Draft:Wilbur Arthur Hitchcock

Wilbur Arthur Hitchcock (27 Mar 1886 in Springfield, Bon Homme County, South Dakota - 12 Nov 1930 in Los Angeles County, California)   was an architect practicing in Laramie, Wyoming from 1921 to 1930  and a Civil Engineering professor at the University of Wyoming from 1912 to 1921. His firm designed many of the most significant buildings in Laramie including over 70 private residences and over 300 buildings across the state.

Early Life and Education

Wilbur was born to Arthur Edwin Hitchcock (27 Feb 1859 - 8 Aug 1943) and Blanche (Niles) Hitchcock (3 Sep 1863 - 11 Jan 1944) in Springfield South Dakota, the eldest of three brothers (Ernest Bernard and Edwin Niles). He moved to Laramie in 1908 to attend the University of Wyoming graduating in 1912 with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. He went on to earn a Master's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1916. While an undergraduate, he worked as a carpenter and began designing houses.

Personal Life

Wilbur married Gladys Corthell (28 Mar 1890 - 17 Sep 1925) in 1914 and had four children: Wilbur Eliot (21 Aug 1915 - 8 Apr 1996), David Niles (2 Jun 1918 - 15 Dec 1979), Clinton Arthur (7 Sep 1919 - 7 Feb 2003), and Elinor (9 Feb 1921 - 13 Mar 2010). Following Gladys' death in 1925, Wilbur married Verna Johannesen (8 Feb 1898 - 18 Jan 1990) in 1930. Tragically, Wilbur was killed in a car accident on their honeymoon. Verna returned to Laramie and raised the four children.

Professional Life

After graduating from the University of Colorado, Wilbur taught Civil Engineering at the University of Wyoming (1917 - 1921) while also serving as university architect. In 1921, he resigned from teaching and opened his own architectural firm (1921-1930). Architects William Dubois and Frederick Porter were part of his firm. Two of his sons, Clinton Arthur and Wilbur Eliot, opened their own firm (Hitchcock and Hitchcock Architects) in Laramie some years after their father's death. Their firm made significant contributions to mid-century modern design in Laramie.

University of Wyoming Projects


 * Aven Nelson building
 * McWhinnie Hall (1928)
 * the Cooper House 1411 Grand Ave. (1921)
 * the Pi Beta Phi house
 * Half-Acre Gymnasium with William Dubois
 * Engineering Hall with Frederick Porter
 * Ivinson Memorial Hospital (Currently UofWy Ivinson building) 1010 Ivinson St. (1916) Modifications in 1938, 1951, and 1968 by Hitchcock and Hitchcock)

Public and Commercial Works in Laramie


 * the Masonic Temple, NE corner of 4th St. and Ivinson Ave. (1911)
 * Ivinson Home for Ladies
 * the Laramie Plains Civic Center
 * the Alice Hardie Stevens Center
 * northwest corner of Grand Ave. and 6th St., the Albany County Courthouse with William Dubois (1930)
 * Knight Apartments 816-820 Ivinson St. (1915)
 * Sprucellyn Apartments 906 E. Ivinson Ave. (1923)
 * Stratford Arms 515 Ivinson Avenue (1930)
 * Stratford Annex 116 S. 6th Street (moved/remodeled by Hitchcock in 1930)
 * Stryker Mortuary 310 S. 6th Street (1912)
 * Albany Mutual Building Association, NE corner of 2nd St. and Grand Ave. (New facade by Hitchcock 1919)

Residential Works in Laramie


 * J. W. Meldrum House 703 E. Ivinson Ave. (1920's addition/remodel of 1880's house)
 * Charles Merica House 715 E. Ivinson Ave. (1909)
 * Carl Nydegger House 719 E. Ivinson Ave. (1910)
 * Peter McNiff House 803 Ivinson Ave. (1919 - attributed to W.A. Hitchcock)
 * Caretakers House for Knight Apartments 812 Ivinson Avenue. (1924)
 * Deacon House for Episcopal Church 104 South 4th Street (1924)
 * Balch Cottage 819 Ivinson Street (1924)
 * Caretaker’s Cottage for Sprucellyn Apartments 910 Ivinson Avenue (1923)
 * Bode Music Studio 914 Ivinson Avenue (1909)
 * C. Eben Stromquist House 1120 Ivinson St. (c.1910)
 * Anne Forbes House 1200 E. Ivinson Ave. (1929)
 * Greenbaum House 1306 Ivinson Ave. (1937)
 * Morris Corthell House 1316 Ivinson Avenue (1929)
 * Curtis House 612 Grand Ave. (1920)
 * John Price House 1117 Grand Ave. (1917)
 * Dr. R. M. Leake House 1300 Grand Ave (1920)
 * Arthur W. Royer House 609 Garfield St. (1920)
 * Aven Nelson House 1100 Garfield Street (1911)
 * B.F. Early House 1213 Garfield St. (1920)
 * Laramie Home Builders Company House #1, 1308 Garfield Street (1920)
 * Dr. Fredric Hultz House 1315 Garfield Ave (1927)
 * Laramie Home Builders Company House #2, 1414 Garfield Street (1920)
 * Laramie Home Builders Company House #3, 1301 Custer Street (1920)
 * Laramie Home Builders Company House #4, 1401 Custer Street (1920)
 * Laramie Home Builders Company House #5, 1409 Custer Street (1919)
 * Laramie Home Builders Company House #5, 1417 Custer Street (1919)
 * Margaret Grow House 112 S. 6th Street (1912)
 * Second McNiff House 111 South 8th Street (1922)
 * Bode House; Ivinson Memorial Hospital Nurses’ Dormitory 200 South 10th Street (1909)
 * Robert Gottschalk House 315 S. 11th St. (1924)
 * 304 S. 13th St. (1937 - one of 5 similar houses on the block)
 * Fred C. Lebhart House 321 S. 13th St (1931)
 * 418 S. 12th Street (1910)
 * W.A. Hitchcock house, 262 9th St. (1926)
 * 210 10th St. (1909)
 * 1500 Grand Ave.
 * 321 13th St. (1930)
 * 1315 Garfield St.