Smith & Bassette was an architectural firm based in Hartford, Connecticut. Its partners included H. Hilliard Smith and Roy D. Bassette. It was active from 1911 to 1946.
Harry Hilliard Smith was born November 16, 1871, in Middletown, Connecticut, to Henry Hosea and Phillippa G. (Hilliard) Smith. He attended the public schools of Middletown and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. After his graduation he returned to Connecticut and entered the office of William C. Brocklesby, a Hartford architect,[1] and formed a partnership with him in 1904.[2] Brocklesby & Smith was active until Brocklesby's death in late 1910. Early the following year, he established his partnership with Roy D. Bassette. He retired from active practice in 1942.[3]
Smith was also a painter and exhibited in Connecticut and New York. He was married in 1902, to Mrs. Grace (Flint) Lephart of Danbury, Connecticut.[1] He died May 24, 1948, in Hartford.
Roy D. Bassetteedit
Roy Donald Bassette was born January 10, 1883, in New Britain, Connecticut, to Frederick Henry and Margaret (Anderson) Bassette. He attended the New Britain public schools, graduating from the high school in 1901. He then went to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he worked for the F. A. Bassette Company, and publishing company founded and owned by his older brother, Frederick A. Bassette. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania, studying under Paul Philippe Cret, and graduated in 1908. From 1908 to 1910 he taught architecture in the university. Early in 1910 he returned to Springfield, where he established an architectural practice. Early the following year, he established his partnership with H. Hilliard Smith.[3] After Smith's retirement in 1942, Bassette continued to practice under the name of Smith & Bassette. After 1946 he practiced under his own name until his own retirement in 1954.[3]
Bassette was married in 1914 to Elizabeth Fidelia Hubbard of West Hartford, Connecticut. He died May 18, 1965, in Hartford.[3]
Legacyedit
It has been said of Smith & Bassette that "[they] became known for [their] design of multi-purpose public buildings and their skill in the Classical and Colonial Revival genres. For example, in 1917[a] the firm shared first place with Paul P. Cret for the design of a Classical Revival building in the Hartford County Building Competition."[4]: 8 The Hartford historian David F. Ransom has indicated that Smith & Bassette was probably the most prestigious architectural practice in Hartford in the period between the two World Wars.[5]
^ abcd"Bassette, Roy Donald," in National Cyclopedia of American Biography, vol. 51 (Clifton: J. T. White, 1969)
^ abcdJan Cunningham (July 15, 1992). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Eno Memorial Hall". National Park Service. and Accompanying 11 photos, exterior and interior, from 1992 (see captions page 10 of text document)
^David F. Ransom, "Biographical Dictionary of Hartford Architects," Connecticut Historical Bulletin 54, no. 1-2 (1989)
^Daniel Sterner, "Wickham Memorial Library (1940)," historicbuildingsct.com, Historic Buildings of Connecticut, October 25, 2014.
April 15, 2024
smith, bassette, architectural, firm, based, hartford, connecticut, partners, included, hilliard, smith, bassette, active, from, 1911, 1946, practice, informationfoundersh, hillard, smith, bassettefounded1911dissolved1946locationhartford, connecticutconnecticu. Smith amp Bassette was an architectural firm based in Hartford Connecticut Its partners included H Hilliard Smith and Roy D Bassette It was active from 1911 to 1946 Smith amp BassettePractice informationFoundersH Hillard Smith Roy D BassetteFounded1911Dissolved1946LocationHartford ConnecticutConnecticut State Office Building Hartford Connecticut 1930 31 Contents 1 Biographies of founders 1 1 H Hilliard Smith 1 2 Roy D Bassette 2 Legacy 3 Architectural works 4 Gallery of architectural works 5 Notes 6 ReferencesBiographies of founders editH Hilliard Smith edit Harry Hilliard Smith was born November 16 1871 in Middletown Connecticut to Henry Hosea and Phillippa G Hilliard Smith He attended the public schools of Middletown and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston After his graduation he returned to Connecticut and entered the office of William C Brocklesby a Hartford architect 1 and formed a partnership with him in 1904 2 Brocklesby amp Smith was active until Brocklesby s death in late 1910 Early the following year he established his partnership with Roy D Bassette He retired from active practice in 1942 3 Smith was also a painter and exhibited in Connecticut and New York He was married in 1902 to Mrs Grace Flint Lephart of Danbury Connecticut 1 He died May 24 1948 in Hartford Roy D Bassette edit Roy Donald Bassette was born January 10 1883 in New Britain Connecticut to Frederick Henry and Margaret Anderson Bassette He attended the New Britain public schools graduating from the high school in 1901 He then went to Springfield Massachusetts where he worked for the F A Bassette Company and publishing company founded and owned by his older brother Frederick A Bassette He then attended the University of Pennsylvania studying under Paul Philippe Cret and graduated in 1908 From 1908 to 1910 he taught architecture in the university Early in 1910 he returned to Springfield where he established an architectural practice Early the following year he established his partnership with H Hilliard Smith 3 After Smith s retirement in 1942 Bassette continued to practice under the name of Smith amp Bassette After 1946 he practiced under his own name until his own retirement in 1954 3 Bassette was married in 1914 to Elizabeth Fidelia Hubbard of West Hartford Connecticut He died May 18 1965 in Hartford 3 Legacy editIt has been said of Smith amp Bassette that they became known for their design of multi purpose public buildings and their skill in the Classical and Colonial Revival genres For example in 1917 a the firm shared first place with Paul P Cret for the design of a Classical Revival building in the Hartford County Building Competition 4 8 The Hartford historian David F Ransom has indicated that Smith amp Bassette was probably the most prestigious architectural practice in Hartford in the period between the two World Wars 5 At least three of the firm s projects have been individually listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places 6 Architectural works editHeublein Tower Talcott Mountain State Park Simsbury Connecticut 1914 15 NRHP listed 1983 7 Simsbury Bank and Trust Company Building Simsbury Connecticut 1917 NRHP listed 1986 8 Longmeadow Community House Longmeadow Massachusetts 1921 22 9 Steiger Building Hartford Connecticut 1926 28 10 Hartford County Building b Hartford Connecticut 1927 1929 4 Connecticut State Office Building Hartford Connecticut 1930 31 8 Eno Memorial Hall Simsbury Connecticut 1931 32 NRHP listed 1993 4 Storrs Library Longmeadow Massachusetts 1932 33 11 William Stanton Andrews Memorial Town Hall Clinton Connecticut 1936 38 4 Lucy Robbins Welles Library former Newington Connecticut 1939 12 Wickham Memorial Library East Hartford Connecticut 1939 1940 13 Gallery of architectural works edit nbsp Heublein Tower Talcott Mountain State Park Simsbury CT 1914 15 nbsp Simsbury Bank and Trust Company Building Simsbury CT 1917 nbsp Hartford County Building Hartford CT 1927 29 nbsp Connecticut State Office Building Hartford CT 1930 31 nbsp Eno Memorial Hall Simsbury CT 1931 32Notes edit Correct date is 1927 Designed in association with Paul Philippe Cret of Philadelphia References edit a b Harry Hilliard Smith in The Story of Connecticut ed Charles W Burpee vol 3 New York American Historical Company 1939 143 144 In General Brickbuilder 13 no 9 September 1904 196 a b c d Bassette Roy Donald in National Cyclopedia of American Biography vol 51 Clifton J T White 1969 a b c d Jan Cunningham July 15 1992 National Register of Historic Places Registration Eno Memorial Hall National Park Service and Accompanying 11 photos exterior and interior from 1992 see captions page 10 of text document David F Ransom Biographical Dictionary of Hartford Architects Connecticut Historical Bulletin 54 no 1 2 1989 National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 Heublein Tower NRHP Registration Form 1983 a b Simsbury Bank and Trust Company Building NRHP Registration Form 1986 LON 36 mhc macris net Massachusetts Historical Commission n d Daniel Sterner Steiger Building 1927 historicbuildingsct com Historic Buildings of Connecticut January 2 2012 LON 30 mhc macris net Massachusetts Historical Commission n d fotki Daniel Sterner Wickham Memorial Library 1940 historicbuildingsct com Historic Buildings of Connecticut October 25 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Smith 26 Bassette amp oldid 1062599101, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
