Ernest C. S. Holmboe

Life and career

E. C. S. Holmboe was born in Denmark, where he studied architecture for four years. He later relocated to Chicago, where he was educated at the Art Institute of Chicago. In the early and mid 1890s he practiced as an architect in Chicago, but by 1899 he had relocated to the much smaller city of Marietta. In 1901 he formed a partnership with Robert C. Lafferty, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia. Lafferty was sent to Clarksburg to open a branch office. Soon afterwards, Holmboe moved the firm's chief office to Clarksburg, and Lafferty ran another branch office, this time at Bluefield. Holmboe & Lafferty grew to become to most prominent architectural firm in the Clarksburg region, but was dissolved in 1920, soon after the end of World War I.

After a brief period alone, Holmboe established a new partnership with Guy M. Pogue, who had been educated by Charles W. Bates and been a practicing architect in Wheeling for five years. Holmboe & Pogue appears to have lasted for only a few years, but completed several major projects, including four county courthouses.

After the dissolution of Holmboe & Pogue, Holmboe practiced on his own at least until the 1940s, though few projects are known.

Influence and legacy

Holmboe was well regarded as a designer of fraternal buildings, especially Elks lodges. Buildings of this type by Holmboe & Lafferty were built in such faraway states as Florida and North Dakota.

E. C. S. Holmboe, until 1901

Holmboe & Laffery, 1901-1920

Holmboe & Pogue, from 1920

E. C. S. Holmboe