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User:JPRiley/Cervin

{{short description|American architect (1868–1949)}}

{{Infobox architect

|name = Olof Z. Cervin

|image = File:Olof Z. Cervin, Architect, 1917.jpg

|image_size =

|caption = Olof Z. Cervin, {{circa|1917}}

|nationality = United States

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1868|10|18}}

|birth_place = Paxton, Illinois

|death_date = {{Death date and age|1949|12|2|1868|10|18}}

|death_place = Rock Island, Illinois

|practice =

|significant_buildings=

|significant_design =

|awards =

}}

File:St. John's Lutheran Church - Rock Island, Illinois.JPG, designed by Cervin in the Tudor Revival style and completed in 1907.]]

File:Ft Armstrong Theatre 1.jpg in Rock Island, designed by Cervin & Horn in the Mediterranean Revival style and completed in 1921.]]

File:Bethphage (Axtell, NE) Zion Chapel from SW 1.JPG in Axtell, Nebraska, designed by Cervin & Stuhr in the National Romantic style and completed in 1931.]]

File:City Hall - Rock Island, Illinois.JPG style and completed in 1940.]]

Olof Z. Cervin {{post-nominals|list=AIA}} (October 18, 1868 – December 2, 1949) was an American architect of Swedish heritage. He practiced architecture in Moline and Rock Island, Illinois from 1896 until his retirement in 1949, shortly before his death. The firm Cervin established in 1896 has been incorporated into the firm now (2024) known as Studio 483 Architects.

Life and career

Olof Zakarias Cervin was born October 18, 1868, in Paxton, Illinois, to Anders Richard Cervin, a professor at Augustana College, and Emma C. Cervin, née Thulin. His father was a native of Kristianstad, Sweden, who had immigrated to the United States in 1864. He was a prominent figure in the Augustana Synod. The family moved to Rock Island in 1875 with the college. Cervin was educated at Augustana College and Columbia University, graduating from the latter in 1894 with an AM. He worked as a drafter for architects in Rock Island, Chicago and New York City before opening his own Moline office in 1896. Likely due to his family connections, the same year he was appointed architect to the Augustana Synod.Ernst W. Olson, The Swedish Element in Illinois: Survey of the Past Seven Decades (Chicago: Swedish-American Biographical Association, 1917): 147-149 and 641-642. In 1909 he relocated to Rock Island, opening new offices in the Safety Building, which he had designed. Cervin's most notable and long-running clients were Swedish and Lutheran institutions."Complications of injuries incurred in accident end life of Olof Z. Cervin, 81," The Rock Island Argus, December 2, 1949. In 1914 he was chosen architect of the Bethphage Mission in Nebraska, and designed buildings there until his death.Bethphage Mission NRHP Registration Form (2013)

In 1918 he formed the partnership of Cervin & Horn with architect Benjamin A. Horn."Personal" in [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_American_Architect/JooqerPbtLAC?hl=en&gbpv=0 The American Architect] 113, no. 2196 (January 23, 1918): 95. Among the partnership's first major works was a United States Housing Corporation housing development for Rock Island Arsenal workers.Robert Craik McLean, "United States government housing: number two project for war workers housing at Arsenal, Rock Island, Illinois" in [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Western_Architect/BBbnAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 The Western Architect] 28, no. 1 (January 1919): 6-8. In 1926 the partnership was expanded to include William Stuhr."Personal" in [https://www.google.com/books/edition/American_Architect_and_the_Architectural/0VcgAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 The American Architect] 129, no. 2496 (May 5, 1926): 18. Horn withdrew in 1928 and the firm continued as Cervin & Stuhr. Cervin retired from practice in April 1949.

Cervin was chairman of the Rock Island city planning commission from 1920 to 1923 and of the zoning commission from 1925 to 1929.

Personal life

Cervin was married twice. He was first married in 1909 to Ruth Engberg of Chicago. They had three children, two sons and one daughter. Ruth died in 1929, and Cervin married second in 1931 to Dora Carlson. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the chamber of commerce and local fraternal organizations. He was a congregant of St. John's Lutheran Church, the building of which he designed. In November 1949 Cervin and his wife were seriously injured in a car accident. She recovered, but he developed pneumonia and died December 2, 1949 at the age of 81.

Legacy

After Cervin's retirement and death, Stuhr continued the firm as a sole principal. In 1963 it was renamed Stuhr, Parkhurst & Appier. In 1966 Stuhr retired, and the the firm was renamed Parkhurst, Appier, Marolf & Mogler under the leadership of Howard M. Parkhurst."William Stuhr retires after over 40 years as architect," The Rock Island Argus, February 5, 1966. In 1970 it was renamed Parkhurst, Appier, Marolf Associates and in 1980, with Parkhurst's retirement, it became Appier & Marolf & Associates."Designer of many Q-C buildings retires," The Rock Island Argus, January 15, 1980. In 1993 the firm merged with Scholtz-Gowey & Associates of Davenport, Iowa, to become Scholtz-Gowey-Marolf Architects, with offices in both cities."Architecture firms announce merger," The Rock Island Argus, October 16, 1993. In 1998 they merged with John Gere Associates of Bettendorf, Iowa, successors to the practice of Frederick G. Clausen, to form Scholtz-Gowey-Gere-Marolf Architects."Two design firms merge," The Rock Island Argus, January 30, 1998. In 2015 the firm was involved in its most recent merger with Gere-Dismer Architects of Rock Island to form Studio 483 Architects.Jennifer Dewitt, "Missman, Q-C architecture firms merge," The Muscatine Journal, November 14, 1915.

At least three buildings designed by Cervin and his partners have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works

=Olof Z. Cervin, 1896–1918=

=Cervin & Horn, 1918–1926=

=Cervin, Horn & Stuhr, 1926–1928=

=Cervin & Stuhr, 1928–1949=

References

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