Ordinance No. 20330 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Jolm Hunzicker. Hunzicker had a very successful 30-year architectural practice in Eugene (Oregon Architect License No. 0049). He was born in Wisconsin in 1867, the son of Jacob Hunzicker, a carpenter and farmer. John and his brother Emil worked as carpenter/contractors in Wisconsin for ~nany years. Hm~icker moved to Eugene in 1903 and began his practice as a self-taught architect; when licenses were required in 1919 he became the first registered architect in Eugene. ~ His first architectural commission was a building for the Woodmen of the World in Springfield, constructed in 1904. An inventory of his work lists nearly 150 buildings. The inventory includes 64 single-family houses, and of note, the Eugene Hotel, the Miner Building, a hospital, six armories, six lodge buildings, nine fraternity and sorority houses, thirteen schools, five churches, numerous commercial buildings, and the Douglas County Court House. During his lifetime, Hunzicker partnered with Theodore Gerow, architect, Lawrence Hunter and Archie Tirrell, builders, and Graham Smith, architect. Truman Phillips joined Smith and Hunzicker in 1929. Lakin explains that Hunzicker "eventually became not only the busiest architect in Eugene, but he outlasted many of the architects who began working in Eugene around the same time.''2 She attributes much of his success to his willingness to cater to his clients' wishes.3 Hunzicker also attracted attention outside of Eugene; he was written up in the journal Pacific Coast Architect in 1912. Mr. Hunzicker died in 1945 at the age of 78. The Kaufman Senior Center merits distinction because of the association with John Hunzicker, architect. Distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction Btmgalows were popularized at the beginning of the twentieth century through publications such as The Craftsman, a magazine published by Gustav Stickley from 1901 to 1916.4 According to Kimberly Keir Lakin's 1982 thesis titled 'The Life and Work of John Hunzicker, Architect (1867- 1945), "Bungalows were a particularity popular style for residences in Eugene and were built fi.om around 1905 until World War I. Lakin goes on to describe the Hunter House, saying both it and another example by Hunzicker "hug the ground and have the massive quality typical of the Bungalow style.'6 Other defining characteristics include: the prominent porch supported by squared columns; a low-pitched gable (and intersecting hipped) roof; and the wide overhanging eaves with decorative eave brackets. The influence of the Arts and Crafts Movement and the ~Lakin, 24. 2Lakin, 3. 3Lakin, 3. 4Rosalind Clark, Oregon Style' Architecture 1840 to 1950s (Portland, Oregon: Professional Book Center, Inc., 1983), 145. 5Klmberly Keir Lakm, "The Life and Work of John Hunzmker, Architect (1867-1945" (M A. thesis, University of Oregon, 1982), 18. 6Lakin, 19. Kaufman Semor Center & Annex December 4, 2003 Page 5