Polhemus & Coffin
Encyclopedia
Henry M. Polhemus and Lewis Augustus Coffin, Jr formed the New York-based
architectural firm of Polhemus & Coffin. Together they contributed to a joint publication, Small French Buildings: The Architecture of Town and Country, with 183 plates of sketches, illustrations and photos, published by Charles Scribner & Sons in 1921. Their modest French country manor "Mille Fleurs" designed for Mrs Daniel Guggenheim
on the extensive Gould-Guggenheim estate in Port Washington, New York
, on the Gold Coast of Long Island, was completed in 1932; it is modeled on the vineyard Château Beauregard
, Pommerol. In Newport, Rhode Island
, they designed "Champ Soleil", on Bellevue Avenue, a small 22-room French manor that was completed in 1929. A lively debate currently underway on the internet, questions the inspiration for the design and whether or not Champ Soleil was modeled on the famous French Norman chateau named "La Lanterne." a residence near Versailles. Designed for Lucy Drexel Dalgren
in 1929, at one time Champ Soleil was the residence of Russell Aitken, artist, big game hunter, Associate Editor of Field & Stream Magazine and step-father of Sunny von Bülow
. In 2006, Acanthus Press published a book authored by James Archer Abbott, Jansen - 20th Century Decorators, by James Archer Abbott, which features a chapter about the 1950s update of Champ Soleil, and contains a few detailed renderings and interior photos, detailing work done by famed french decorating firm Maison Jansen
.
The firm also designed some apartment buildings and office structures in Manhattan: - 232 Madison Avenue, at 37th Street (1925, standing), a 16-storey office building with streamlined neo-Gothic details, and 140 East 54th Street
(1931, demolished). Lewis Coffin, who had graduated from The Choate School
(now Choate Rosemary Hall) in Wallingford, Connecticut
in 1908, designed the school's Winter Exercise Building (1931, now the Johnson Athletic Center).
Lewis Augustus Coffin, Jr was born in 1892 and was the son of noted Otolaryngology
surgeon, Dr Lewis Augustus Coffin, Sr. In addition to graduating from The Choate School in 1908, he went on to attend Columbia University
to acquire his Certificate in Architecture in 1914. He began a solo career in 1917 and then joined Henry Polhemus as partner, to form Polhemus & Coffin in 1919. Lewis A Coffin's affinity and passion for French country structures and style became quite evident as the firm designed many notable single dwelling homes throughout the New Jersey, New York and Connecticut areas. They travelled to France numerous times for research and to survey examples for their book. He also designed a few homes in the once artist community (one-time summer residence of Mark Twain
), Onteora Park Historic District
just outside of Tannersville, Greene County
, upstate New York, as this had been a long-time family summer retreat for decades. Onteora Park was added to the National Historical Register in 2003, which included at least one of Coffin's designs, however the remaining designs must wait until the time qualification is reached. Lewis A Coffin, Jr died in 1963 in New York City.
Their draftsman George Hickey established an independent practise designing houses with a French flavor, many of them modeled on sketches from Polhemus & Coffin’s Small French Buildings. His most famous house in this genre, "Stonecrop", Cold Spring Harbor (1957), owes its reputation in large part to the more famous garden laid out and planted by the owner, Frank Cabot
.
An archive of photographs of their residential work in the Northeast, much of it in an unobtrusive vernacular Colonial style, is among the Gottscho-Schleisner Collection (Library of Congress).
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
architectural firm of Polhemus & Coffin. Together they contributed to a joint publication, Small French Buildings: The Architecture of Town and Country, with 183 plates of sketches, illustrations and photos, published by Charles Scribner & Sons in 1921. Their modest French country manor "Mille Fleurs" designed for Mrs Daniel Guggenheim
Guggenheim family
The Guggenheim family is an American family, of Swiss Jewish ancestry. Beginning with Meyer Guggenheim, who arrived in America in 1847, the family were known for their global successes in mining and smelting . During the 19th century, the family possessed one of the largest fortunes in the world...
on the extensive Gould-Guggenheim estate in Port Washington, New York
Port Washington, New York
Port Washington is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the community population was 15,846....
, on the Gold Coast of Long Island, was completed in 1932; it is modeled on the vineyard Château Beauregard
Château Beauregard
Château Beauregard is a Bordeaux wine estate from the appellation Pomerol. The winery is located on the Right Bank of the Bordeaux wine region, in the commune of Pomerol in the department Gironde...
, Pommerol. In Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, they designed "Champ Soleil", on Bellevue Avenue, a small 22-room French manor that was completed in 1929. A lively debate currently underway on the internet, questions the inspiration for the design and whether or not Champ Soleil was modeled on the famous French Norman chateau named "La Lanterne." a residence near Versailles. Designed for Lucy Drexel Dalgren
Lucy Wharton Drexel
Lucy Wharton Drexel was a Manhattan socialite.She was the second daughter of Lucy Wharton, and Joseph William Drexel, her sister was Elizabeth Wharton Drexel. She married Eric Bernard Dahlgren, Sr. on November 27, 1890 and they sought a divorce after 22 years of marriage in 1912. Eric was the son...
in 1929, at one time Champ Soleil was the residence of Russell Aitken, artist, big game hunter, Associate Editor of Field & Stream Magazine and step-father of Sunny von Bülow
Sunny von Bülow
Martha Sharp Crawford von Bülow , known as Sunny von Bülow, was an American heiress and socialite. Her husband, Claus von Bülow, was convicted of attempting her murder by insulin overdose, but the conviction was overturned on appeal...
. In 2006, Acanthus Press published a book authored by James Archer Abbott, Jansen - 20th Century Decorators, by James Archer Abbott, which features a chapter about the 1950s update of Champ Soleil, and contains a few detailed renderings and interior photos, detailing work done by famed french decorating firm Maison Jansen
Maison Jansen
Maison Jansen was a Paris-based interior decoration office founded in 1880 by Dutch-born Jean-Henri Jansen and continuing in practice until 1989...
.
The firm also designed some apartment buildings and office structures in Manhattan: - 232 Madison Avenue, at 37th Street (1925, standing), a 16-storey office building with streamlined neo-Gothic details, and 140 East 54th Street
54th Street (Manhattan)
54th Street is a two-mile-long, one-way street traveling west to east across Midtown Manhattan.-West Side Highway:*The route begins at the West Side Highway . Opposite the intersection is the New York Passenger Ship Terminal and the Hudson River...
(1931, demolished). Lewis Coffin, who had graduated from The Choate School
Choate Rosemary Hall
Choate Rosemary Hall is a private, college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school located in Wallingford, Connecticut...
(now Choate Rosemary Hall) in Wallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 43,026 at the 2000 census.- History :Wallingford was established on October 10, 1667, when the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the "making of a village on the east river" to 38 planters and freemen...
in 1908, designed the school's Winter Exercise Building (1931, now the Johnson Athletic Center).
Lewis Augustus Coffin, Jr was born in 1892 and was the son of noted Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology or ENT is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders....
surgeon, Dr Lewis Augustus Coffin, Sr. In addition to graduating from The Choate School in 1908, he went on to attend Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
to acquire his Certificate in Architecture in 1914. He began a solo career in 1917 and then joined Henry Polhemus as partner, to form Polhemus & Coffin in 1919. Lewis A Coffin's affinity and passion for French country structures and style became quite evident as the firm designed many notable single dwelling homes throughout the New Jersey, New York and Connecticut areas. They travelled to France numerous times for research and to survey examples for their book. He also designed a few homes in the once artist community (one-time summer residence of Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
), Onteora Park Historic District
Onteora Park Historic District
Onteora Park Historic District is a national historic district located at Hunter in Greene County, New York. The district contains 94 contributing buildings and seven contributing structures. It is composed of a golf course and extensive hiking trails planned during the late 19th century. The...
just outside of Tannersville, Greene County
Greene County, New York
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...
, upstate New York, as this had been a long-time family summer retreat for decades. Onteora Park was added to the National Historical Register in 2003, which included at least one of Coffin's designs, however the remaining designs must wait until the time qualification is reached. Lewis A Coffin, Jr died in 1963 in New York City.
Their draftsman George Hickey established an independent practise designing houses with a French flavor, many of them modeled on sketches from Polhemus & Coffin’s Small French Buildings. His most famous house in this genre, "Stonecrop", Cold Spring Harbor (1957), owes its reputation in large part to the more famous garden laid out and planted by the owner, Frank Cabot
Francis Cabot
Francis Higginson Cabot, was an American gardener and horticulturist.A 1949 graduate of Harvard College, Cabot was active in the Hasty Pudding Theatricals and was one of the four founders of the a cappella singing group, the Harvard Krokodiloes...
.
An archive of photographs of their residential work in the Northeast, much of it in an unobtrusive vernacular Colonial style, is among the Gottscho-Schleisner Collection (Library of Congress).