Pierce & Bickford
| Company type | Architectural firm |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture |
| Founded | 1891 |
| Founder | Joseph H. Pierce, Hiram H. Bickford |
| Defunct | 1932 |
| Headquarters | Elmira, New York , United States |
Key people | Joseph H. Pierce, Hiram H. Bickford, Robert T. Bickford |
Pierce & Bickford was a prominent American architectural firm located in Elmira, New York, operating from 1891 until 1932. The company was established by architects Joseph H. Pierce (1855–1932) and Hiram H. Bickford (1864–1929), with Robert T. Bickford (1894–1988) joining later as a partner.
Partners and history
Joseph Hart Pierce, born in 1855 in Dundee, New York, started his professional journey as a carpenter before becoming a draftsman in 1880 for architect Warren H. Hayes in Elmira. When Hayes moved away in 1881, Pierce took over his practice and subsequently partnered with Dockstader in 1884 to form Pierce & Dockstader. This partnership ended in 1890, leading Pierce to co-found Pierce & Bickford with Hiram H. Bickford the following year.
Hiram Hooker Bickford, born in 1864 in Barre, Vermont, gained experience under architect Henry M. Francis prior to relocating to Elmira in 1887 where he joined Pierce & Dockstader. He became a partner with Pierce in 1891. Robert T. Bickford, Hiram’s son, entered the firm as a junior partner in 1920; by 1925, all three were equal stakeholders. Following Hiram’s passing in 1929 and Pierce’s retirement and death in 1932, Robert T. Bickford continued the firm independently into the 1970s.
Both founding partners were affiliated with the American Institute of Architects, each serving as president of its Central New York chapter, demonstrating their leadership roles and esteemed status within the architectural community.
Legacy
Numerous buildings designed by the firm have been recognized on the United States National Register of Historic Places.
Pierce and Bickford were also instrumental in establishing the Chemung County Historical Society.
Projects by J. H. Pierce, 1881-1884 and 1890-1891
- Residence at 456 W Water St, Elmira, New York (1883)
- F. M. Howell and Company Building No. 3, 79 Pennsylvania Ave, Elmira, New York (1890)
- Waverly Village Hall, located at 358 Broad St, Waverly, New York (1891–92)
Projects by Pierce & Dockstader, 1884-1890
- 30th Separate Company Armory, situated at 307 E Church St, Elmira, New York (1886–88; demolished in 2010)
- Personal residence for J. H. Pierce at 308 W Clinton St, Elmira, New York (1887)
- First Baptist Church of Watkins Glen, at 213 5th St, Watkins Glen, New York (1888)
- Jesse Robinson House, located at 141 Main St., Wellsboro, Pennsylvania (1888)
- First Congregational Church, situated at 12445 NY-38, Berkshire, New York (1889)
- Parkhurst Memorial Presbyterian Church, found at 302 W Main St, Elkland, Pennsylvania (1889–90)
- Residence at 413 W Water St, Elmira, New York (1890)
Projects by Pierce & Bickford, 1891-1932
- Horseheads Union School at Grand Central Ave and Fletcher St, Horseheads, New York (1891–92; demolished in 1988)
- Clifton Springs Sanitarium, addresses 9 and 11 E Main St Clifton Springs, New York (1892–93 and 1895–96)
- Justus H. Harris residence at 361 Maple Ave, Elmira, New York (1892)
- Prouty Building located at 20-24 Seneca St, Geneva, New York (1892)
- St. Patrick's Roman Catholic School at 517 Park Pl., Elmira, NY (1892–94)
- Bigelow Block situated at 17 Main St, Dundee, New York (1894)
- Elmira City Hall at 317 E Church St, Elmira, New York (1894–95)
- Harpending Block located at 11-15 Main St, Dundee, New York (1894)
- Residence at 619-621 W Water St, Elmira, New York (1894)
- Smith's Opera House, found at 82 Seneca St, Geneva, New York (1894)
- YMCA Building in Geneva, New York (1894)
- Elmira Heights Village Hall at 268 E 14th St, Elmira Heights, New York (1896)
- Residence located at 530 W Water St, Elmira, New York (1896)
- T. DeWitt Beekman residence at 39 Main St, Dundee, New York (1897)
- Corning City Club (later the World War Memorial Library) at149 Pine St., Corning, New York (1897)
- Fire Station No. 4 located at301 Maxwell Pl.,Elmira, New York(1897)
- Residence at378 W Church St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1898)
- Brownlow Building situated at406 E Church St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1899)
- Dundee Methodist Church located at33 Water St.,Dundee,N.Y.(1899-1902)
- Former Hedding Methodist Church at330 W Church St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1901)
- Presbyterian Church of McGraw situated at3 W Main St.,McGraw,N.Y.(1901)
- Turret addition to A.F.Chapman house at115 S Monroe St.,Watkins Glen,N.Y.(1902)
- Alterations to Chemung Canal Bank Building at415 E Water St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1903)
- Former Chapel located within Woodlawn Cemetery ,Elmira,N.Y.(1905)
- Former Century Club building situated at214 E Church St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1906–07)
- Residence located at421 W Church St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1906)
- Former Steuben County Courthouse located at12 Allen St.,Hornell,N.Y.(1907–08)
- Sayre Borough Hall situated at110 W Packer Ave.,Sayre,Pennsylvania(1908)
- Trinity Episcopal Church parsonage found at701 S Main St.,Athens,Pennsylvania(1910)
- Conversion of Arnot Art Museum located at235 Lake St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1911–12)
- Supervising architects for Carnegie Hall designed by Edward L.Tilton on the campus of Elmira College,Elmira,N.Y.(1911)
- Residence situated at354 W Water St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1912)
- Former Elmira Free Academy building located at610 Lake St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1913)
- Former Masonic Lodge and Opera House found at22 Water St.,Dundee,N.Y.(1913)
- Remodeling of First Baptist Church of Painted Post located at130 W Water St.,Painted Post,N.Y.(1915)
- Fassett Commons building on the grounds of Elmira College,Elmira,N.Y.(1917)
- Former Erwin Town Hall situated at117 W Water St.,Painted Post,N.Y.(1921)
- Iszard's Department Store located at150 N Main St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1924)
- Southside High School found at777 S Main St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1924)
- Former YMCA Building situated at201 E Church St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1924)
- Supervising architects for Hamilton Hall designed by Coolidge Shepley Bulfinch & Abbott on the campus of Elmira College,Elmira,N.Y.(1926)
- Tompkins Hall on the grounds of Elmira College,Elmira,N.Y.(1927)
- Supervising architects for Gordon Coy Building designed by Robert D.Kohn located at100 N Main St.,Elmira,N.Y.(1929–31)
Additional Resources
- Modern Buildings (Elmira: Pierce & Dockstader, 1890)
- Roger G. Reed, Architects of Standing, Pierce & Bickford, Elmira, N.Y. 1890-1932 (Elmira: Chemung County Historical Society, 1983)