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Roy H. Dobell

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Roy Herbert D

Roy Herbert Dobell
Born(1887-04-27)April 27, 1887.
Evansville, Indiana, United States
DiedNovember 27, 1953(1953-11-27) (aged 66)
Tacoma, Washington, United States
CitizenshipAmerican
Alma materDePauw University
Occupation(s)Artist, Architect
Known forDesigning a number of important homes, buildings, and golf courses in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington State)

obell, (born April 27, 1887 – died November 27, 1953) was an American artist and architect known for the design of various celebrated structures and homes throughout the Pacific Northwest in the first half of the twentieth century.

Early Life and Education

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Roy Dobell was born in Evansville, Indiana.[1] In 1906, he earned an A.B. degree from DePauw University[2] in Greencastle, Indiana where his father, Joseph Tomsett Dobell was a professor and later, university registrar.[3][4] Due to his talent in architecture, Roy went to the University of Illinois between 1908 and 1909[5] to commence postgraduate studies. Dobell belonged to the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.[6][7]

Career

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Roy’s career began as a draftsman and building inspector for Westinghouse, Church, Kerr & Co.[8] in New York City from June 1909 to January 1910, followed by a position with the Supervising Architect in Washington D.C. until June 1910.[9] He also worked as a draftsman for Spencer & Powers in Chicago until October 1910.[10] Roy's career took a turn when he moved to Corvallis, Oregon, in October 1910, where he founded and instructed for the art and architecture program for Oregon Agricultural College[11] (now Oregon State University) until January 1914. That same year, Roy ventured to open his own architectural practice, setting up his firm in Corvallis[12] and taking on various noteworthy projects within the city, including the Corvallis Women’s Club Building[13], the John Fulton House[14], and the First Congregational Church, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.[15]

Roy relocated to Aberdeen, Washington, where he worked for several established architectural firms, including Troutman & Haynes[16] and Grant Smith Shipyards[17], and earned his architectural license in Washington State in December 1919[18]. He established his independent architectural practice in Aberdeen in 1920. Within a couple of months of establishing his own firm, Dobell reportedly had more than $100,000 in projects[19]. Dobell's portfolio included high-visibility architectural and interior design projects such as the George J. Wolff House, the F. Arnold Polson House, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, the First Baptist Church(which one),[20] Grays Harbor National Bank[21], a “palatial” theatre for Jensen & Von Herberg and Andrews & Wade[22], and the Kress Store[23]. In Hoquiam, he designed an apartment for the Aberdeen Investment Co., the American Legion Building[24] and the Emerson School.[25] Roy Dobell was the primary architect for the American Veterans Building in Hoquiam; however a specialist would be needed to design the banking portion of the building. As a result. the respected Beezer Brothers, architectural firm from Seattle, were hired to oversee the design for the banking portion of the building.[26] The American Veteran’s Building was included among the National Register of Historic Places listings in Grays Harbor County, Washington in January 2011.[27]

In response to the Great Depression, Roy moved to Tacoma in 1930, where he led the construction and design of the Highlands Golf Club in 1931[28]. Additional Golf courses designed by Dobell include the Ridgeway Golf Course in Tacoma, Beachway Public Golf Course in Aberdeen[29], Bridgeway Golf Course[30] (now the Golf Club of Oregon) in Albany, Oregon and the Cedarcrest Golf Course[31] in Maryhill, Washington.

Contributing to one of Washington State’s most recognized landmarks, in 1931 Dobell designed and oversaw construction of a golf course and caddy house at Mount Rainier's Paradise Inn.[32] [33] The 9-hole golf course was reported to be the highest in altitude in the United States at that time.[34] It is believed that Roy Dobell was responsible, at least in part, for the 1925-31 interior re-decoration of Paradise Inn, including the selection of Old Hickory Company furniture, the design for the upright and inverted sawtooth-tree motif painted on the Alaskan cedar columns in the grand lobby, registration desk and restaurant, as well as the removal of the previous Japonesque lanterns suspended in the lodge, replacing them with hand-painted parchment drum lanterns that depicted stylized Alpine floral motifs. Originally these drum lanterns were also installed in the Paradise Inn restaurant in addition to the grand lobby. The lanterns were painted by the wives of Mount Rainier National Park Rangers.[35] These painted drum shades were later replaced with more naturalistic depictions of local wildflowers executed by Mount Rainier retired Chief Naturalist Dale Thompson in 1989.[36]

In 1937, Roy Dobell relocated to Salem, Oregon to work with the Department of Architecture of the Forestry Bureau of Parks & Recreation[37] and acted as the superintendent of construction for the Oregon State Capitol complex.[38] [39]

Later Career

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In 1949, Dobell returned to Tacoma, and in 1950 his Washington State Architectural License was reinstated.[40] In his 60’s, Roy continued to deliver sizeable projects such as the Lincoln Medical, Dental Building, and remodeling of Crawford’s Restaurant into offices for the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co.[41], and several private residential projects throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Artwork

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Throughout his career, Roy produced numerous pastel drawings and oil paintings, often capturing the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest as well as the Canadian Rockies.[42] Working both plein air and in his studio, his works draw from his ability to organize and harmonize natural volumes in space, frequently utilizing both sides of his drawing surface, often onion skin paper, to imply a rich sense of depth and atmospheric perspective.

Personal Life

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Roy married Alice Elizabeth Porter in March of 1913.[43] Together, they raised two sons and four daughters. Tragically, their son Roy H. Dobell, Jr., a draftsman who was also pursuing a career in architecture, became a prisoner of the Japanese Army during World War II. [44]He perished in the Shinyo Maru incident on the Japanese "hell ship" Shinyo Maru.[45] This tragic event had a deep emotional impact on Roy H. Dobell, and thwarted long-laid plans for his son to join his architectural practice.

Death

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On a horseback sketching and painting trip at Lake Crescent, Washington,[46] Dobell proceeded to fall off his horse by accident; he was badly injured and required hospitalization. It was then that Roy was diagnosed with Multiple myeloma (MM).

Facing death, he reportedly expressed to his family not to worry, philosophically reflecting that “architect's buildings live forever.” He died on November 27, 1953, with numerous leading newspapers of the Pacific Northwest reporting his passing.[47] [48] [49] [50]

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https://dahp.wa.gov/historic-preservation/research-and-technical-preservation-guidance/architect-biographies/bio-for-roy-h-dobell

https://pcad.lib.washington.edu/person/9118/

References

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  1. ^ Well Known Architect Dies, The Tacoma News Tribune November 29, 1953
  2. ^ Depauw Graduate Weds. The Indianapolis Star, February 4, 1913
  3. ^ Milo B. Mitchell, editor. The Mirage: A Reminiscence of Old Depauw, 1922, p.23
  4. ^ John A. Pollard, Phi Gamma Delta and Kappa Alpha Theta, The Fiji Thesaurus, published as the October, 1947 issue of The Phi Gamma Delta, Volume 70, Number 1, and condensed from an article in the May 1931 issue
  5. ^ Well Known Architect Dies, The Tacoma News Tribune November 29, 1953
  6. ^ Depauw Graduate Weds. The Indianapolis Star, February 4, 1913
  7. ^ John A. Pollard, Phi Gamma Delta and Kappa Alpha Theta, The Fiji Thesaurus, published as the October, 1947 issue of The Phi Gamma Delta, Volume 70, Number 1, and condensed from an article in the May 1931 issue
  8. ^ R.H. Dobell Opens Architectural Offices Here, Aberdeen Daily World (Aberdeen, Washington) Morning Edition, December 28, 1919
  9. ^ Roy H. Dobell, Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, accessed February 26, 2025
  10. ^ Roy H. Dobell,  Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, accessed February 26, 2025
  11. ^ R.H. Dobell Opens Architectural Offices Here, Aberdeen Daily World (Aberdeen, Washington) Morning EdiOon, December 28, 1919
  12. ^ Corvallis Gazette Times, Wednesday, March 3, 1916
  13. ^ First Congregational Church, The Historical Marker Database, accessed October 11, 2023
  14. ^ The Historical Marker Database https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=117268 accessed October 11, 2023
  15. ^ Gorman, Rusty; Lewis, William (November 10, 1980), National Register of Historic Places Inventory — Nomination Form: First Congregational Church (PDF), retrieved August 7, 2023
  16. ^ R.H. Dobell Opens Architectural Offices Here, Aberdeen Daily World (Aberdeen, Washington) Morning Edition, December 28, 1919
  17. ^ Roy H. Dobell,  Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, accessed February 26, 2025
  18. ^ Roy H. Dobell's Architect Licence ,  Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, accessed February 26, 2025
  19. ^ Roy H. Dobell,  Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, accessed February 26, 2025
  20. ^ Christian Science and Tabernacle Congregations Are Also Building New Houses of Worship, The Seattle Daily Times, December 19, 1926, p. 32
  21. ^ Two New Bank Homes Will Be Remodeled, Seattle Daily Times July 6, 1927, page 14
  22. ^ $200,000 For Theatre, Seattle Daily Times August 8, 1923, page 8
  23. ^ Two Store Buildings Planned at Aberdeen. The Seattle Daily Times, June 16, 1926, p.4
  24. ^ Seattle Daily Times, January 7, 1920, page 15
  25. ^ Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Emerson School Is Unique in State For Many Features
  26. ^ National Register of Historic Places, United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service; American Veterans Building, Grays Harbor County, Washington Section number 8 page 9 accessed March 11, 2025
  27. ^ National Park Service, National Register Digital Assets, American Veterans Building--Hoquiam accessed March 11, 2025
  28. ^ Roy H. Dobell,  Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, accessed February 26, 2025
  29. ^ To Begin Work on Links Greens, The Tacoma News Tribune November 29, 1927
  30. ^ Martin Pool, Early History of Cedarcrest Golf Course, Marysville, WA, Northwest Hickory Players, accessed March 2, 2025
  31. ^ Martin Pool, Early History of Cedarcrest Golf Course, Marysville, WA, Northwest Hickory Players, accessed March 2, 2025
  32. ^ Golf Links at Park Will Be Opened Today, The Tacoma Daily Ledger, August 8, 1931
  33. ^ Roy H. Dobell,  Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, accessed February 26, 2025
  34. ^ Golf Links at Park Will Be Opened Today, The Tacoma Daily Ledger, August 8, 1931
  35. ^ Painting the Paradise Inn Lamp Shades, Mount Rainier National Park', accessed October 11, 2023
  36. ^ Painting the Paradise Inn Lamp Shades, Mount Rainier National Park, accessed October 11, 2023
  37. ^ First Congregational Church, The Historical Marker Database, accessed October 11, 2023
  38. ^ Well Known Architect Dies, The Tacoma News Tribune November 29, 1953
  39. ^ The Historical Marker Database https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=117268 accessed October 11, 2023
  40. ^ Roy H. Dobell's Architect Licence ,  Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, accessed February 26, 2025
  41. ^ Phone Co. Leases Site of Crawford’s The Tacoma News Tribune February 7, 1953
  42. ^ Well Known Architect Dies, The Tacoma News Tribune November 29, 1953
  43. ^ Depauw Graduate Weds, The Indianapolis Star, February 4, 1913
  44. ^ The Capital Journal, Thursday, December 16, 1943
  45. ^ WWII Report for Oregon, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, accessed February 24, 2025
  46. ^ Times Colonist August 23, 1952, Page 15
  47. ^ Well Known Architect Dies, The Tacoma News Tribune November 29, 1953
  48. ^ Well Known Artist Dies, The Statesman Journal November 29, Nov 1953
  49. ^ Herbert Dobell Dies in Tacoma Hospital, The Eugene Guard November 29, 1953
  50. ^ Rites in Tacoma for R. H. Dobell, Noted Architect, The Seattle Daily Times Sunday, November 29, 1953
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