Harold Ellsworth Crosby (January 22, 1899 – January 12, 1958) was an American architect who supervised the construction of many G. C. Murphy

G. C. Murphy

G.C. Murphy is a defunct chain of five and dime or variety stores in the United States.- Origins of chain :The chain was founded in 1906 in the Pittsburgh suburb of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, by George Clinton Murphy. Murphy had gotten his start in retail as a manager of a McCrory's store in 1896...

 Co. discount department store

Department store

A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...

s across the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

http://www.phlf.org/news/mediaclips/2000/000326tr.html. Born in Maryville, Missouri

Maryville, Missouri

Maryville is a city in Nodaway County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,581 at the 2000 census. The town, organized on February 14, 1845, was named for Mrs. Mary Graham, wife of Amos Graham, then the county clerk. Mary was the first Caucasian woman to have lived within the boundaries...

, he graduated from Iowa State College with a B.A., 1922. After marrying his wife, Lydia Ferber in 1924, he traveled in North America, South America, and Europe. Crosby joined G. C. Murphy Co. in the late 1920s and became corporate architect. He served in both World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 and World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 as lieutenant colonel under Eisenhower. After returning home, he became vice-president of the construction division of G. C. Murphy from 1947-55 and then became vice-president, Mack Realty Companyhttp://www.phlf.org/news/mediaclips/2000/000326tr.html. He was also a member of the AIA

American Institute of Architects

The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...

 Pittsburgh. He also was the architect for the YMCA Camp, named after T. Frank Soleshttp://www.campsoles.org/history.htm.

His office was at 531 Fifth Avenue, McKeesport, Pa.; his home, 1512 Manor Avenue, McKeesport. He died at the age of 58 on January 12, in Rockwood, Somerset County, PA. (Camp Soles) 1958, and was survived by his wife, Lydia, now deceased.

His Art Deco

Art Deco

Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...

 style store in downtown Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia

Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...

, was demolished in 2004http://www.agilitynut.com/deco/va.html.