User:JPRiley/Bunker
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| Bunker & Savage | |
|---|---|
| Practice information | |
| Partners | William G. Bunker; Arthur R. Savage AIA; C. Elwyn Tabbutt AIA; Edward W. Millett AIA; Craig Boone |
| Founders | William G. Bunker |
| Founded | 1915 |
| Dissolved | 2016 |
| Location | Augusta, Maine |
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Bunker & Savage was an American architectural firm based in Augusta, Maine and active from 1918 to 2016. The firm is best known for those buildings designed during the lifetimes of its original partners, William G. Bunker (1872–1957) and Arthur R. Savage (1889–1958), several of which are notable historic buildings.
History
[edit]The firm of Bunker & Savage was formed in late 1918 as the partnership of established architect William G. Bunker and his employee, Arthur R. Savage.[1][2] Bunker retired from practice in 1945[3] and after Savage died in 1958 control of the firm passed to architect C. Elwyn Tabbutt, Bunker's nephew, who had joined the firm as a teenager in 1927.[4] Despite the poor condition of the Maine economy during this period, the firm's focus on public work allowed them to benefit from Edmund Muskie's public investment program, including an expansion of what was later the Augusta Mental Health Institute and new schools for consolidated school districts created by the Sinclair Act.[5] Get Sinclair Act source
In 1969 the firm was incorporated by Tabbutt, Edward W. Millett and Stewart P. McAllister, with Millett, a graduate of the Wentworth Institute, as majority owner.[6][7] In 1971 McAllister moved away and in 1972 Tabbutt retired, leaving Millett as sole owner.[4] After Millett's retirement in 2000 he sold the firm to long-time employee Craig Boone, after whose own retirement in 2016 the firm was dissolved.[6][7]
Throughout its existence Bunker & Savage had a general practice with a specialty in public schools, including several that have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. The firm's last notable work was the Augusta Civic Center (1973), which Millett identified as his proudest work.[6]
Biographies
[edit]William Gleason Bunker (November 12, 1872 — February 19, 1957) was born in Hancock County and raised and educated in Milbridge. After leaving school he followed several pursuits before moving to Boston, where he worked as a draftsman. In 1908 he returned to Maine and joined the office of Bar Harbor architect Frederick Lincoln Savage. In January 1914 he joined the newly established State Highway Commission, now the Maine Department of Transportation, in Augusta. After eighteen months he opened an independent architect's office in May 1915.[8][3]
Bunker was married in 1897 to Gertrude Roberts in Milbridge. They had three children, including one son and two daughters. He died in Augusta at the age of 84.[3]
Arthur Reed Savage (July 7, 1889 — October 8, 1958) was born in Augusta. He attended the Augusta public schools and the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1914 with a BS in architecture. He worked in Boston for James H. Ritchie, in Lewiston for Harry S. Coombs and in Bar Harbor for Fred. L. Savage before joining Bunker's office in 1917.[9][2][1]
Savage was serving as president of the Augusta Chamber of Commerce when he was elected to the Augusta city council in 1934.[10] After serving two years he was elected to the board of aldermen, serving another two years.[11] In 1945 Savage was one of the first three appointees to the Maine State Board of Architects, created after the passage of a architectural licensure law.[12] He was a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and served as Maine chapter president for 1954.[1]
Savage was married in 1916 to Belle Smith in Augusta. He died in Augusta at the age of 69.[9][2] It is not known if or how he was related to his and Bunker's early employer, Frederick Lincoln Savage.
Architectural works
[edit]- 1919 — Central Building, Maine Industrial School for Girls, Hallowell, Maine[13]
- A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Maine Industrial School for Girls Historic District.
- 1920 — Hartford Fire Station, Augusta, Maine[14]
- NRHP-listed.
- 1924 — South Hall, University of Maine at Presque Isle, Presque Isle, Maine
- 1925 — Rockland High School (former), Rockland, Maine[15]
- A contributing property to the NRHP-listed Rockland Residential Historic District.[16]
- 1927 — Caribou High School, Caribou, Maine[17]
- Demolished in 2020.
- 1929 — Morse High School (former), Bath, Maine[18]
- 1930 — Old Cony High School, Augusta, Maine[19]
- NRHP-listed.
- 1931 — Alumni Gymnasium (former), University of Maine at Farmington, Farmington, Maine[20]
- As of 2025 a theatre incorporated into the Emery Community Arts Center. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Farmington Historic District.
- 1932 — Criterion Theatre, Bar Harbor, Maine[21]
- NRHP-listed.
- 1932 — Newton Hall, Kents Hill School, Kents Hill, Maine[22]
- A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Kents Hill School Historic District.
- 1937 — Old Orchard Beach High School (former), Old Orchard Beach, Maine[23]
- 1937 — Powers Hall, University of Maine at Machias, Machias, Maine[24]
- 1938 — Stevens Building, Maine Industrial School for Girls, Hallowell, Maine[13]
- A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Maine Industrial School for Girls Historic District.
- 1939 — Caribou Municipal Building, Caribou, Maine[25]
- 1940 — Blue Hill Public Library, Blue Hill, Maine[26]
- 1941 — Lincoln Hospital, Damariscotta, Maine[27]
- 1947 — Dirigo High School, Dixfield, Maine[28]
- 1950 — Madawaska High School, Madawaska, Maine[29]
- 1954 — Augusta Armory, Augusta, Maine[30]
- 1954 — Pleasant Street United Methodist Church, Waterville, Maine[31]
- 1955 — Greenlaw Building, Augusta Mental Health Institute (former), Augusta, Maine[32]
- As of 2025, facilities for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. A non-contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Maine Insane Hospital historic district.
- 1957 — Deering Building, Augusta Mental Health Institute (former), Augusta, Maine[32]
- As of 2025, facilities for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. A non-contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Maine Insane Hospital historic district.
- 1958 — Ella R. Hodgkins Intermediate School (former), 17 Malta St, Augusta, Maine[33]
- NRHP-listed.
- 1959 — Marquardt Building, Augusta Mental Health Institute (former), Augusta, Maine[32]
- As of 2025, facilities for the Maine Department of Marine Resources. A non-contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Maine Insane Hospital historic district.
- 1962 — Oceanside High School, Rockland, Maine[34][35]
- 1964 — Waterville Senior High School, Waterville, Maine[36]
- 1969 — Messalonskee High School, Oakland, Maine[37]
- 1970 — Jewett Hall, University of Maine at Augusta, Augusta, Maine[38]
- 1973 — Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine[39]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Savage, Arthur R(eed)" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 484.
- ^ a b c A Biographical Dictionary of Who's Who in Maine, ed. Theodore Roosevelt Hodgkins (Lewiston: Lewiston Journal Company, 1926): 229.
- ^ a b c "William Gleason Bunker," Kennebec Journal, February 20, 1957.
- ^ a b "C. Elwyn Tabbutt," Kennebec Journal, December 1, 1993.
- ^ Theo Lippman Jr. and Donald C. Hansen, Muskie (New York: W. W. Norton, 1971): 84-85.
- ^ a b c "Edward Warren Millett," Kennebec Journal, March 15, 2003.
- ^ a b Maine corporate filings, accessed July 18, 2025.
- ^ "William Gleason Bunker" in Maine: A History (New York: American Historical Society, 1919): 78-79.
- ^ a b "Prominent architect passes away," Kennebec Journal, October 9, 1958.
- ^ "Payne, Republican, is victor over Newbert in Augusta mayor race," Kennebec Journal, December 11, 1934.
- ^ "Record plurality reelects mayor Payne; Republicans win all but one ward office," Kennebec Journal, December 11, 1934.
- ^ "Names Savage to Board of Architects," Lewiston Evening Journal, August 27, 1945.
- ^ a b Christi A. Mitchell, Maine Industrial School for Girls NRHP Registration Form (2003)
- ^ "Contract for building Hartford fire station awarded to C. A. Brooks," Kennebec Journal, July 28, 1920.
- ^ Iron Age 112, no. 23 (December 6, 1923): 1560.
- ^ Rockland Residential Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1987)
- ^ Engineering News-Record 96, no. 25 (June 17, 1926): 75.
- ^ Edward Clarence Plummer, History of Bath, Maine (1976)
- ^ Kirk F. MohneyCony High School NRHP Registration Form (1988)
- ^ "Farmington Normal School raising money for construction gymnasium," Lewiston Evening Journal, May 15, 1931.
- ^ Frank A. Beard, Criterion Theatre NRHP Inventory—Nomination Form (1980)
- ^ Frank A. Beard and Robert L. Bradley, Kent's Hill School Historic District NRHP Inventory—Nomination Form (1979)
- ^ "Augusta contractor to build Old Orchard High," Lewiston Evening Journal, June 11, 1936.
- ^ Engineering News-Record 116, no. 19 (May 7, 1936): 49.
- ^ "Caribou manager to receive bids for town hall excavation," Bangor Daily News, October 21, 1938.
- ^ "New Blue Hill Public Library to be completed about March 8," Bangor Daily News, February 1, 1940.
- ^ "Augusta builders get hospital bid," Lewiston Evening Journal, September 2, 1939.
- ^ "Dixfield's dream high school opens with 129 pupils entered Monday," Rumford Falls Times, September 18, 1947.
- ^ "Waterville firm to build school for Madawaska," Bangor Daily News, April 28, 1949.
- ^ Joe Sline, "Capital city's long-awaited armory ready for March 26 opening; imposing structure will handle big gatherings and athletic events," Kennebec Journal, March 17, 1954.
- ^ Earle G. Shettleworth Jr., Waterville (Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2013): 51.
- ^ a b c Roger G. Reed, Maine Insane Hospital (Boundary Increase) NRHP Registration Form (2001)
- ^ Matthew Corbett, Ella R. Hodgkins Intermediate School NRHP Registration Form (2015)
- ^ "Augusta firm to design school," Bangor Daily News, May 20, 1959.
- ^ "New Rockland High School to be dedicated Sunday," Bangor Daily News, September 1, 1962.
- ^ Engineering News-Record 167, no. 12 (September 21, 1961): 212.
- ^ "New Messalonskee High School is dedicated," Morning Sentinel, November 3, 1969.
- ^ "New Augusta Campus" in Maine Campus 72, no. 6 (July 18, 1969): 1.
- ^ Susan Caldon, "Augusta's new civic center is 'magnificent,' Curtis remarks," Kennebec Journal, January 8, 1973.