George Edward Harding

George Edward Harding (1843–1907) was an American architect in practice in New York City. In association with his partner William Tyson Gooch, he is best known as designer of several early skyscrapers in New York.^[1]

George Edward Harding
George Edward Harding, circa 1899
Born	1843 Bath, Maine
Died	1907 Passaic, New Jersey
Nationality	American
Occupation	Architect

Life and career

George Edward Harding was born in Bath, Maine in 1843. He was educated as an engineer at Columbia University.^[2]

In 1872 Harding began practice as an associate of architect Arthur Gilman. Harding left in 1880 to establish his own office.^[3] He practiced alone until circa 1886, when he formed a short-lived partnership with Frederick P. Dinkelberg. This was dissolved in January, 1888.^[4] In 1889 he became associated with William Tyson Gooch,^{[lower-alpha 1]} practicing as George Edward Harding & Company.^[3] They formed a partnership in 1890, which was known as George Edward Harding & Gooch.

In 1902 the partnership was dissolved.^[6] Harding continued to practice independently for several years but was obliged to retire several years before his death due to his declining health. Harding died in 1907 in Passaic, New Jersey.^[2]

Legacy

Harding is notable as the designer of several of the early skyscrapers in New York City, projects probably obtained through his training as an engineer. He was also the designer of a number of cottages at Newport and elsewhere. At least one of his buildings has been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others have been designated New York City Landmarks.

Architectural works

• Remodeling of and additions to the Brunswick Hotel, New York, New York (1881, demolished 1906)^[7]
• "Inchiquin" for John O'Brien, Newport, Rhode Island (1886)^[8]
• "Oak View" for William H. Osgood, Newport, Rhode Island (1887)^[9]
• Patten Free Library, Bath, Maine (1889–90)^[10]
• Holland House, New York, New York (1890–92)^[11]
• "Pansy Cottage" for William Storrs Wells, Newport, Rhode Island (1890, burned 1900)^[12]
• Postal Telegraph Company Building,^{[lower-alpha 2]} New York, New York (1892–94)^[11]
• House for Emil Thiele,^{[lower-alpha 3]} New York, New York (1893, demolished)^[13]
• Remodeling of "Mari-Castle" for Albert Brown Chandler, Randolph, Vermont (1894–95, NRHP 1990)^[14]
• Gerken Building, New York, New York (1895)^[15]
• Commercial Cable Company Building, New York, New York (1896–97, demolished)^[1]
• Dun Building, New York, New York (1896, demolished)^[1]
• Mausoleum for John William Mackay, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York (1896)^[16]
• House for Albert H. Shaw, Bath, Maine (1899-1900, demolished)^[17]
• St. Peter R. C. Church, Staten Island, New York (1900–03)^[11]

Gallery of architectural works

• 
  Oak View, Newport, Rhode Island, 1887.
• 
  Patten Free Library, Bath, Maine, 1889-90.
• 
  Holland House, New York, New York, 1890-92.
• 
  Postal Telegraph Company Building, New York, New York, 1892-94.
• 
  Mari-Castle, Randolph, Vermont, 1894-95.
• 
  Gerken Building, New York, New York, 1895.
• 
  House for Albert H. Shaw, Bath, Maine, 1899-1900.
• 
  St. Peter R. C. Church, Staten Island, New York, 1900-03.
• 
  Dun Building, New York, New York, 1898.

Notes

1. William Tyson Gooch was born in 1855 in England and was educated there and in France. He came to New York in 1882, joining the office of Charles C. Haight, with whom he remained until joining Harding.^[5] Gooch died in 1937.
2. Annexed to the Home Life Building since 1947.
3. 310 Riverside Drive.

References

1. Sarah Bradford Landau and Carl Condit, Rise of the New York Skyscraper: 1865-1913 (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1996)
2. "The Death of George Edward Harding," American Architect and Building News 92, no. 1663 (November 9, 1907): 146.
3. "Harding, George Edward" in Leslie's History of the Greater New York, vol. 3 (New York: Arkell Publishing Company, 1898): 658.
4. "Personal," Building 8, no. 1 (January 7, 1888): 2.
5. "Gooch, William Tyson" in Leslie's History of the Greater New York, vol. 3 (New York: Arkell Publishing Company, 1898): 658-659.
6. "Personal and Obituary Notes," Engineering Record 45, no. 23 (June 2, 1902): 545.
7. "Building Intelligence," American Architect and Building News 9, no. 274 (March 26, 1881): 156 and ix.
8. "Building Items," Engineering News and American Contract Journal 16 (October 30, 1886): 272.
9. Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 40, no. 1013 (August 13, 1887): 1063.
10. Parker McCobb Reed, History of Bath and Environs, Sagadahoc County, Maine (Bath: Parker McCobb Reed, 1894)
11. Norval White, Elliott Willensky and Fran Leadon, AIA Guide to New York City (New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010)
12. "House of Wm. Storrs Wells," American Architect and Building News 27, no. 736 (February 1, 1890): 78.
13. "Buildings Projected," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 51, no. 1814 (May 20, 1893): 895.
14. Mari-Castle NRHP Registration Form (1990)
15. "The Gerken Building, New York, N. Y.," American Architect and Building News 48, no. 1011 (May 11, 1895): 59.
16. "Construction News," Engineering News 34, no. 24 (December 12, 1895): 195.
17. "Construction News," Engineering News 42, no. 20 (November 16, 1899): 156.