Penn Varney
{{short description|American architect}}
{{Infobox architect
|name = Penn Varney
|image =
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|nationality = American
|birth_date = {{birth date|1859|11|15}}
|birth_place = Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
|death_date = {{death date and age|1949|4|27|1859|11|15}}
|death_place = Rowley, Massachusetts
|practice =
|significant_buildings=
|significant_projects =
|significant_design =
|awards =
}}
File:Melrose Public Library, MA.jpg, completed in 1904]]
File:Aldrich Public Library, Barre Vermont.jpg in Barre, Vermont, completed in 1908]]
Penn Varney (1859–1949) was an American architect in practice in Lynn, Massachusetts, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Life and career
Penn Varney was born November 15, 1859, in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, to Augustus J. Varney, a sawmill owner, and Mercy (Hussey) Varney. He was educated in the local schools, and in 1882 moved to Lynn where he was first employed by architect Holman K. Wheeler as a drafter. In 1888 he left Wheeler to open his own office. During the first few years he was in partnership with Alfred W. Call in the firm of Call & Varney. Varney practiced architecture in Lynn for at least forty years."Penn Varney" in [https://books.google.com/books?id=g3EMAAAAYAAJ Municipal History of Essex County in Massachusetts] 4, ed. Benjamin F. Arrington (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1922): 357.
Personal life
In 1893 Varney was married to Emma L. Hussey, and they had one son. In later life they lived in Rowley, Massachusetts. Varney died there April 27, 1949.
Legacy
At least five buildings designed by Varney have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.
The Alabama architect William Leslie Welton received his initial architectural training in Varney's office.History of Alabama and Her People 3 (New York: American Historical Society, 1927): 470.
Architectural works
- Charles F. Piper house, 22-24 N Main St, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire (1892)[https://archive.org/details/newhampshirehome00wood/ New Hampshire Homes] (Concord: James A. Wood, 1895)
- Danversport School (former), 10 West St, Danvers, Massachusetts (1893–94)[https://mhc-macris.net/#!/details?mhcid=DAN.323 Historic Building Detail: DAN.323]
- East Lynn Odd Fellows Building, 301 Essex St, Lynn, Massachusetts (1895)"Building Intelligence" in [https://books.google.com/books?id=05IzAQAAIAAJ American Architect and Building News] 50, no. 1033 (October 12, 1895): xvii.
- Marcy Street School, Marcy St, Southbridge, Massachusetts (1898, demolished)"Illustrations" in [https://books.google.com/books?id=OAdaAAAAYAAJ American Architect and Building News] 60, no. 1170 (May 28, 1898): 71.
- St. Joseph R. C. School, 29 Green St, Lynn, Massachusetts (1898)"Contracting News" in [https://books.google.com/books?id=f-41AQAAMAAJ Engineering Record] 38, no. 7 (July 16, 1898): 152.
- Amesbury Public Library, 149 Main St, Amesbury, Massachusetts (1900)"Building Intelligence" in [https://books.google.com/books?id=EvQzAQAAIAAJ American Architect and Building News] 67, no. 1264 (March 17, 1900): x.
- Schenectady Public Library (former),{{efn|name=Webster|Now Webster House of Union College.}} Union St and Seward Pl, Schenectady, New York (1901–03)
- Henry S. De Forest house,{{efn|name=DeForest|A contributing property to the Union Street Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1982.}} 718 Union St, Schenectady, New York (1902)"Building Intelligence" in [https://books.google.com/books?id=nKBAAQAAMAAJ American Architect and Building News] 76, no. 1372 (April 12, 1902): xii.
- Melrose Public Library, 69 W Emerson St, Melrose, Massachusetts (1903–04, NRHP 1988)[https://mhc-macris.net/#!/details?mhcid=MEL.85 Historic Building Detail: MEL.85]
- Miller Building, 522 Congress St, Portland, Maine (1904, NRHP 1996)Christopher W. Closs, [https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/96001039 Porteous, Mitchell and Braun Company Building NRHP Registration Form] (1996)
- Aldrich Public Library, 6 Washington St, Barre, Vermont (1907–08, NRHP 2015)Frank A. Beard, [https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/15000961 Aldrich Public Library NRHP Registration Form] (2015)
- Foster Building, 508 State St, Schenectady, New York (1907, NRHP 1991)Foster Building NRHP Registration Form (1991)
- Masonic Hall,{{efn|name=Saco|A contributing property to the Saco Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1998.}} 258 Main St, Saco, Maine (1907)Tom Hardiman and Russell Wright, [https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/98000594 Saco Historic District NRHP Registration Form] (1998)
- Sanford City Hall, 919 Main St, Sanford, Maine (1907)"Contracting News" in [https://books.google.com/books?id=CJ1EAQAAMAAJ Engineering Record] 55, no. 1 (January 5, 1907): 71.
- Depositors Trust Company Building,{{efn|name=Skowhegan|A contributing property to the Skowhegan Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1982.}} 33 Water St, Skowhegan, Maine (1909)Frank A. Beard, [https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/82000781 Skowhegan Historic District NRHP Registration Form] (1982)
- Lynn Classical High School (former), 33 N Common St, Lynn, Massachusetts (1909–11)
- Elks Lodge, Division St, Amsterdam, New York (1910, demolished)Gerald R. Snyder and Robert von Hasseln, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RT1d0_eYoFUC Amsterdam] (Charleston, Arcadia, 2010)
- Central Fire Station,{{efn|name=Stoneham|A contributing property to the Central Square Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1990.}} 25 Central St, Stoneham, Massachusetts (1916, NRHP 1984)"Proposals" in Boston Evening Globe, January 14, 1916, 15.
- Hull Town Hall, 253 Atlantic Ave, Hull, Massachusetts (1919–21)"Massachusetts" in [https://books.google.com/books?id=OS9YAAAAYAAJ American Contractor] 40, no. 3 (January 18, 1919): 56.
- Colonel Nathaniel Shatswell School (former), 15 Green St, Ipswich, Massachusetts (1925–26)"Solving Ipswich School Problem" in Newburyport Daily News, July 21, 1925, 2.
- Salisbury Police and Fire Station (former), 18–24 Railroad Ave, Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts (1929)"Propose New Fire and Police Station at Salisbury Beach" in Newburyport Daily News, March 6, 1929, 8.
Notes
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