George M. Coombs

Kora Temple in Lewiston, designed by Coombs and built between 1908-1910

George M. Coombs (November 27, 1851 - 1909) was a noted Maine architect who designed numerous buildings in the state, many of which survive and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. His firm evolved from Stevens & Coombs (with Lewiston architect William H. Stevens), to Coombs & Gibbs (with Eugene J. Gibbs), finally into Coombs, Gibbs & Wilkinson (with Harry C. Wilkinson). In 1901, the office was joined by his son, Harry S. Coombs.

Life

Born in Brunswick, he was the son of Hannah (Morse) Coombs and John Coombs, a shipbuilder. At the age of 17, George M. Coombs moved up the Androscoggin River to Lewiston, then a booming mill town, and worked two years as a carpenter to help learn his trade. In 1870, he went into business as an independent architect. He married Clara Coffin and they had two sons.^[1]

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.^[2] The company is now Harriman Associates. ^[3]

Designs

Franklin County Courthouse, Farmington, Maine

First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Farmington, Maine

Lewiston Public Library, designed by Coombs & Gibbs

NRHP-listed places designed by George Coombs include:^[3]

• Bradford House (Lewiston, Maine), 54-56 Pine St. Lewiston ME (Coombs,George), a Second Empire-style building
• Robert P. Carr House, Main St. Bowdoinham (Coombs,George M.)
• Cole Block, 19 Main St. Bethel ME (Coombs, George M.)
• Viola Coombs House, Main St. Bowdoinham ME (Coombs,Harry S.)
• Charles L. Cushman House, 8 Cushman Pl. Auburn ME (Coombs,George M.)
• Holman Day House, 2 Goff St. Auburn ME (Coombs,George M.)
• Dominican Block, 141-145 Lincoln St. Lewiston ME vCoombs,George M.)
• One or more buildings in Farmington Historic District, Roughly bounded by High, Academy, Anson and Grove Sts. Farmington ME (Coombs, George M.)
• First Callahan Building, 276 Lisbon St. Lewiston ME (Coombs,George)
• First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Main St. Farmington ME (Coombs,George M.)
• First National Bank of Houlton, Market Sq. Houlton ME (Coombs,George M.)
• Franklin County Courthouse, Main and Anson Sts. Farmington ME (Coombs,George M.)
• Sen. William P. Frye House, 453-461 Main St. Lewiston ME (Coombs,George M.)
• One or more buildings in Kineo Cottage Row Historic District, West side of Kineo peninsula in Moosehead Lake Kineo Township ME (Coombs and Gibbs)
• Kora Temple, 11 Sabattus St. Lewiston ME (Coombs,George M.)
• One or more buildings in Main Street-Frye Street Historic District, Frye St. and portions of Main St. and College St. Lewiston ME (Coombs, George M.)
• Joseph and Susan Manley Summer Cottage, E side of Club Rd., 0.1 mi. S of jct. of ME 216 and Club Rd. Small Point ME (Coombs, George M.)
• Merrill Hall, Maine and Academy Sts. Farmington ME (Coombs,George M.)
• Oak Street School, Oak St. Lewiston ME (Coombs,George M.)
• Bradford Peck House, 506 Main St. Lewiston ME (Coombs, George M.)

NRHP-listed places designed by Coombs & Gibbs or Coombs, Gibbs & Wilkinson include:^[3]

• Lewiston Public Library, Park and Pine Sts. Lewiston ME (Coombs & Gibbs)
• Lewiston Trust and Safe Deposit Company, 46 Lisbon St. Lewiston ME (Coombs,Gibbs & Wilkinson)
• Philo Reed House, 38 Main St. Fort Fairfield ME (Coombs & Gibbs)

NRHP-listed places designed by Stevens & Coombs include:^[3]

• Gay-Munroe House, 64 Highland Ave. Auburn ME (Stevens and Coombs)
• Dr. Louis J. Martel House, 122-124 Bartlett St. Lewiston ME (Stevens and Coombs)
• Odd Fellows Block (Lewiston, Maine), 182--190 Lisbon St. Lewiston ME (Stevens & Coombs)
• Roak Block, 144-170 Main St. Auburn ME (Stevens & Coombs)

NRHP-listed places designed by other Coombs include:^[3]

• Elijah Kellogg Church, ME 123, Harpswell, Maine (Raymond,Anthony Coombs)
• Men's Hall, Prospect and High Sts. Morgantown WV (Baker & Coombs)

References

1. ^ Maine Historical Society (1919). Maine: A History, Volume 4. New York, New York. p. 205. http://books.google.com/books?id=rH95AAAAMAAJ&lpg=RA1-PA205&ots=28bBVKXgVf&dq=George%20M.%20Coombs%20Maine%20architect%20born%20in&pg=RA1-PA205#v=onepage&q&f=false. 
2. ^ Maine Historical Society (1919). Maine: A History, Volume 4. New York, New York. p. 205. http://books.google.com/books?id=rH95AAAAMAAJ&lpg=RA1-PA205&ots=28bBVKXgVf&dq=George%20M.%20Coombs%20Maine%20architect%20born%20in&pg=RA1-PA205#v=onepage&q&f=false. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 

External links

• Harriman Associates, Architects & Engineers

Persondata
Name	Coombs, George M.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	November 27, 1851
Place of birth
Date of death	1909
Place of death