User:JPRiley/Francis

Though best known for institutional and commercial projects, Francis was also sought after as a domestic architect and designed houses throughout the state, including many for industrialists. Largest of Francis' domestic projects was the house (1880-81) in Clinton for John R. Foster, a dry goods retailer. Facing the town's Central Park, this is a large, three-story house which is one of the most elaborate axamples of Stick Style architecture in New England. A Few years later he designed a Queen Anne house for manufacturer Frederick Fosdick (1884), who would later be mayor of Fitchburg. Larger and more elaborate was the Fitchburg home of Edgar F. Belding (1888), a shoe manufacturer. Now demolished, this was considered the best example of Queen Anne architecture in the region. A later house was that for Laroy S. Starrett, founder of the L. S. Starrett Company, in Athol (1900-01). This is an example of Colonial Revival architecture.

In addition to his other work for the client, Francis was responsible for various alterations to the Fitchburg house of Rodney Wallace. Another domestic project was a stable and carriage house (1880) for James Phillips Jr. in Fitchburg, built in concert with a house for Phillips. Though the house has been demolished, the stable and carriage house was donated in 1926 to the Fitchburg Art Association. After a renovation by architect Mary Almy of Howe, Manning & Almy, the building was rededicated as the Fitchburg Art Museum in 1929.