner of SW Alder St.
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

Lewis & Clark Exposition Palace of Agriculture (States Building).
Designs: December 1903.  Completed:  1905.
Address:  Guild’s Lake area
Documentation:  Morning Oregonian

Portland Hunt Club Clubhouse – Project.  Status unknown.
Date: March 1904
Documentation:Morning Oregonian March 27, 1904 illus.

Portland Country Club & Livestock Association Complex.
Address:  NE 62nd Ave., near NE Sacramento St. (Rose City Golf Course)
Designs: January 1908.  Construction: 1908.  Completed:  September 1908.
Documentation:Morning Oregonian; Portland Daily Abstract

Portland General Electric Company Building.  Project.
Designs: June 1906
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

Portland Crematorium & Columbarium.  Project.
Designs:  April 1900.  Status: Rejected design.
Address:  6631 SE 14th Ave., Portland, Oregon
Documentation:  Morning Oregonian

Scott, W. B., House.  Project.
Designs: February 1908
Address:  NW Lovejoy St.
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

Strain, Thomas Truxton, House. 
Completed:  1905.
Address:  820 NW 32nd Ave., Portland, Oregon.
Documenation:  Sunday Oregonian

Taft Hotel (Nortonia Hotel, Danmoore Hotel, Ramapo Hotel)
Designs: 1907.  Completed:
Address:
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

Teal, Joseph N., House.
Completed:  1904.  Destroyed: 1963?
Address:  741 SW St. Clair Ave.
Documentation:  Morning Oregonian; MDR: Latta

United States Courthouse and Post Office Extension (Pioneer Courthouse).
Designs: 1903.  Occupied: 1904
Address: 5th Ave.
Note:  The initial plans by the Office of Supervising Architect were replaced with the two-wing plan by Lazarus.
Documentation: National Register; Morning Oregonian

University of Oregon Mechanical Hall. 
Completed: 1901.
Address:  now part of Lawrence Hall, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

United States Post Office & Courthouse Extension. Plans. 1901.
Source:Morning Oregonian June 17, 1902.  Could be a reference to the Multnomah County Courthouse.

United States Customhouse.
Designs: 1898. Completed: June 1901. 
Address:  220 NW 8th Ave.
Note:  Designed by the office of the Supervising Architect, James Knox Taylor, head.  Lazarus served as supervising architect (superintendent of construction).
Documentation:  National Register; Morning Oregonian

United States Customhouse & Post Office (built in 1893).
Date: 1898, contribution unknown
Address:  Port Townsend, Washington
Documentation: Morning Oregonian

United States Weather Bureau North Head Station, Cape Disappointment, Ilwaca WA.  1901.  Destroyed, 1955.
Source:Morning Oregonian May 10, 1901
Great Britain Foreign Office. Diplomatic and Consul Reports, Annual Series, 1903.

LAZARUS, WHITEHOUSE & FOUILHOUX  (March 1909 – March 1910)

Campbell, George L., House.
Plans  May-June 1909; revisions, January 1910.  Completed: 1910.
Address: 1960 SW Vista Ave.
Documentation: Kings Hill Historic District National Register (architect unknown); OHS-LWF Job No. 182

Campbell, J. W., Flats.
Designs: July-Sept. 1909.  Completed: 1909.
Address: 1831 SW 14th Ave.
Documentation:  Portland Daily Abstract; OHS- LWF Job no.

Cemetery Beth Israel.  Gateways, Rest House
Completed: 1909.  Status: Gates still exist.
Address: Cemetery Beth Israel
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

Cookingham, Edward, House.  Project
Designs: June 1909
Address:  Portland Heights
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

Houghton, Mrs. W. F., House.
Completed: 1909
Address: SW Madison St. between SW Ardmore Ave. & SW Douglas Place
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

Howard, Robert S., Jr., House.
Completed: 1909
Address: SW Madison St. between SW Ardmore Ave. & SW Douglas Place
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

King, Edward A., House.
Completed: 1910. 
Address: 806 SW King St.
Source: Morris Whitehouse Architectural Collection, Job no. 199.
Notes: Kings Hill HD National Register (cites architect unknown); OHSI (cites architect Whidden & Lewis)

Ladd & Tilton Bank, Spaulding Building.
Designs:  Completed: 1910
Address:
Documentation:  OHS-LWF Job No.

Mann Old People’s Home. 
Designs: June 1909-November 1911.  Completed: 1911. 
Address: 1021-1025 NE 33rd Ave.
Documentation:  National Register, 1992; OHS- LWF Job no. 187
. 
Oregon State Hospital Receiving Ward, South Wing. 
Designs:  1909, 1911.  Completed: 1911.
Salem, Oregon.
Lazarus and Logan, architects.  William C. Knight, superintendent of construction.

Oregon State Hospital Receiving Ward, North Wing.  1917.
Designs: 1909, 1917.  Completed: 1917.

Poor Farm Hospital. 
Architect selected: July 1906
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

Portland Civic Center.  Project. 
Designs: November 1909
Documentation: Morning Oregonian

Portland General Electric Company.   Project
Designs:  1906. 
Address:  7th  Ave. & Alder St.
Documentation:  Morning Oregonian 

Selling-Hirsch Building.  Alterations.
Completed: 1909
Address:  918 SW Washington St.
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

United States National Bank, Ainsworth Building.  Alterations.
Completed: March 1909.  Demolished.
Address:
Documentation: Portland Daily Abstract

Wickersham Apartments. (Wickersham Apartment Building);
Address: 410 NW 18th Ave.
Documentation: National Register, listed 1983.  Historic Alphabet District.

LAZARUS & LOGAN  (1911-1914)

Oregon State Hospital Receiving Ward South Wing.
Lazarus and Logan commenced work on plans for the South Wing of the Oregon State Hospital Receiving Ward in March 1911, and were contracted to superintend construction.

Commercial Building, 852 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Completed:  1911
Address:  852 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, Oregon
Documentation:  Morning Oregonian

Ross Island Park.  Plan. (Lazarus)
Designs: 1912. 
Documentation: Morning Oregonian (1925)

EDGAR LAZARUS

Bakery for William Lange and Son. (Eugenio’s, in 2011)
Completed:  March 1919
Address: 3588 SE Division St., Portland, Oregon
Documentation: Morning Oregonian

Bohemian Restaurant. 
Completed:  April 1917
Address:  127 W. Park St (historic)
Documentation: Morning Oregonian

Cathedral for the Oregon Consistory No. 1.  Project – Status Unknown
Competition date: 1920.
Address:  Portland, Oregon
Note: Lazarus and others were invited to participate in this competition.
Documentation: Western Architect and Enginner, October 1920, p92

Jennings Lodge Evangelical Church.
Date: 1921
Address:  18121 SE River Rd., Milwaukee
Documentation: Oregonian

Latta, John, House. 
Completed: 1919. 
Address:  10127 SE Cambridge Lane, Milwaukee, Oregon
Source: Morning Oregonian; OHSD (architect unknown)
Attribution: Teague

Oregon State Hospital Receiving Ward.  North Wing
Date:  1918
Documentation: Oregonian

Multnomah County Home for Deliquent Juvenile Boys.  Project.
Designs:  May 1918.
Documentation: Morning Oregonian

Vista House.
Designs:  1915.  Completed:  1918.
Address:  Corbett, Oregon
Documentation:  Morning Oregon; National Register

Vista House Hotel.  Project for A. R. Dabney
Designs:  1915. 
Address:  Corbett, Oregon
Documentation:  Morning Oregon

EXHIBITIONS

New York Architectural League  Exhibited work:

Portland Architectural Club.  Exhibit, March 22-April 10, 1909.  Exhibit works:

Portland Art Association Juryless Exhibition of Work from Portland and Vicinity June 5
through June 29, 1932 Exhibited: Arch of Titus,  (Arco di Tito). Rome.  Etching.

Print Makers Society of California, 10th Annual Printmakers Exhibition, Los Angeles Museum, March 1-31, 1929.  Exhibited:  Arch of Titus, Rome.  Etching.

Collections

Yale University Library.  “City Scene.” Lithograph.

 

OTHER SOURCES

Architects of Oregon: A Biographical Dictionary of Architects Deceased -- 19th and 20th Centuries (Lair Hill, 2003) has an entry on Lazarus but the information is generally out of date and somewhat anecdotal. The University of Oregon's Historic Oregon Newspapers electronic resource is an excellent source of newspaper articles about Lazarus's career and was heavily consulted by the author, in addition to the digital versions of The Oregonian, for information about Lazarus. The Oregon Historic Society contains some archives about Lazarus -- a biographical folder -- and plans of the US Custom House and works by Lazarus in the Morris Whitehouse archival collection. Images of the work of Lazarus can be found in the digital resource, Building Oregon: Architecture of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, http://oregondigital.org/digcol/archpnw/, which contains files from the State Historic Preservation Office as well as images scanned from public domain sources. Portraits of Lazarus can be found in OHS (Lazarus and his wife) which has been reproduced in various places and of Lazarus himself in the Architects of Oregon (a cartoon sketch) and the website, The Davenport Project, http://davenport.liberaluniversity.org/2013/06/, which focuses on Lazarus friend, Homer Davenport of Silverton, Oregon, famous editorial cartoonist of the early 20th century.