George M. Coombs


George M. Coombs was an American architect in practice in Lewiston, Maine from 1874 to 1909.

Life and career

George Millard Coombs was born November 27, 1851, in Brunswick, Maine to John Matthews Coombs, a shipbuilder, and Hannah Williams Coombs. Circa 1869, at the age of 17, Coombs moved up the Androscoggin River to Lewiston, then a booming mill town, and worked as a carpenter until 1872. That year, Coombs began working for local architect Charles F. Douglas. He worked for Douglas until 1874, when Douglas left for Philadelphia amidst a period of economic instability. Coombs then formed a partnership, Kimball & Coombs, with Charles H. Kimball, a young architect from Portland. Kimball returned to Portland to open his own office in 1875, and Coombs formed a new partnership, Stevens & Coombs, with Lewiston architect William H. Stevens. This lasted until the death of Stevens in 1880.
During the next decade Coombs became the region's leading architect, and trained many young architects in his office, including his son, Harry S. Coombs, Eugene J. Gibbs, William R. Miller, Addison G. Pulsifer, Elmer I. Thomas and Harry C. Wilkinson. In 1896 he formed a partnership with Gibbs and Wilkinson, known as Coombs, Gibbs & Wilkinson. In 1900 Wilkinson left for Washington, D.C., and the firm continued as Coombs & Gibbs until Coombs' death in 1909.
Coombs became successful designing residences and institutional buildings throughout Lewiston, its twin city Auburn, and across the state, working in the prevailing Second Empire, Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne styles.

Personal life

Coombs was married in 1873 to Clara Coffin of East Harpswell, Maine. They had two sons: Fred Hamilton Coombs and Harry Stevens Coombs, both of whom would work in their father's office.
In 1889 and 1890 Coombs was a member of the Lewiston City Council.
Coombs died March 26, 1909, of pneumonia in Lewiston at the age of 57.

Legacy

After Coombs' death, his office survived. It was first continued by his son, Harry S. Coombs, and Gibbs under its former name of Coombs & Gibbs. This was dissolved in 1910 and succeeded by Coombs and his elder brother, Fred H. Coombs, as Coombs Brothers. In 1912 it was succeeded by the younger Coombs alone. In 1928 he formed a partnership, Coombs & Harriman, with Alonzo J. Harriman, and retired in 1938. Harriman and his successors continued the firm in Auburn, which today is known simply as Harriman.
Many of his works, alone and with his partners, have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. Others contribute to listed historic districts.

Designs

Kimball & Coombs, 1874:
Private practice, 1874-1875:
  • George C. Chase House, 16 Frye St., Lewiston, ME
Stevens & Coombs, 1875-1880:
Private practice, 1880-1896:
Coombs, Gibbs & Wilkinson, 1896-1900:
Coombs & Gibbs, 1900-1910: