Charles H. Burggraf was born in Centralia, Illinois, in 1866. He was one of four children; he had a sister, Lizzie, and two brothers, Frank and Will. The Burggraf family moved to Nebraska in 1884, and Charles attended Hastings College where he studied surveying, engineering, drawing, and architecture. His German-born father, J.G. Burggraf, was an architect, and owned his own firm, where Charles worked from 1888-1889, after he graduated. In 1889, Charles married Mattie Adams, a "highly educated and cultivated lady" originally from Iowa. [1]
In 1890, Charles decided to move with his wife to Grand Junction, Colorado, where he specialized in designing public schools, banks, and churches. [2] Within a short time he decided that Colorado was not the place for him, and, in 1891, moved to Salem, Oregon. At this time his father also moved to Salem from Nebraska. Burggraf's office was in Salem until 1899, at which point he decided to move to Albany, Oregon. He settled in comfortably, and joined the local Elks chapter there; he eventually designed their new lodge. [4]
Burggraf proved to be a prolific architect. In Corvallis, he designed Education Hall (1902) and of course, Waldo Hall (1907); in Springfield, School District #19 Building (1921). Albany was his chief worksite, clearly illustrated by the list of almost 20 buildings he designed there: McAlphins Confectionery (1919), Flynn Block (1887), Central School (1915), the house of Alfred Dawson (1908), the St. Francis Hotel (1912), the Elk's Temple (burned down in 1973), the Rialto Theater Building (1898), Albany State Bank Building (1908), Wallace Building (1915), Masonic Hall Building (dramatically remodeled by Burggraf in 1915), S.E. Young Clothing Store (1912), First Savings Bank (1909), the Albany Hotel (1910, torn down in the late 20th century), the Burggraf Building (1910, also torn down in the late 20th century), and Albany High School (1909). [2] [3]
In Salem, his original place of business in Oregon, he designed the Burggraf-Burt-Webster House (1895), and the Ashby-Durbin House (1897). He designed a building in remote Condon in 1908, and two buildings for the two buildings for the Eastern Oregon Experiment Station in Union. [1] Burggraf also designed the Sherman and Tillamook County courthouses (1899 and 1906, respectively). [2] [3]
Burggraf designed numerous other buildings throughout Oregon and Washington state. The sheer volume of buildings he designed meant that he was famous throughout Oregon, with his name appearing in newspapers over 100 times during his career in the state. His arrival in a city often warranted a one or two sentence notice in the newspaper. [4] In addition to being arguably the most famous and prolific architect in the Willamette Valley, he also was a lover of the theater, and was known for organizing a number of amateur theatrical productions. His community service was not just limited to buildings and theater. [4] During World War I, Burggraf volunteered in one of the Oregon branches of the Red Cross, where he was actually a chairman and coordinated numerous aid drives. His wife was also heavily involved, and was elected First vice-chairman of the Linn county Red Cross in 1919.[4]
He continued to work from Albany until he retired in late July, 1933. After his retirement, his former office was converted into the Albany Grand Opera House [1] (which he also designed). [4] He died in 1942, and was buried in Salem, Oregon. [5]
Charles H. Burggraf, circa 1870. (Image courtesy of the Monteith Historical Society.)
The Elk's Lodge in Albany, Oregon. Date unknown. (Image courtesy of the Albany Downtown Association.)
The Albany Hotel, one of two hotels Burggraf designed in Albany, OR, circa early 1900s. (Image courtesy of the Albany Downtown Association.)
A modern picture of the St. Francis Hotel. (Image courtesy of the Albany Downtown Association.)
St. Francis Hotel interior, circa early 1900s. (Image courtesy of the Albany Downtown Association.)
A modern picture of the Albany Public Library. (Image courtesy of the Albany Downtown Association.)
A modern picture of the Albany Christian School. (Image courtesy of the Albany Downtown Association.)
What Corvallis and Albany looked like at the time of Burggraf's arrival. A view of 2nd St., downtown Corvallis, circa 1902. The streets are still entirely dirt, and the sidewalks made of wood. These two cities were unrecognizable from this by the time that Burggraf died. (Image courtesy of the Albany Downtown Association.)