Reed and Stem

"Charles A. Reed" redirects here. For the fireboat, see Charles A. Reed (fireboat).
Wulling Hall (Medical Hall), Minneapolis, Minnesota
King Street Station, Seattle, Washington

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]

Michigan Central Station, Detroit, Michigan

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

Work with the Northern Pacific Railway

During the tenure of President Howard Elliott (1903–1912), the Northern Pacific Railway 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 the major works, such as the Tacoma Union Station and the former Montana Division Headquarters at Livingston, Montana, these lesser structures like Ellensburg, Washington, probably include:


Northern Pacific Railway depot overview, Ellensburg, Washington
Northern Pacific Railway depot: detail of telegraph operator's bay area, including the Northern Pacific's Monad trademark, adopted in 1896, Ellensburg, Washington.
Northern Pacific Railway depot overview, Helena, Montana, circa 1904
Northern Pacific Railway depot overview, Ritzville, Washington: this depot is now in use as a local museum. http://museums.goritzville.com/depot.php
Northern Pacific Railway depot, Staples, Minnesota
Northern Pacific Railway depot overview, Toppenish, Washington: this depot is now in use as the Northern Pacific Railway Museum -- http://www.nprymuseum.org.

Several of their works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are (with attribution):

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Reed and Stem papers". Northwest Architectural Archives, Manuscripts Division, University of Minnesota Libraries. Retrieved 2008-12-25.
  2. ↑ "WASA/Studio A homepage". Retrieved 2010-01-29.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  4. ↑ Schwantes, Carlos (1993). Railroad Signatures across the Pacific Northwest. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 226. ISBN 0-295-97535-0.
  5. ↑ Schwantes, Carlos (1993). Railroad Signatures across the Pacific Northwest. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 117. ISBN 0-295-97535-0.
  6. ↑ "National Register, University of Minnesota Heritage Trail, University of Minnesota". Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  7. ↑ Dunlap, David W. (December 18, 2012). "When Trade Shows Were Both Central and Grand". New York Times. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Sandpoint Train Station: About the Station". Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  9. ↑ "Authority for Expenditure 34-1911". Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  10. ↑ Russell, Lauren (June 26, 2010). "Trident Train Depot Spared Demolition". Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  11. ↑ "Depot Day 2011 in Historic Wallace, Idaho.". Retrieved 2011-06-13.