George Franklin Barber
George Franklin Barber (July 31, 1854 – February 17, 1915) was an American architect known for the house designs he marketed worldwide through mail-order catalogs.[5] Barber began designing houses in his native DeKalb, Illinois, in the late 1880s, before permanently moving his base to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1888.2, contained designs and floor plans for 59 houses, mostly in the Queen Anne style, as well as Barber's architectural philosophy and tips for homebuilders.[3] While still a young child, he moved to Marmaton, Kansas, where he lived on the farm of his sister, Olive, and her husband, William Barrett.[4][7] The earliest buildings constructed from Barber's designs include the Charles E. Bradt House (1887) and the Congregational Church (1888), both in DeKalb.[4] Barber also became a partner in the Edgewood Land Improvement Company, which was developing a suburb east of Knoxville known as Park City (modern Parkridge).Graham in East Brady, Pennsylvania;[4] and one of his grandest designs, the $40,000 "Mount Athos" for Barboursville, Virginia, tycoon Walter G.[14] In the early 1900s, Barber began to phase out his mail-order business and with the help of his brother, Manly, focused on Knoxville-area building projects.[4] Barber houses constructed in this period are characterized by features such imposing turrets, projecting windows, verandas flanked by circular pavilions, and Syrian arches.[4] While he occasionally supplied builders with manufactured windows, doors, staircases and other components, and millwork companies advertised in Barber's magazine, it is unclear whether entire houses were sold as kits by anyone prior to 1900.
DeKalb, IllinoisKnoxville, TennesseeCharlesVictorianNational Register of Historic PlacesQueen Anne styleColonialCharles I. BarberBarberMcMurryMarmaton, KansasParkridgeJacksonville, OregonDonnelly HouseMount Dora, FloridaHenderson, KentuckyIsaac Ziegler HouseOld North KnoxvilleLouisvilleGay StreetC. W. PostBattle Creek, MichiganR. J. ReynoldsWinston-Salem, North CarolinaEast Brady, PennsylvaniaBarboursville, VirginiaR. F. GrafList of George Franklin Barber worksLebanon, TennesseePalliser, Palliser & CompanyproportionharmonyHazlehurst, MississippiRomanesqueturretsverandasColonial RevivalporticosBungalowCraftsmanmillworkJohn Calvin Owings HouseLaurens, South CarolinaNatchitoches, LouisianaHistoric American Buildings Surveybed and breakfastsRaper BuildingLexington, North CarolinaMaryville CollegeBaumann family (architects)Eastlake movementStick-EastlakeShingle Style architectureNational Park ServiceWayback Machine