Oliver Perry Dennis (August 25, 1858 – July 14, 1927) was an American architect. As co-founder of the architectural firm Dennis and Farwell, he designed many buildings in Los Angeles County, California, including the Hollywood Hotel, Janes House, and the Magic Castle. He also designed or co-designed several buildings in Tacoma, Washington.

Early life

Oliver Perry Dennis was born on August 25, 1858, in Delaware County, New York, to Oliver H. Dennis, a farmer, and Julia Ann Brumley. Oliver lived with his family including his maternal grandmother from 1858 to at least 1865. The family moved to Sanilac County in northeastern Michigan sometime between 1865 and 1870, and by 1875 they had moved again, this time to a farm in Chautauqua, New York.^[1]

Oliver's mother died of paralysis sometime between 1880 and 1892, after which his father remarried, then died in or after 1899. Oliver had four brothers, two sisters, and at least two step-brothers.^[1]

Career

By 1880, Oliver P. was working as a carpenter.^[1] He worked as an architect in Tacoma, Washington from 1888 to 1901, with the majority of his work done in partnership with John G. Proctor.^[2] In 1896, he partnered with Lyman Farwell to create Dennis and Farwell in Los Angeles, California. In 1914, he once again worked on his own, and the following year he became partner at Dennis and Rasche. He went solo again in 1919.^[1]

Oliver P.'s most notable works were done during his time at Dennis and Farwell. These projects include (in Los Angeles unless otherwise noted):

• Kimberly Crest, Redlands (1897), NRHP-listed^[3] CHL #1019^[4]

• Hollywood Hotel (1902)^[5]
• Janes House (1903), NRHP-listed, LAHCM #227^[6][7]
• Santa Ana Public Library #1, Santa Ana (1903)^[1]
• Hollywood Art Center School (1904),^[5] LAHCM #1202^[6]
• Cline Residence (1906), LAHCM #854^[5]
• Rollin B. Lane House (1909), a near mirror duplicate of Kimberly Crest, LAHCM #406^[6][8]

• James R. Toberman House (1909), LAHCM #769^[5]
• Iowa Building (1910)^[1]
• Los Angeles Police Department Boyle Heights Station (1911-1912)^[1]
• Occidental College Hall of Letters^[9]

Select Oliver Perry Dennis works in Washington include (in Tacoma unless otherwise noted):^[1]

• Hotel Bostwick (1888–1889)
• Barlow-Catlin Building (1889–1890)
• Western Washington Industrial Exposition Building (1889–1891)

• Pierce County Courthouse (1890–1893)
• Charles Marble House (1892)
• Western Washington Hospital for the Insane, Lakewood (1893 addition)
• Nelson Bennett House
• Massasoit Hotel

Additional select Oliver Perry Dennis works in California include (in Los Angeles unless otherwise noted):^[1]

• Westlake Masonic Temple (1914)
• Ralph Huntsberger House (1914–1915)
• Vendome Street Apartment Building (1916)
• Rialto Theater (1916–1917), NRHP-listed, LAHCM #1202^[6][10]
• Florence Theater, Pasadena (1917)^[11]
• Columbia Trust Building
• Archie Freeman House
• Loveland House
• Young Men's Christian Association South Broadway Building
• William T. Gould House, Beverly Hills
• Naples Hotel, Long Beach

Personal life and death

Oliver P. married Rosella Miller on December 22, 1887, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They had two children together and divorced some time before 1910. Both children lived with their mother after the divorce.^[1]

Oliver P. died on July 14, 1927, and was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.^[1]

See also

• List of American architects
• List of people from Los Angeles

References