Morris B. Payne

Morris Benham Payne
Born January 19, 1885
Waterford, Connecticut
Died 1961
New London, Connecticut
Nationality United States
Occupation Architect
Memorial Town Hall, Old Lyme, 1920.

Morris B. Payne (1885-1961) was an American architect from New London, Connecticut.[1] He was also Major general in the Connecticut National Guard and commanded 43rd Infantry Division at the beginning of the World War II.

Life and career

Morris Benham Payne was born in Waterford, Connecticut on January 19, 1885. He attended the public schools. Wishing to become a civil engineer, he entered the offices of Daball & Crandall, a New London engineering firm. from 1906 to 1912 he was employed by the United States engineering department. When he left government work in 1912, he established a partnership with architect James S. Duffy as Duffy & Payne, architects and engineers. They went separate ways in 1913, and Payne worked alone for the next two years.[2]

In late 1915, he established a partnership with B. Bouis Adams, an architect from Washington, DC.[3] Payne went abroad to France in 1917 with the Coast Artillery Corps, at which point Adams managed the office alone. Due to his declining health in Payne's absence, he closed the office in late 1918,[4] and died in February 1919. Payne returned in January of that year, and after Adams' death, established a new partnership, Payne & Griswold, with Harry Todd Griswold.[5] Edward R. Keefe joined the partnership in 1920, which became Payne, Griswold & Keefe. Griswold withdrew in 1922, after which point the firm existed as Payne & Keefe.[6] Payne & Keefe existed at least through the early 1950s.

Payne died in 1961. He was a Freemason.[7]

Legacy

One of Payne's buildings, the U. S. Post Office in New London, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[8] In addition, many of his works in New London, Old Lyme, and Groton contribute to listed historic districts.

In a 1921 publication detailing Connecticut domestic architecture, the work of Payne's firm was described as "...in the style so highly esteemed by the Founders. The people here seem to revere the architectural traditions of their old homes, but it appears to be a reverence thoroughly intermixed with discriminatory appreciation which counts for a clientele that stimulates because of its intelligent enthusiasm".[9]

Architectural works

Payne & Adams, 1915-1918

Payne & Griswold, 1919-1920

Payne, Griswold & Keefe, 1920-1922

  • 1920 - Waterbury State Armory, 64 Field St, Waterbury, Connecticut[17]
  • 1921 - Masonic Temple (remodeling), 20 Lyme St, Old Lyme, Connecticut[18]
    • This building served as the Town Hall until the Memorial Town Hall was completed.
  • 1922 - Daniel B. Hodgdon House (remodeling), 100 Lyme St, Old Lyme, Connecticut[19]
    • A rebuilding of a 1756 residence.

Payne & Keefe, from 1922

References

  1. Marshall, Benjamin Tinkham (1922). A Modern History of New London County, Connecticut, Volume 2. p. 108.
  2. A Modern History of New London County, Connecticut. Ed. Benjamin Tinkham Marshall. Vol. 2. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1922.
  3. American Contractor 11 Dec. 1915: 67.
  4. American Architect 14 Aug. 1918: 206. Boston.
  5. American Contractor 23 Aug. 1919: 32. Chicago.
  6. American Contractor 13 May 1922: 37. New York.
  7. "The Builder Magazine: January 1924". Phoenix Masonry. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  8. Smith, Greg. "New London post office possible future home to city offices". The Day. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  9. "Perpetuating Colonial Traditions". Modern Connecticut Homes and Homecrafts. New York: American Homecrafts Co., 1921.
  10. American Contractor 25 Dec. 1915: 42. Chicago.
  11. American Contractor 8 Jan. 1916: 38. Chicago.
  12. American Contractor 7 April 1917: 67. Chicago.
  13. Stone Nov. 1919: 515. Indianapolis.
  14. "Ansonia National Guard Armory (1921)". Historic Buildings of Connecticut. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  15. American Contractor 3 April 1920: 65. Chicago.
  16. American Contractor 1 May 1920: 66. Chicago.
  17. Engineering News-Record 16 Dec. 1920: 316. New York.
  18. American Contractor 12 Nov. 1921: 53. Chicago.
  19. American Contractor 14 Jan. 1922: 59. Chicago.
  20. American Contractor 22 July 1922: 46. Chicago.
  21. American Contractor 26 Aug. 1922: 40. Chicago.
  22. Engineering News-Record 1923: 182. New York.
  23. Rossano, Geoffrey L. Historic and Architectural Resource Survey of North Manchester, Connecticut. Vol. 1. n.d.
  24. Domestic Engineering 1927: 96. Chicago.
  25. 1 2 "Payne & Keefe (firm)". http://public.aia.org/. n.d.
  26. "History". http://salemct.gov/. n.d.
  27. Architectural Forum 1931: ix.
  28. Engineering News-Record 1931: 64. New York.
  29. Power 1932: 318. New York.
  30. Bridgemen's Magazine 1932: 31. Indianapolis.
  31. Bridgemen's Magazine 1932: 36. Indianapolis.
  32. New London Main Post Office NRHP Nomination. 1985.
  33. Bridgemen's Magazine 1933: 349. Indianapolis.
  34. Bridgemen's Magazine 1935: 151. Indianapolis.
  35. Ruddy, John. "Ocean Beach Park was built, from start to finish, in barely six months". www.theday.com. 29 June 2015.
  36. Montauk Avenue Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1990.
  37. Bridgemen's Magazine 1941: 336. Indianapolis.
  38. Engineering News-Record 28 March 1946: 28. New York.
  39. Engineering News-Record 16 Nov. 1950: 88. New York.
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