{{Short description|American architectural firm}} {{Infobox architectural practice | name = Harding & Seaver | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | caption = | firm_type = | architects = | partners = | founders = George C. Harding; Henry M. Seaver | principals = | employees = | city = Pittsfield, Massachusetts | coordinates = <!-- Use {{coord}} --> | affiliations = | founded = 1901 | dissolved = 1947 | awards = | significant_buildings = | significant_projects = | significant_design = | website = }} [[File:Colgate University's chapel.jpg|right|thumb|260px|Colgate Memorial Chapel, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, 1916.]] '''Harding and Seaver''' was an architectural firm based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, active from 1902 to 1947. It was the partnership of architects George C. Harding (1867–1921) and Henry M. Seaver (1873–1947).
==Biographies of founders== ===George C. Harding=== '''George Campbell Harding''' was born May 18, 1867, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He attended the public schools in Pittsfield and Phillips Academy in Andover before entering the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. He graduated in 1889 and worked in the offices of several Boston architects. He later returned to Pittsfield, where in 1894 he formed a partnership with Charles T. Rathbun, Pittsfield's oldest architect. This partnership, Rathbun & Harding, was dissolved upon Rathbun's retirement in 1899. Harding then practiced under his own name, establishing his partnership with Henry M. Seaver on January 1, 1902.<ref>"News From the Classes," ''Technology Review'' 4, no. 2 (April 1902): 246.</ref> He maintained his partnership with Seaver until his death in 1921.<ref name="HardingObit">"News From the Classes," ''Technology Review'' 23, no. 3 (July 1921): 445-446.</ref>
Harding died April 23, 1921, in Pittsfield. He never married.<ref name="HardingObit"/>
===Henry M. Seaver=== '''Henry Morse Seaver''' was born March 8, 1873, in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, now part of Boston. He attended the public schools, graduating from Boston English High School in 1890. He entered the office of Boston architects Longfellow, Alden & Harlow, and also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a two-year architecture program, graduating in 1897. After traveling in Europe, Seaver returned to Boston in 1899 and briefly established an architecture practice. He was selected to design the new Theodore Parker Church in West Roxbury, the congregation of which his parents were members. In 1900, after the church was completed, he moved to Pittsfield, where he became head drafter in the office of George C. Harding.<ref name="bostonreport"/> After a year, they formed a partnership which was maintained until Harding's 1921 death. Seaver continued the firm alone under the same name until his own death in 1947.<ref name="SeaverObit">"Henry Seaver, Architect, Dies at 74," ''Berkshire County Eagle'', December 10, 1947, 1.</ref>
Seaver was a member of the Planning Board of Pittsfield from its 1924 establishment until his death.<ref name="SeaverObit"/>
In 1904 Seaver married Alice V. W. Wentworth of Pittsfield.<ref>"News From the Classes," ''Technology Review'' 6, no. 3 (July 1904): 474.</ref> He died December 9, 1947, in Pittsfield.<ref name="SeaverObit"/>
==Legacy== In 1948, the firm was purchased by architects Prentice Bradley (1906–1997) and Douglas T. Gass, who reorganized it as Bradley & Gass. They dissolved their partnership in 1955, Bradley continuing the practice alone. In 1971 he further reorganized the firm as Bradley Architects.<ref>"[https://www.berkshirebradley.com/bradley-architects-inc/ Firm & History]", berkshirebradley.com, Bradley Architects, n. d. Accessed February 15, 2021.</ref> The firm is still in business in Pittsfield.{{efn|name=Bradley|As of February, 2021.}}
Harding and Seaver "designed a great many public buildings in the Pittsfield-Berkshire County area, and did many other private commissions throughout New England and in New York State."<ref name=bostonreport>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofboston.gov/Images_Documents/Theodore%20Parker%20Unitarian%20Church%20Study%20Report%20%2373_tcm3-21371.pdf |title=Theodore Parker Unitarian Church: Boston Landmarks Commission Study Report |year=1985}}</ref>
Some of their works are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
==Architectural works== * Saint Andrew's Chapel, Washington, Massachusetts (1899, NRHP-listed 1986)<ref name=washington_mra>{{cite web |url={{NRHP url|id=64000302}} |title=National Register of Historic Places: Historic Resources of the Town of Washington, Massachusetts (partial inventory: historic historical and archaeological resources, ca. 1765-1900) / Washington Multiple Resources Area |date=March 1986 |author=Betsy Firedberg, James Parrish and Sarah Poland}}</ref> * Martin Memorial Chapel, Pittsfield Cemetery, Pittsfield, Massachusetts (1900)<ref>Pittsfield Cemetery NRHP Registration Form (2007)</ref> * Lenox Town Hall, Lenox, Massachusetts (1901–02)<ref>"Public Buildings," ''Engineering Record'' 44, no. 9 (August 31, 1901): 214.</ref> * Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Massachusetts (1902–03)<ref name="Boltwood">Edward Boltwood, ''The History of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, From the Year 1876 to the Year 1916'' (Pittsfield: City of Pittsfield, 1916)</ref> * "Mount Pleasant" for W. Murray Crane, Windsor, Massachusetts (1903)<ref>"[https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=wnd.30 WND.30]", mhc-macris.net, Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d.</ref> * House for Henry M. Seaver,{{efn|name=Seaver|The architect's own home.}} Pittsfield, Massachusetts (1905)<ref>"[https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=pit.359 PIT.359]", mhc-macris.net, Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d.</ref> * Lathrop Hall, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York (1905–06)<ref>''Colgate University: Report of the President for the Year 1904-1905'' (Hamilton: Colgate University, 1905)</ref> * Pittsfield Boys' Club, Pittsfield, Massachusetts (1905–06)<ref name="Boltwood"/> * House for William C. Plunkett,{{efn|name=Adams|Used as the Adams Town Hall since 1995.}} Adams, Massachusetts (1907)<ref>"[https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=ada.26 ADA.26]", mhc-macris.net, Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d.</ref> * "Sugar Hill" for W. Murray Crane, Dalton, Massachusetts (1907)<ref>"[https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=dal.6 DAL.6]", mhc-macris.net, Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d.</ref> * Currier Hall, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts (1908)<ref>"[https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=wll.113 WLL.113]", mhc-macris.net, Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d.</ref> * William R. Plunkett School, Pittsfield, Massachusetts (1909, demolished 2014)<ref>"[https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=pit.702 PIT.702]", mhc-macris.net, Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d.</ref> * Y. M. C. A. Building (former),{{efn|name=DaltonY|Presently the Dalton Youth Center.}} Dalton, Massachusetts (1909)<ref>"Business Buildings," ''Engineering Record'' 59, no. 13 (March 27, 1909): 46b.</ref> * Y. M. C. A. Building, Pittsfield, Massachusetts (1909–10)<ref name="Boltwood"/> * Colgate Hall, Colby–Sawyer College, New London, New Hampshire (1911–12)<ref>Bryant F. Tolles Jr. and Carolyn K. Tolles, ''New Hampshire Architecture: An Illustrated Guide'' (Hanover: University Press of New England, 1979)</ref> * House for Richard H. Stearns,{{efn|name=Stearns|Built for the son of department store owner R. H. Stearns (1824-1909).}} Brookline, Massachusetts (1912)<ref>"[https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=bkl.1498 BKL.1498]", mhc-macris.net, Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d.</ref> * Masonic Temple, Bennington, Vermont (1912)<ref>[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/08000454 Downtown Bennington Historic District (Boundary Increase) NRHP Registration Form] (2008)</ref> * Colgate Memorial Chapel, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York (1916)<ref>"Public Buildings and Schools," ''Engineering Record'' 73, no. 14 (April 1, 1916): 153.</ref> * "Point O'View" for George D. B. Bonbright, Nantucket, Massachusetts<ref>"[https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=nan.1636 NAN.1636]", mhc-macris.net, Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d.</ref> * Z. Marshall Crane School and Library, Windsor, Massachusetts (1919–20)<ref>"[https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=wnd.1 WND.1]", mhc-macris.net, Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d.</ref> * Alterations to the South Congregational Church, Pittsfield, Massachusetts (1919)<ref>"[https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=pit.73 PIT.73]", mhc-macris.net, Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d.</ref> * Clapp Memorial Building, Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, Massachusetts (1924)<ref name="Hospital">"[https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=pit.w PIT.W]", mhc-macris.net, Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d.</ref> * Edward A. Jones Memorial Building, Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, Massachusetts (1932)<ref name="Hospital"/>
==Gallery of architectural works== {{Gallery |width=260 |title=|align=center |File:WashingtonMA StAndrewsChapel.jpg |Saint Andrew's Chapel, Washington, Massachusetts, 1899. |File:Town Hall, Lenox, MA.jpg |Lenox Town Hall, Lenox, Massachusetts, 1901-02. |File:Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.JPG |Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 1902-03. |File:Colgate University 11.jpg |Lathrop Hall, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, 1905-06. |File:Adams Town Hall.jpg |House for William C. Plunkett, Adams, Massachusetts, 1907. |File:DaltonMA SugarHillEstate.jpg |"Sugar Hill" for W. Murray Crane, Dalton, Massachusetts, 1907. |File:Pittsfield MA 7.JPG |Y. M. C. A. Building, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 1909-10. |File:ColbySawyer-ColgateHall.jpg |Colgate Hall, Colby–Sawyer College, New London, New Hampshire, 1911-12. |File:Memorial Chapel at Colgate University.jpg |Colgate Memorial Chapel, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, 1916. |File:Windsor Library.JPG |Z. Marshall Crane School and Library, Windsor, Massachusetts, 1919-20. }}
==See also== *George M. Harding (1827–1910), an architect of Portland, Maine and Boston
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harding and Seaver}} Category:Defunct architecture firms based in Massachusetts Category:Pittsfield, Massachusetts Category:Organizations based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts Category:1901 establishments in Massachusetts Category:American companies established in 1901 Category:Design companies established in 1901 Category:1947 disestablishments in Massachusetts Category:American companies disestablished in 1947 Category:Design companies disestablished in 1947