Description
Harvey Ellis was the link between H. H. Richardson and the Prairie School and one who made great contributions to art and rendering, graphic art and designs, furniture design, architectural design, the tall building, ornament, the jewel box bank, and Arts & Crafts, including his work for Gustav Stickley and the Craftsman magazine.
St. Louis is home to four of Ellis’ noteworthy designs – the St. Louis City Hall (1890; Harvey Ellis for Eckel & Mann), Insane Asylum for the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul (1891-94; Harvey Ellis for George R. Mann), the entrance to Washington Terrace (1893; Harvey Ellis for George R. Mann) and the Compton Hill Water Tower (1893-98; Harvey Ellis for George R. Mann).
John C. Guenther, FAIA, LEED AP has researched the life and works of Harvey Ellis (1852-1904) since 1984, and has had the opportunity to visit many of Ellis’ works to study them firsthand.