Reed and Stem
Reed and Stem was an architecture firm based in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was a partnership between Charles A. Reed (1858–1911) and Allen H. Stem (1856–1931). Formed in 1891, the successful partnership captured a wide range of commissions. One early work was Medical Hall on the campus of the University of Minnesota. They were, however, most widely known for their work on railways over the course of two decades. Through Reed's relationship, by marriage, to the president of the New York Central Railroad, they gained a high profile commission for New York's Grand Central Terminal with the architecture firm of Warren and Wetmore, and the newly hired Alfred T. Fellheimer as lead architect. In addition, Reed and Stem undertook many significant projects for the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway. After Reed's death, Stem continued to practice with Fellheimer until his retirement in 1920.[1]
The "Reed and Stem" papers held by the Northwest Architectural Archives, in the Elmer L. Anderson Library, at the University of Minnesota constitute only a small portion of their output. Only five commissions are represented, and none of them relate to the railroad work of the firm.[1]
The firm continues to practice in New York City as WASA/Studio A.[2]
Major Commissions
- Grand Central Terminal, New York, New York, 1913
- King Street Station, Seattle, Washington, 1906 [3]
- Livingston Depot, Livingston, Montana, 1902
- Michigan Central Station, Detroit, Michigan, 1913
- Tacoma Union Station, Tacoma, Washington, 1911 [4]
- Wulling Hall (Medical Hall), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1892 [5]
- Northern Pacific Depot, Ellensburg, Washington, 1910
Work with the Northern Pacific Railway
During the tenure of Northern Pacific Railway President Howard Elliott (1903–1912), the company engaged in the upgrading of numerous depots across its system, from Minnesota to Washington. Many of these depots bear common architectural stamps, and are likely to be Reed and Stem designs. There is also the possibility the designs for smaller stations were drawn up by the Northern Pacific's Engineering Department, based on the design elements of Reed and Stem. In addition to major works, such as the Tacoma Union Station and the former Montana Division Headquarters at Livingston, Montana, these lesser structures like Ellensburg, Washington, likely include:
- Aitkin, Minnesota
- Beach, North Dakota
- Belgrade, Montana
- Billings, Montana
- Butte, Montana
- Centralia, Washington
- Chehalis, Washington
- Detroit Lakes, Minnesota (built 1908)
- Fergus Falls, Minnesota
- Garrison, Montana (razed 2000)
- Helena, Montana (Reed and Stem, built 1904)
- Missoula, Montana (Reed and Stem Renaissance Revival, built 1901)
- Ritzville, Washington (built 1910)
- Sandpoint, Idaho (circa 1916) [6]
- Staples, Minnesota (built 1909)
- Toppenish, Washington (built 1911)[7] The Northern Pacific's Toppenish depot is now run as the Northern Pacific Railway Museum -- http://www.nprymuseum.org.
- Trident, Montana (built 1909, moved to Three Forks, Montana in July 27, 2011, for rehabilitation into a museum)[8]
- Wallace, Idaho (built 1902)[9]
- Yakima, Washington circa 1912: The Northern Pacific built at least three depots in Yakima. The first when they began their construction across Stampede Pass circa 1884, a second, larger wood structure with what was to have been a large clock tower in 1901, and a final depot in a style similar to that in nearby Ellensburg, Washington, circa 1912. The last was the likely Reed and Stem design. Ironically, the 1901 depot was designed by another noted architect -- Cass Gilbert. This structure was later relocated to another part of town, and converted into an apartment building. As of 2010, it was still standing in Yakima, minus the clock tower. The Northern Pacific never installed clocks in the tower, instead placing their large Monad trademark (the ying-yang), adopted by the road in 1896. In addition to the 1901 depot at Yakima, Gilbert designed the Northern Pacific's depots at Little Falls, Minnesota, as well as Bismarck, North Dakota, and Fargo, North Dakota.
Notes and references
- Cone, Rufus L., and Dick, James C. Electronic mail, June 14, 2011. Dr. Cone is author of several articles on the history of the Northern Pacific Railway for the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association's quarterly The Mainstreeter. James C. Dick is volunteer archivist for the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association Archives in St. Paul, Minn.