Edwin Thayer Barlow
April 2, 1869, was a brisk spring day in Troy, New York. The nation was on the verge of change and the start of new beginnings after the Civil War. This year was catalyzed by change and was a foundation for a new wave of hardworking American citizens to rebuild the previously divided country. Earlier in the year, Robert Freeman became the first African American to receive a degree in dental work, and Elizabeth Stanton became the first woman to testify in front of Congress. The arriving generation were primed to construct and build a nation worth living in and fighting for. On April 2, 1869, prominent North Adams architect and scholar Edwin Thayer Barlow was born.
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Edwin Thayer Barlow’s legacy and impact improved the lives of North Adams, Massachusetts, residents until his death in 1959. He was the only son of William and Arabella Barlow and moved to North Adams as a child. He attended the local Drury High School, graduating early to enroll at the Cornell School of Architecture. His undeniable work ethic earned him the rank of Captain of the Cadet Corps at Cornell and a high-ranking member of the decade-old Kappa Nu Chapter of Phi Gamma Fraternity. Directly after earning his degree, he left to work in the architectural office belonging to H. Neil Wilson in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. In this location, some of his more noble works progressed. He personally developed the plans for private homes of residents and a Synagogue for the members of the House of Israel. Eventually, these builds allowed him to pack his things and move into room 16 of the Hoosac Savings Bank Building in North Adams and worked until 1903. Exactly which buildings were designed from what office is not entirely understood; however, he the relocated to the Kimbell building, where he spent the next 57 years developing buildings, residences, and private constructions that still stand and operate in North Adams today. His web of creation spreads deep throughout the streets and corners of North Adams. Some of the more notable residences he designed include The Boardman Apartments on Montana Street, where his unique use of stone and wood was a timeless touch that still holds today and was available to MCLA students for a time. He also developed local residential works such as the townhome of Mary R. Cody on Cherry Street and the residence of Frank Bond off Curran Memorial Highway. His public developments include the YMCA off Summer Street and the North Adams Transcript Building off Bank Street, both since torn down. He had his talented hands in the works of local schools, including Johnson School, Notre Dame School, and East Renfrow School in Adams. One of his bigger accomplishments was overseeing and supervising the construction of the Mark Hopkins school. His web stretched even further as he designed the Elm Tree House and Mount Hope Farm blueprints out in Williamstown. Although most of his impact was local, his later years involved supervisor roles at a New York architecture firm. One of these involved supervising the construction of the New York Public Library. He retired as the oldest Member of the American Institute of Architects in Berkshire County (AIABC) in 1948. Eleven years later, in the early hours of July 10th, 1959, Edwin T. Barlow passed away in his home. The number of structures, buildings, and residences that Barlow helped develop and construct throughout his career is directly translated to the hardworking culture of the nation at the time. He passed away as a decorated member of the Boston Society of Architects and was laid to rest in the Hillside Cemetery. His small grave is not a translation of his work but a silent dedication to the mind behind the physical makeup of North Adams still experienced today.
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Edwin Thayer Barlow tombstone in Hillside Cemetery, North Adams.
Source: www.findagrave.com
The Boardman Block.
The timeless wood-stone foundation of the Boardman apartments bend through the corner of Montana Street, encapsulating Barlow’s modern vision at his time. He brought sustainable elegance to a town waiting to be seen. The Boardman apartments still stand today. | Source: Photo courtesy of Colby Burleson.
Mary Cady home.
Cherry Street blossoms with similarity to the unique stone-walled foundation of the Boardman Apartments. This is the old home of Mary R. Cady and depicts the personability of his residential work. Barlow exudes style among his builds and leaves no question to the quality and presence of his work. | Source: Photo courtesy of Colby Burleson.
The Kimbell Building.
Room 16 of the old Hoosac Savings Bank was home to Edwin T. Barlow’s first step into independent practice. The new MountainOne Bank logo sits today clashing beneath the preserved label of the original carved name tag: “Hoosac Savings Bank Building”. Here is where the plans for the future of North Adams and the crafted skills of Barlow incubated and developed. | Source: Photo courtesy of Colby Burleson.
The Kimbell Building.
The marvelous design of the New Kimbell building represents the timeless architecture from the original Kimbell building, where Barlow occupied in the prime of his career. With such beautifully intricate designs surrounding his everyday workspace, it is understood how he continued to be inspired to create for the town of North Adams. | Source: Photo courtesy of Colby Burleson.
The North Adams YMCA on Summer Street.
Barlow designed the North Adams YMCA building which was torn down during urban renewal in the city. | Source: Courtesy of the North Adams Historical Society.