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| Longstaff and Black, Architects
Frank Longstaff arrived in Fairhaven in August, 1889, from Missoula, Montana. He had been requested by Roland Gamwell to participate in the construction of the grand new Fairhaven Hotel on 12th Street and Harris Avenue.
The town was growing, architectural demand increased, and Longstaff asked his colleague, H. N. Black to join him out west. Longstaff and Black had worked together in Boston, specializing in stone buildings in the Victorian style. While in Fairhaven, Longstaff and Black kept very busy. They designed the Knights of Pythias building on 11th Street and added design elements to the Fairhaven Hotel and supervised its construction. In addition to designing their own home on 14th Street (see photo left), they designed and supervised the construction of Roland Gamwell’s residence on 16th Street. and supervised the construction of Jim Wardner’s home (known as Wardner's Castle) on 15th Street which had been designed by Kirtland Cutter. They drew up plans for a new St. Joseph Hospital on 17th Street although this hospital was never erected due to cost and partnership issues.
The partnership of Longstaff and Black in Fairhaven was officially dissolved June 1, 1891, by mutual consent. H. N. Black maintained the office in Fairhaven for several months. Frank Longstaff relocated to Montana. Their private residence in Fairhaven was sold to George and Cora Watrous who occupied the home for thirty years.
By 1900, they resumed their partnership in Montana and were responsible for many projects around that state. Perhaps their finest design was that of the Cascade County Courthouse in Great Falls, now on the National Register of Historic Places.
| Longstaff & Black House
Gamwell Residence
Wardner's Castle
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