George Hancock (1849- 1924) was an architect active in North Dakota, Montana and Minnesota.
Biography
George David Hancock was born in the village of Uley in Gloucestershire, England. He was educated at South Kensington Institute in London, England. He moved to Dakota Territory in 1882, settling in Fargo, North Dakota with his brother Walter Benjamin Hancock (1863-1929), when they were 33 and 17, respectively. Walter Hancock attended Syracuse University where he graduated with a degree in architecture in 1889.
After a fire destroyed much of Downtown Fargo in 1893, George and Walter designed around half of the replacement buildings. After advocating for a 1917 law requiring architects in North Dakota to be licensed, he and Walter became the first two licensed architects in the state. The firm of Hancock Brothers to also operated open a branch office at Bozeman, Montana.
Notable works
Many of their works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, with credit individually or as Hancock Brothers or variations. Their works include:
- Christ Episcopal Church and Rectory (Sheridan, Montana), SW jct. of Poppleton and Main Sts., Sheridan, Montana (Hancock, George) NRHP-listed
- Episcopal Church of the Advent-Guild Hall, 501 6th St. E., Devil's Lake, North Dakota (Hancock, George) NRHP-listed
- Gallatin County High School, 404 W. Main, Bozeman, Montana (Hancock, George) NRHP-listed
- Grace Episcopal Church, 210 C Ave. S., Minnewaukan, ND (Hancock Brothers) NRHP-listed
- Grace Episcopal Church, Jct. of 2nd Ave. NE. and 4th St. NE., NW corner, Jamestown, ND (Hancock, George) NRHP-listed
- Hotel Kaddatz, 111-113 W. Lincoln Ave., Fergus Falls, MN (Hancock, George) NRHP-listed
- One or more properties in Jamestown Historic District, Roughly bounded by First St., Fourth Ave., SE, Fifth St., and Second Ave., Jamestown, ND (Hancock Bros.) NRHP-listed
- McHench Building, listed on the NRHP as part of Knerr Block, Floyd Block, McHench Building and Webster and Coe Building, 13, 15, 17-19, and 21-23 8th St., S., Fargo, ND (Hancock Brothers) NRHP-listed
- McLean County Courthouse, Fifth Ave., Washburn, ND (Hancock Bros.) NRHP-listed
- North Side Fargo High Style Residential Historic District, Roughly bounded by Twelfth Ave. N, Fourth St., Eleventh Ave. N, and Seventh St., Fargo, ND (Hancock, Walter & George) NRHP-listed
- Old Stone Church, 206 N Wilcox Ave., Buffalo, ND (Hancock, George) NRHP-listed
- Park Elementary School, 121 6th Ave. South, Moorhead, MN (Hancock Bros.) NRHP-listed
- Powers Hotel, 400 Broadway, Fargo, ND (Hancock Brothers & Kurke William) NRHP-listed
- Elliot-Powers House and Garage
- St. James Catholic Church, 622 1st Ave., S., Jamestown, ND (Hancock Brothers) NRHP-listed
- St. James Episcopal Church and Rectory, 9 W. Olive, Bozeman, Montana (Hancock, George) NRHP-listed
- Seiler Building, 110 First St. E, Jamestown, ND (Hancock, George & Walter) NRHP-listed
- St. Mary's Academy, E. 7th St., Devils Lake, ND (Hancock Brothers) NRHP-listed
- St. Michael's Church, 520 N. Sixth St., Grand Forks, ND (Hancock Bros.) NRHP-listed
- St. Michael's Hospital and Nurses' Residence, 813 Lewis Blvd., Grand Forks, ND (Hancock, George) NRHP-listed
- St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Jct. of 3rd Ave. and 5th St., SE corner, Casselton, ND (Hancock, George) NRHP-listed
- State Normal School at Valley City Historic District, Roughly bounded by College St., SE., Second Ave., SE., Viking Dr. and Second Ave., SW., Valley City, ND (Hancock Brothers) NRHP-listed
- Hannah C. and Peter E. Thompson House, 361 Second St., NE., Barnesville, MN (Hancock, Walter B., and Hancock, George) NRHP-listed
References
- "Hancock Brothers, George D. and Walter B." (PDF). Biographical Dictionary of Great Plains Architects. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- "Hancock, Walter B., 1863–1929" (PDF). North Dakota State University Libraries. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ Wagner, Steven P. (December 12, 1999). "Designs stand the test of time". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Archived from the original on 2011-08-19.
- "Hancock Brothers". archinform.net. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- "The Under Appreciated Architects of Historic Bozeman". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- Norene A. Roberts (February 12, 1983). "NRHP Inventory-Nomination: Knerr Block, Floyd Block, McHench Building and Webster and Coe Building". National Park Service. and Accompanying six photos, exterior and interior, from 1982