Haxby & Gillespie

Old Main, Minot State University, 1912.

Haxby & Gillespie was an architectural firm from Fargo, North Dakota. R. J. Haxby and William D. Gillespie were the partners.^[1] The firm "produced a number of important buildings throughout North Dakota." They designed many notable public, educational, commercial, and church buildings, in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana.^[1]

History

Prior to coming to Fargo, R. J. Haxby was a practicing architect in New York City and Superior, Wisconsin. He moved to Fargo late in 1905 after a young architect, William D. Gillespie, advertised for a business partner to take over the practice of his recently deceased brother-in-law, William C. Albrant.^[2]

In early 1906 Haxby and Gillespie reorganized Albrant's firm as R. J. Haxby & Company.^[3] In September 1906 the firm was renamed Haxby & Gillespie.^[4] They remained together until 1916, when Gillespie established his own office.^[5] Haxby's firm became Haxby & Braseth, which it remained until the end of 1917, as Haxby had died in August.^[3] It was succeeded by Braseth & Rosatti.^[6]

Gillespie later retired from architecture and founded a bank, the Gate City Savings and Loan, which became prominent in the state.^[5]

R. J. Haxby's son, Robert V. L. Haxby, was an architect in Minneapolis, where he was a partner in the firms of Stebbins & Haxby, Stebbins, Haxby & Bissell, and Haxby & Bissell. He was appointed Minneapolis' school board architect in 1915.^[7]

A number of the firm's works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[8]

Architectural works

R. J. Haxby & Company, 1906

• 1906 - Farmers' and Merchants' National Bank Building, 102 8th St. N., New Rockford, North Dakota.^[9]
• 1906 - Minot M. E. Church, 2 2nd Ave. SE, Minot, North Dakota. Demolished.^[10]

Haxby & Gillespie, 1906-1916

• 1907 - Fargo Armory, 78 Broadway N., Fargo, North Dakota. Demolished.^[11]
• 1907 - Port Block, 626 Front St., Casselton, North Dakota.^[12]
• 1907 - Ross Public School, Central Ave., Ross, North Dakota.^[13]
• 1907 - Sentinel Butte Public School, Byron St., Sentinel Butte, North Dakota. Demolished.
• 1908 - Carrington High School, off U.S. 281, Carrington, North Dakota. Demolished 2008.
• 1908 - Glen Ullin High School, 206 S. 2nd St., Glen Ullin, North Dakota. Demolished 1981.^[14]
• 1909 - Carnegie Public Library, 426 Bemidji Ave., Bemidji, Minnesota.
• 1909 - Hebron High School, 400 Church St., Hebron, North Dakota. Demolished.^[15]
• 1909 - Ramsey County Jail, 420 6th St., Devils Lake, North Dakota.
• 1909 - Van Es Hall, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota. Demolished.^[16]
• 1910 - Hotel Evelyn, 224 3rd St. E., Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Demolished.^[17]
• 1910 - Ladd Hall, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota.^[18]
• 1910 - Valley City City Hall, 216 2nd Ave. NE, Valley City, North Dakota. Demolished.^[19]
• 1910 - Wahpeton Armory, 421 E. Cecil Ave., Wahpeton, North Dakota. Demolished 2020.^[20]
• 1912 - Old Main, Minot State University, Minot, North Dakota.^[21]
• 1913 - Bowdon High School, 319 Warrington Ave., Bowdon, North Dakota.^[22]
• 1913 - Hope City Hall, 107 Steele Ave., Hope, North Dakota.^[23]
• 1913 - Pioneer Hall, Minot State University, Minot, North Dakota.^[24]
• 1913 - Sykeston High School, 114 B St. NE, Sykeston, North Dakota.^[25]
• 1913 - Walsh County Agricultural School, 605 6th St. W., Park River, North Dakota. Demolished.^[26]
• 1914 - A. O. U. W. Building, 112-114 N. Roberts St., Fargo, North Dakota.
• 1914 - Lowman Block, 406-410 Broadway N., Fargo, North Dakota.^[27]
• 1915 - Wolf Point Public School, Wolf Point, Montana. Demolished.^[28]

Haxby & Braseth, 1916-1917

• 1916 - Mayville High School, Mayville, North Dakota. Demolished.^[29]
• 1917 - Woodrow Wilson School, 315 N. University Dr., Fargo, North Dakota.^[30]

Gallery

• 
  Port Block, Casselton, 1907.
• 
  Carnegie Public Library, Bemidji, Minnesota, 1909.
• 
  A. O. U. M. Building, Fargo, 1914.

References

1. Jackie Sluss (February 26, 1980). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Lincoln Building". and accompanying six photos from 1903 and 1979
2. Martens, Steve C. and Ronald H. L. M. Ramsay. Buildings of North Dakota. 2015.
3. "Former Superior Man is Called in Fargo". Duluth (MN) Herald Aug. 29 1917.
4. School Board Journal Sept. 1906: 27.
5. Ronald Lanier Ramsey (February 10, 1979). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Grand Lodge of North Dakota, Ancient Order of United Workmen". National Park Service. and Accompanying six photos, exterior and interior, from 1979
6. American Contractor 19 Jan. 1918: 60.
7. American Stone Trade 1 July 1915: 29. Chicago.
8. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
9. Improvement Bulletin 5 May 1906: 27.
10. Improvement Bulletin 19 May 1906: 21.
11. Engineering World 7 Dec. 1906: 839.
12. Improvement Bulletin 27 April 1907: 20.
13. Improvement Bulletin 2 Feb. 1907: 27.
14. Municipal Journal and Engineer 22 April 1908: 507.
15. School Board Journal Sept. 1909: 29.
16. Engineering Record 29 May 1909: 50b.
17. Improvement Bulletin 5 March 1910: 45.
18. Improvement Bulletin 7 May 1910: 48.
19. Municipal Journal 16 March 1910: 420.
20. Improvement Bulletin 23 April 1910: 29.
21. American Architect 21 Aug. 1912: 14.
22. Engineering Record 31 May 1913: 50.
23. Western Contractor 5 March 1913: 15.
24. Western Contractor 12 Feb. 1913: 28.
25. Engineering Record 26 April 1913: 54.
26. Engineering Record 28 June 1913: 54.
27. Look Around Downtown: Fargo Heritage Discovery Walk. 2007.
28. American Contractor 26 June 1915: 81.
29. Engineering News 21 Sept. 1916: 144.
30. American Contractor 22 Sept. 1917: 53.