Warren H. Hayes

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Warren Howard Hayes (1847-1899) was a leading designer of churches in the United States and Canada during the late 19th century. Hayes' work holds a significant place in its association with the "Social Gospel" movement. He is credited with the some of the earliest use of the 'diagonal auditorium' plan and every one of his churches uncovered to date are centered around the diagonal auditorium design. Often the interiors have arts and crafts attributes, and some of the congregations accepted Hayes recommendations of Louis Tiffany for their stained glass.

An article at the time of his death noted:

"Warren Howard Hayes was born at Prattsburgh, Steuben County, New York, Aug 22, 1847. His boyhood was spent on the farm of his father, [George Goudry Hayes], who was at that time one of the most successful agriculturists in that section. Mr Hayes received his earlier education in the select school of Italy, N.Y., at Watkin's Academy, and at Genessee Wesleyan Seminary of Lima, N.Y. In 1868 he entered the sophomore class of Cornell University and was graduated in 1871, having successfully taken the courses in architecture and civil engineering, including the natural sciences and modern languages. The succeeding ten years of his life Mr. Hayes devoted to the successful practice of his chosen profession at Elmira, N.Y. In 1881 he removed to Minneapolis."

"Mr. Hayes' specialty was church designing and his work and fame in that line are by no means local. Churches have been built in all parts of the United States and Canada from his plans and one at Pekin, China. About his last work was in connection with the new Westminster church in Minneapolis. Among the larger churches designed by him are the following: Wesley Methodist, Fowler Methodist, First Methodist, First Congregational, Central, Calvary and Immanuel Baptist, First Presbyterian, Swedish Tabernacle in Minneapolis' the Central Presbyterian, St. Paul' First Baptist, Portland Ore' Presbyterian churches at Mankao, Minn., Madison, Wis., Ashland, Wis., Oshkosh, Wis., Baraboo, Wis. While devoting his attention especially to churches, Mr Hayes did considerable notable work in other lines. The Hugh Harrison wholesale building, First Avenue North and Third Street, the North Star Shoe Company building and the Sykes block are other Minneapolis monuments to his taste and ability as an architect." The Improvement Bulletin, Sept. 2, 1899

Photo Caption "W.H. Hayes, Cornell 1871". Please credit Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, Cornell University Libraries, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-5301 from Collection # 37/5/206 N3127

The National Register of Historic Places currently includes seven of his works in Minnesota ^[1] and the Methodist Episcopal Church at Lodi, New York (discussed below).

After graduation from Cornell, Hayes set up his office first in Penn Yan, and then in 1873 in Elmira, New York. One of the earliest published designs is an 1878 English Cottage that appears in the American Architect and Building News. 14 December 1878 Page 195 See http://www.lib.umassd.edu/digicoll/stickarch/aabn.cfm#EnglishCottage Image at [3] Another example of Hayes' early residential work is his father's home built in about 1883 at 2505 County House Road, Penn Yan, N. Y. now on the National Historic Register, where inscriptions noting the design work signed by Hayes' have been found. The thumbnail at the right shows the front of the house during 1989 remodeling.

Hayes designed his Minneapolis home at 619 12th Ave South. The last known example of a Hayes residential commission appears in The Improvement Bulletin of June 24, 1899 which reported that Hayes had prepared plans for a 2-story frame residence to be erected by Rev. T. M Findley at Spicer, Minn.

Probably Warren Hayes' first known church commission was the First Methodist Church of Watkins Glen, 127 E. 4th St, Watkins Glen, NY 140891 See "Historical Record: The First Methodist Church of Watkins Glen, NY 1810-1985" ^[2] This was no doubt due to his close ties to the community. Hayes' uncle, Daniel Howard was the President of the then Board of Trustees. In addition, the church has a stained glass window in memory of Daniel A. and Hannah Howard.

Other churches designed while at Elmira include the Methodist Episcopal Church at Lodi, New York, featured on the cover of the July 29, 1882 edition of the "American Architect and Building News" (No 344) now on the National Register of Historic Places.

In Minneapolis' Hayes' designed the Calvary Baptist Church, Fowler Methodist Episcopal Church (now the Scottish Rite Temple which has the original plans, with copies at the Northwest Architectural Archives), the First Congregational Church,(see left and center thumbnail below)

and Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church^[3] (see right thumbnail below)

as well as the Central Presbyterian Church in Saint Paul.

His design of a Church for the First Methodist Church Society of Pekin with seating capacity for 2000 was almost as large as his Wesley Methodist Church.^[4]

He also designed the First Presbyterian Church (Hastings, Minnesota), significant for its Romanesque architecture, characterized by its massive quality, its thick walls, round arches, large towers, and decorative arcading and the Music Building at the University of Minnesota. http://www.uservices.umn.edu/heritage/national_register/music_nr.htm

Numerous elevation and plan view renderings by Hayes' appear in professional and trade journals of the 1880's and 1890's, for example:

American Architect and Building News, originally copyrighted and published by James B. Osgood & Co.

No. 344, July 29, 1882 Methodist Episcopal Church at Lodi, New York (see above);

No. ___, ____ __, 1887 The Andrew Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, Minn.[See thumbnail at left.]

; First Congregational Church, Appleton, Wis.[See thumbnail at right.]

No. 654, July 7, 1888 First Presbyterian Church, Peoria, Ill. [See thumbnail at center.]

Architecture and Building, Vol. XVI, No. 19, May, 7, 1892 First Presbyterian Church, Oconto, Wis.; and the Immanuel Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minn.

The Improvement Bulletin,

Feb 11, 1899, First Baptist Church, Portland, Or. (See thumbnail at the right)

The Improvement Bulletin also noted other works by Warren H. Hayes:

April 1, 1899 Albert Lea, Minn and Knoxville, Ill. "It will be 60X90, with high tower in one corner, of pressed brick veneer and cut stone trimmings, galvanized iron work, slate roof, leaded glass, decorating, church pews, and furnaces for heating"

April 8, 1899 Knoxville, Ill. plans have been accepted by the Presbyterian church

April 29, 1899 Audubon, IA Presbyterian Church

June 3, 1899 Worthington, Minn Presbyterian Church; Baptist church Eldora, Ia

June 17, 1899, First Methodist Episcopal church at Baraboo, Wis.

Hayes also prepared designs for institutions and developers. Examples are the Science Hall at Hamline University (see thumbnail at left), University Hall-Old Main, Hamline University

and Ladies Hall at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis. (see center thumbnail)

Examples of his furniture designs still exist, such as an octagonal table with the inscription "Designed and Built for Warren H Hayes, Architect, 1893 and signed by Hayes.

The Jan. 13th, 1900 edition of The Improvement Bulletin notes that "Frederick H. Heath, who, for a number of years was associated with the late Warren H. Hayes, has purchased his office fitting, fixtures, plans and business and will resume the practice of architecture on Feb. 1, at the old stand, 705 Sykes block." Heath's purchase was confirmed by Minneapolis court records.

Heath went on to a very distinguished career and designed hundreds of buildings in the Tacoma, Washington area.[4]

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