Carl Fehmer
Encyclopedia
Carl Fehmer was a prominent Boston
architect during the 19th century.
to Heinrich Fehmer and Maria (Zerrahn) Fehmer. His father died in Germany when he was five; the mother and children came to America
in 1852 and settled in Boston
.
Fehmer attended public school in Boston, and showed an early aptitude for drawing and painting. At the age of 16 he began studying architecture in the office of George Snell, a prominent Boston architect. Fehmer remained in Snell's office for eight years before beginning his own architectural practice.
For 25 years he performed all of the architectural work for the Massachusetts General Hospital
until he was forced to retire due to ill health. He designed a number of buildings for the McLean Asylum in Waverly and was appointed by Governor Oliver Ames
as consulting architect when the extension to the Massachusetts State House
was built.
During the Civil War, Fehmer served in the militia at Fort Independence
as a member of the Fourth Battalion under Major Thomas Stevenson.
Fehmer was a charter member of the Boston Society of Architects and the Saint Botolph Club.
On April 20, 1872, he married Therese Wahl.
During his long and active professional career, Fehmer designed the Shuman Corner, the Telephone Building
, and numerous Back Bay houses.
Fehmer died in Boston in 1917.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
architect during the 19th century.
Biography
Fehmer was born in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to Heinrich Fehmer and Maria (Zerrahn) Fehmer. His father died in Germany when he was five; the mother and children came to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1852 and settled in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
Fehmer attended public school in Boston, and showed an early aptitude for drawing and painting. At the age of 16 he began studying architecture in the office of George Snell, a prominent Boston architect. Fehmer remained in Snell's office for eight years before beginning his own architectural practice.
For 25 years he performed all of the architectural work for the Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
until he was forced to retire due to ill health. He designed a number of buildings for the McLean Asylum in Waverly and was appointed by Governor Oliver Ames
Oliver Ames
Oliver Ames was a U.S. political figure and financier. He was the 35th Governor of Massachusetts . He was the son of Oakes Ames , a United States Congressman who was censured in the Credit Mobilier scandal, and the nephew of Oliver Ames, Jr..-Biography:Ames was born in North Easton, Massachusetts...
as consulting architect when the extension to the Massachusetts State House
Massachusetts State House
The Massachusetts State House, also known as the Massachusetts Statehouse or the "New" State House, is the state capitol and house of government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is located in Boston in the neighborhood Beacon Hill...
was built.
During the Civil War, Fehmer served in the militia at Fort Independence
Fort Independence (Massachusetts)
Fort Independence is a granite star fort that provided harbor defenses for Boston, Massachusetts. Located on Castle Island, Fort Independence is the oldest continuously fortified site of English origin in the United States. The first primitive fortification was placed on the site in 1634 and...
as a member of the Fourth Battalion under Major Thomas Stevenson.
Fehmer was a charter member of the Boston Society of Architects and the Saint Botolph Club.
On April 20, 1872, he married Therese Wahl.
During his long and active professional career, Fehmer designed the Shuman Corner, the Telephone Building
Telephone Building
The Telephone Building is a building in Denver, Colorado, United States that served as the headquarters of the Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company, later known as Mountain Bell. Constructed in a variant of the Gothic Revival style named "Modern American Perpendicular Gothic," the...
, and numerous Back Bay houses.
Fehmer died in Boston in 1917.
External links
- Carl Fehmer Photos, history, and architecture of Fehmer's extant Boston buildings