George Adrian Applegarth (1875 – 1972) was an American architect.[1] Applegarth’s career included designing the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, the Clift Hotel (now The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel), and projects for the town of Clyde, California. He co-founded the architectural firm, MacDonald & Applegarth.

George Adrian Applegarth
Born(1875-10-04)October 4, 1875
Oakland, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 19, 1972(1972-01-19) (aged 96)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Burial placeHoly Cross Cemetery, Colma, California, U.S.
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley,
École des Beaux-Arts
OccupationArchitect
SpouseGwendolyn Powers
Children3

Early life and education

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Applegarth was born on October 4, 1875, in Oakland, California, to parents Henrietta Anne (née Sanders) and John Applegarth.[2] His mother was born in Walcot, Somerset, England, and his father was born in Canada.[2] George H. Sanders, of the architectural firm Wright & Sanders was his maternal uncle;[3][4] and John Arnold Sanders, a noted English painter and sculptor, was his maternal grandfather.[2]

He graduated from Oakland High School; and began his career as a draughtsman for Wright & Sanders in San Francisco, while he studied drawing at the University of California, Berkeley under Bernard Maybeck.[5][6] Applegarth continued his training at École des Beaux-Arts in Paris (degree in April 1906),[5][6] where he met his future work partner Kenneth A. MacDonald Jr.[5]

Career

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He returned to the United States after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fires. In 1907, Applegarth obtained his architecture license in California.[3] From 1907 until 1912, he was part of the architecture firm MacDonald & Applegarth, a collaboration with his former classmate.[5]

Around 1917, he helped in the construction of Clyde, California, once a company town built for the employees of the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Company.[6] Bernard Maybeck led the project, and it was funded in part by the United States government loan.[6]

He was a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and for a period of time served as president of the San Francisco chapter.[5]

Personal life and death

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Applegarth was married to Gwendolyn Powers (1889–1981),[2] together they had three children.[7]

He died on January 19, 1972, while in a hospital in San Francisco.[7][8]

List of notable buildings

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Architecture works by George Adrian Applegarth
Year Name Firm Location Notes
1907 Eyre Building, 161 Kearny Street San Francisco, California [4]
1907 Metropolis Trust and Savings Bank, 623–631 Market Street San Francisco, California [4]
1907 St. Andrew Hotel, 438 Post Street San Francisco, California [4]
1908 Forrest Building, 1053–1055 Market Street San Francisco, California [4]
1908 Phoenix Building, 220–228 Grant Avenue San Francisco, California [4]
1908 3 Presidio Terrace MacDonald & Applegart Presidio, San Francisco, California [9]
1908 4 Presidio Terrace, MacDonald House MacDonald & Applegart Presidio, San Francisco, California [9]
1908 5 Presidio Terrace, Dr. Hartland Law House MacDonald & Applegart Presidio, San Francisco, California [9]
1909 Eastern Outfitting Company Building, 1017–1021 Market Street Applegarth Union Square, San Francisco, California [10]
1913 Clift Hotel (The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel), 495 Geary Street MacDonald & Applegart Tenderloin, San Francisco, California [11]
c. 1912–1913 Spreckels Mansion, 2080 Washington Street MacDonald & Applegarth Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California Built for businessman Adolph B. Spreckels.[12]
1912 King George Hotel, 334 Mason Street MacDonald & Applegarth Union Square, San Francisco, California [13]
1916 2775 Vallejo Street Applegarth Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California [14][15]
1916 2785 Vallejo Street Applegarth Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California [4]
1919 Oceanic Building Applegarth San Francisco, California was demolished in 1979, and replaced by 101 California Street[4]
1953 Downtown Center Garage (now Mason O'Farrell Garage), 325 Mason Street Applegarth Union Square, San Francisco, California [16]

References

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  1. ^ "George A. Applegarth papers, 1908-1970". Online Archive of California. Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  2. ^ a b c d Michelson, Alan. "George Adrian Applegarth (Architect)". Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD).
  3. ^ a b Alexander, Dick (1971-08-18). "Built Better: He Made His Mark Upon S. F." The San Francisco Examiner. p. 68. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Bay Area Architects: George Applegarth". noehill.com. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Architect Wednesday: MacDonald & Applegarth". Coronado Historical Association. 2020-08-26. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  6. ^ a b c d "Applegarth, George". UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  7. ^ a b "Obituary for GEORGE APPLEGARTH". The San Francisco Examiner. 1972-01-20. p. 47. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  8. ^ "Death takes famed architect". The Peninsula Times Tribune. 1972-01-20. p. 19. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  9. ^ a b c Wiley, Peter Booth (September 26, 2000). National Trust Guide / San Francisco: America's Guide for Architecture and History Travelers. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780471191209 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ "Grand Illusion". FoundSF. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  11. ^ Michelson, Alan. "PCAD - Kenneth MacDonald Jr". Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD). Built Environments Library, University of Washington.
  12. ^ Bevk, Alex (2014-11-25). "Behind the Hedges and Inside the History of Danielle Steel's Spreckels Mansion". Curbed SF.
  13. ^ Michelson, Alan. "PCAD - King George Hotel, Tenderloin, San Francisco, CA". Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD). Built Environments Library, University of Washington.
  14. ^ "Nextdoor Co-Founder Lists $25M George Applegarth-Designed San Fran Home". Cottages & Gardens. 2020-08-13. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  15. ^ "Breathtaking Renaissance Mansion in Pacific Heights, $25M". California Home+Design. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  16. ^ "George Applegarth". ArtAndArchitecture-SF.com. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
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