Berlinghof and Davis Design Firm

George A. Berlinghof[1][2] and Ellery L. Davis[3], Nebraska based architects, were inspired by neoclassical style and the architecture of the Chicago skyscrapers. After working in Beatrice, Nebraska, Berlinghof moved to Lincoln and started his influential relationship with Davis. Berlinghof gave Davis the credibility to launch his career. During their partnership (1911-1917), they designed more than twelve buildings together, most of which are still in use to this day, solidifying their importance in American Midwest architectural design of the early 20th century. They were a major part of the move towards historicism in Nebraska. By bringing neoclassical and romantic, victorian architecture back, the firm started a trend of design that referenced former architectural periods in Lincoln and surrounding areas.. Berlinghof and Davis worked together for a period of 6 years, wherein they designed many note-worthy structures for Nebraska that are still in use today including Lincoln High School (Lincoln, Nebraska), Miller and Paine Department Store and the Security Mutual Building.Most of the buildings designed by the Berlinghof and Davis Firm are still in use today. Though some, like the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Law Building, have been remodeled and repurposed, the outer facades still remain as tribute to the original design. Some of their designs are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and many drawings and plans are kept by the Nebraska Historical Society. Though the firm of Berlinghof and Davis was disbanded shortly after conception, the amount of work achieved in that time was not only impressive in quality but also vast in volume.

Davis left Berlinghof and Davis in 1917 to start his own architectural firm. In 1921 Davis hired University of Nebraska graduate Walter F. Wilson, forming the firm Davis and Wilson.[4] From 1923 to the end of World War II, Davis and Wilson designed many projects for Lincoln colleges and universities including structures such as Memorial Stadium (Lincoln), Morrill Hall, the Coliseum, the Student Union and Love Memorial Library. Ellery L. Davis retired from the firm in the early 30’s due to health reasons and his son, Ellery H. Davis began to work with the firm in the 1940s. In 1968, twelve years after the death of Ellery L. Davis, Davis and Wilson was renamed Davis, Fenton, Stange and Darling. The firm continued under this name until 1995 when it was changed to its current title of Davis Design.[5][6]

Buildings credited to Berlinghof and Davis

Building Year Constructed Location Construction Style
UNL Law Building[7] 1912 1875 N 42nd St., Lincoln, NE 68503 Neo-Classical
Custer County Courthouse 1914 Courthouse Square, Main St., Broken Bow, NE 68822 Neo-Classical
Greeley County Courthouse 1914 Kildare St., Block 28, Greeley, NE 68842 Classical Revival
Howard County Courthouse[8] 1914 6th and Indian St., St. Paul, NE 68873 Classical Revival
Warehouse No. 4/Aerie 147 1914 228 N. 12th St., Lincoln, NE 68508 Neo-Classical Revival
Bancroft School/Bancroft Hall UNL 1915 U and 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68510 Neo-Classical Revival
Lincoln High School 1915 2229 J St., Lincoln, NE 68510 Classical
Burr Block[9] 1916 1206 O St., Lincoln, NE 68508 Romantic Victorian
Commercial Club Building 1916 11th and P St., Lincoln, NE 68508 Neo-Classical
Miller and Paine Department Store[10] 1916 13th and O St., Lincoln, NE 68588 Neo-Classical
Scottish Rite Masonic Center/Scottish Rite Temple[11][12] 1916 332 Centennial Mall S, Lincoln, NE 68508 Neo-Classical Revival
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Marysville 1917 3743 Marysville Rd., Staplehurst, NE 68439 Late Gothic Revival
Plattsmouth High School 1919 814 Main St., Plattsmouth, NE 68043 Mid-Century Modern/Neo-Classical

References

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

  1. http://www.nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/manuscripts/family/george-berlinghof.htm
  2. http://www.davisdesign.com/portfolio.htm
  3. http://courthousehistory.com/gallery/states/nebraska/counties/howard
  4. http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/nebraska/lincoln/LN06-063_Lincoln_CntyCthse.pdf
  5. http://historicbuildings.unl.edu/people.php?peopleID=17&cid=20
  6. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  7. http://departmentstoremuseum.blogspot.com/2011/09/miller-paine-lincoln-nebraska.html
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  9. http://www.emporis.com/buildings/126243/centerstone-lincoln-ne-usa
  10. http://landmarkhunter.com/tag/12300-berlinghof-davis/
  11. http://historicbuildings.unl.edu/building.php?b=17
  12. http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/nebraska/lancaster/LC13-D06-165-Yost-Hse.pdf
  13. http://nebraskahistory.org/sites/mnh/125th/index.htm
  14. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12253814
  15. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Davis&GSfn=Ellery&GSmn=L&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=31&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=69102446&df=all&
  16. http://journalstar.com/special-section/new-directions/davis-design-embraces-past-as-it-starts-second-century-in/article_eb1338c6-d2ad-558f-b548-dc76f2030921.html
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