William Foster (Iowa architect)

William Foster was born July 21, 1842, in Little Neck, New York, now incorporated into Queens. He was trained as a carpenter, worked as a contractor and operated a planing mill in Flushing. By his own telling he was trained in architecture in the office of Richard Upjohn and in 1867 moved west and settled in Des Moines."Foster, William" in [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_History_of_Polk_County_Iowa/dHkUAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 The History of Polk County, Iowa] (Des Moines: Union Historical Company, 1880): 604."Foster's death shock to friends: veteran theatrical manager victim of asphyxiation," Register and Leader, December 31, 1909.

Foster's early works include two office buildings in downtown Des Moines: the Hawkeye Insurance Company Building (1869, NRHP-listed) and the Youngerman Block (1876, NRHP-listed).James E. Jacobsen, [https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/86000874 Hawkeye Insurance Company Building NRHP Inventory–Nomination Form] (1986)William C. Page and Alexa McDowell, [https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/09000405 Youngerman Block NRHP Registration Form] (2009) Contemporaneously with these works, his plans for the Anamosa State Penitentiary (1881 et seq., NRHP-listed) were accepted in 1872. This sprawling Gothic Revival complex was completed in phases over the remainder of Foster's career. The administration building, the focal point of the penitentiary, was not completed until 1899. While this project was underway he also designed the Nebraska State Penitentiary.David Gebhard, Buildings of Iowa (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 39.Joyce McKay, [https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/92001667 Iowa Men's Reformatory Historic District NRHP Registration Form] (1992) Other works from the first phase of his career include the former Story County Courthouse (1877, demolished) in NevadaDavid Gebhard, Buildings of Iowa (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 281. and the Blair House (1881, NRHP-listed) in Washington.David Gebhard, Buildings of Iowa (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 300.

By January 1883 Foster had formed the partnership of Foster & Liebbe with Henry F. Liebbe, his chief draftsman since at least 1878.Muscatine Weekly Journal, April 26, 1878.Advertisement for Foster & Liebbe, Iowa State Register, January 3, 1883. Their major work in Des Moines, the Cathedral Church of St. Paul (1885, NRHP-listed), is one of the latest buildings by Foster remaining in the city.David Gebhard, Buildings of Iowa (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 199-200. They were also responsible for at least seven county courthouses: for Emmet County (1884, demolished),David Gebhard, Buildings of Iowa (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 382. Page County (1887, NRHP-listed),David Gebhard, Buildings of Iowa (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 319. Washington County (1887, NRHP-listed), Iowa County (1893, NRHP-listed),David Gebhard, Buildings of Iowa (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 270. Lucas County (1894, NRHP-listed)David Gebhard, Buildings of Iowa (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 318. and Wapello County (1894, NRHP-listed).David Gebhard, Buildings of Iowa (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 335. Architectural historian David Gebhard described their Washington County Courthouse as perhaps the "most exuberant" example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in Iowa.David Gebhard, Buildings of Iowa (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 300. They also designed at least one major state institution, the Clarinda Treatment Complex (1886).David Gebhard, Buildings of Iowa (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 320.

In 1896 a third partner, Oliver A. Smith, was admitted and the firm was renamed Foster, Liebbe & Smith."Personal" in Architecture and Building (January 18, 1896): 31. Smith withdrew in 1897 and the firm continued as Foster, Liebbe & Company."An architectural change at Des Moines" in Improvement Bulletin 15, no. 8 (January 23, 1897): 7. In 1899 Foster retired from practice and the firm continued under Liebbe's leadership as Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen."A trio of architects: Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen" in [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Midwestern/9_oRAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 Midwestern] 1, no. 2 (October 1906):70 -72.

Over twenty years earlier, Foster had designed and built the Academy of Music (1878, demolished 1911), soon renamed Foster's Opera House. In 1891 he also took over management of the Grand Opera House, and acquired it outright in 1894."The opera house change," Iowa State Register, July 30, 1891."Des Moines opera house sold," Davenport Democrat, February 9, 1894. By owning these theatres, Foster dominated the theatrical life of Des Moines. Shortly after his retirement from practice he embarked on a remodeling of both theatres."He will improve them: Col. Foster to make many changes in his two opera houses this summer," Daily Iowa Capital, April 14, 1899. In June 1909 Foster announced plans to retire as soon as his contract with the lessee of his theatres expired in 1911; he anticipated that Foster's would be demolished for an office building."Wm. Foster will retire: veteran theatrical magnate planning to quit the business," Des Moines Evening Tribune, July 31, 1909.W. E. Anderson, "The last curtain rings down on historic Foster's Opera House," Register and Leader, September 3, 1911.

Foster was married in 1868 to Louisa Corbin. After her death he remarried in 1886 to Louise A. Harris; they had three children, all daughters."Wm. Foster and L. Bemis asphyxiated: veteran business man is found dead in bed at home," Register and Leader, December 30, 1909.

Foster died December 30, 1909, at the age of 67. Early that morning he had woken up to light a gas heater before going back to bed until the room was warm, typical of his winter habits. However the heater had failed to light and filled the room with gas, asphyxiating him and a house guest who had been sharing the room. The guest, a boy described as the "sweetheart" of Foster's youngest daughter, was apparently still alive when found but was not able to be resuscitated.

A number of his works are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places.{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

Other works include (with attribution):

• E.R. Hays House, 301 N. 2nd St., Knoxville, Iowa (Foster, William), NRHP-listed
• Naylor House, 944 W. 9th St., Des Moines, Iowa (Foster, William), NRHP-listed
• Parker's Opera House, 23 N. Federal Ave., Mason City, Iowa (Foster, William), NRHP-listed
• English Office Building for Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofottumwa.org/economic_development/planning/historic/foster_liebbe |title=Ottumwa: Foster and Liebbe |access-date=2012-10-11 |archive-date=2012-04-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401150551/http://www.cityofottumwa.org/economic_development/planning/historic/foster_liebbe |url-status=live }}
• Central School, Lake City, Iowa (Foster & Liebee), NRHP-listed
• Central Christian Church, Des Moines, Iowa (Foster & Liebbe)
• Herndon Hall, 2000 Grand Ave., Des Moines, Iowa (Foster & Liebbe), NRHP-listed
• One or more buildings in the Grinnell Historic Commercial District, Grinnell, Iowa (Foster & Liebbe), NRHP-listed{{cite web|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/91000384_text|title=Grinnell Historic Commercial District|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2016-04-16|author=W.C. Page|archive-date=2024-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625222809/https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/91000384_text|url-status=live}}
• One or more works in the Winterset Courthouse Square Commercial Historic District, Winterset, Iowa (William Foster), NRHP-listed{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/15000915.pdf|title=Winterset Courthouse Square Commercial Historic District|access-date=2016-07-29|publisher=National Park Service|author=Leah D. Rogers|archive-date=2017-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216192722/https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/15000915.pdf|url-status=dead}}

• William Dewey Foster, architect of post offices and government buildings

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Category:19th-century American architects

Category:Architects from Iowa

Category:1842 births

Category:1909 deaths