Charles W. Squires CONFIRMED
Way back in 2016 I did a post about a very distinctive architectural detail I kept seeing all over Emporia.
The post was titled: Prolifically Mysterious & Curvaceous
I wrote:
For years now, as I have slowly driven around the leafy residential districts of Emporia, I have noted houses which must be by the same architect as they all have certain characteristic details, the most telling of which is a curvaceous piece of trim under the windows.
Most houses have no such trim, curvaceous or otherwise. The windows on most houses have a window sill, and nothing under but the siding of the house.
But the mystery architect thought to add an extra bit of flourish to his houses, and this extra bit is both distinctive and attractive. It marks the houses.
913 Walnut. Note the bottom trim on the windows.
622 Union. This is the smallest curvaceous house so far found.
716 State Street.
716 State Street.
817 State. Here, the trim below the windows…
…is straight, but the side trim is curvaceous. Note also the highly eccentric scalloped trim under the sills.
Tooooooooo delicious. This is an architect really enjoying their work.
717 Constitution
825 Constitution.
825 Constitution.
927 Market
In 2016 I had discovered 19 such prolifically mysterious & curvaceous Houses.
Since, I have discovered many, many more.
And yesterday, in Cottonwood Falls, 20 miles from Emporia, a house stopped me in my tracks:
101 Locust. Do you see what I see?
101 Locust
In an instant, the curvaceous window trim and highly eccentric porch columns announced the work of, I strongly suspected, one Charles W. Squires.
There was yard sale going on so I parked and approached a young man at the cash table.
“Is this your house?”
He nodded yes.
“Do you know who the architect was?
He shook his head no.
“”I strongly suspect your house was designed by Charles. W. Squires,” and then I went on to explain why I thought so, and who Squires was.
“I have original blueprint upstairs.”
My heart stopped.
Barely able to speak I managed to get out: “Cccccccould I see them?”
“Sure,” Adam replied with big smile. A few minutes later he returned carrying two framed pictures. “”You’re really good!”
I gave him a curious look.
He put the pictures on the table and pointed to the very lower right corner.
.
.
OMG.OMG!And GADZOOKS!!!!!!!! After all these years I had proof!
This is only the second time I have seen Squires blueprints. The first time was the set for the Cross House.
As mentioned, the porch columns are highly eccentric. They look like they were made by Fred Flintstone. Squires adored designing eccentric columns. The entry is also unlike anything I have ever seen. Each pane of glass is beveled. I wish the front door was visible. Note, too, how the entry is not centered on the porch. Yet another Squires eccentricity!
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All those lovely Squires homes make me want to move to Emporia! You have a keen eye, Ross!
That is very cool!
Aurora, IL had a similar local architect around the turn of the century named Eugene Malmer who used some unique little details on many of his houses. Some of these included triangular windows at the top of gables and curved half-timber details. It’s fun to spot them on houses that otherwise blend in from the era, but are little calling cards to his authorship.
Our house was not designed by him (that I’m aware), but several across the street from us were.
https://www.aurora.il.us/Recreation-and-Amenities/Art-Culture-and-History/Aurora-History/Aurora-An-Architectural-Portrait/Special-Interests#section-1
What an amazing find! So glad you stopped at the yard sale and got to see those blueprints!
Come on Ross, those columns are so much more sophisticated than Fred Flintstone. I would covet them. Also my house is a Queen Anne Free Classic and all the windows have trim under the sills called the apron. Trim is plain due to the style.often more elaborate on earlier Queen Anne homes. You should start a Charles Squires society in your free time🙂
Congratulations! And thank you for wonderful anthology of houses.
Oh wow! That’s so freaking cool!!
What a wonderful discovery, to have proof the Charles W Squires was the architect. The aprons under the windows are quite decorative. Very nice.
This is such an amazing discovery.
Hi Ross,
now I have a new homework for you: Try to find out if Charles W. Squires ever visited Europe, especially the Alps. Such curvaceous pieces of trim are common on old farm houses in Bavaria, the Tyrol, and parts of Switzerland as decoration under or above Windows, on a balcony, or at the edge of the roof. https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ftsa&q=bauernhaus+tirol&ia=images&iax=images
Very cool discovery!
Few times have I witnessed such fun and playfulness exhibited in a local architect’s work as I have seen with Squires, even having read online and personally seen/researched several ‘local haunt’ architects around. The attention even among a nicely balanced form to the small, ridiculous, and unnecessary details really warms my heart. And I think it lends greater credence to your observations in Emporia, whether or not you find records there. Does Emporia recognize the significance of this local gem, and have a historic district around a good concentration of his homes? I really feel like this is an in-depth research project and historical survey waiting to happen!