George E. Dickey

George E. Dickey (1840–1900) was an architect who worked in the United States and Canada in the 1800s.

Early life
George E. Dickey was born in Wilmot, New Hampshire, on October 29, 1840, to James and Sebra Sickey. He grew up and attended school in New Hampshire.

Career
Dickey went to Boston for professional training. He practiced architecture in Waltham, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire, before moving to Toronto in 1873. After five years he moved to Houston.

Dickey designed many commercial and residential buildings during his career in Houston. His design of the B.A. Shepherd Building (1883) at 219 Main is an example of High Victorian Gothic according to architectural historian, Barrie Scardino Bradley. This building was at first home to the First National Bank of Houston, and was occupied by the Houston National Bank starting in 1886. This building was demolished in 1989 to make room for a parking garage. Another important Dickey commission was the Capitol Hotel built in 1883. The Capitol Hotel was planned for the site of the former Capitol building at the corner of Main Street and Texas Avenue, but with a larger building footprint and with five stories. For the Capitol Hotel, Dickey employed Renaissance Revival features, and incorporated modern infrastructure, including indoor plumbing, gas lighting, and an elevator.

Houston City Hall
In November 1902 Dickey was awarded a contract to design Houston's fourth City Hall, the previous three all having been destroyed by fire. Dickey based his design, featuring two towers for a clock and bell, on the previous city halls, but Dickey designed the stone and brick building in a Victorian Romanesque style which was outdated. The building was completed in 1904. In 1939, the city government moved to a new building on Bagby Street, and the building was destroyed by fire in 1960.

Personal life
Dickey wedded Mary Messer of New London, New Hampshire, in 1862. He married Maria Watier, a native of Montreal. His third wife was Georgia Dickey. From these three marriages, he had a total of eight children. His eldest son practiced architecture with him.

Notable works

 * Grand Opera House, Brenham, Texas (1878)
 * Masonic Temple and Opera House, Sherman, Texas (1880)
 * (Second) Capitol Hotel, Houston (1883, demolished)
 * Shearn Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, Houston (1883, demolished)
 * First Baptist Church, Houston (1884, demolished)
 * First Presbyterian Church, Houston (1885, demolished)
 * S. K. Dick House, Houston (1885, demolished)
 * T. W. House House, Houston (1885, demolished)
 * Grand Central Depot, Houston (1889, demolished)
 * Sweeney, Coombs, and Fredericks Building, Houston (1889)
 * Houston Light Guard Armory (1891, demolished)
 * City Hall and Market House, Houston (1904, demolished 1960)