Louis W. Ross
Encyclopedia
Louis Warren Ross was an American architect
from Boston, Massachusetts, perhaps best known for his work at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
, where he designed over thirty of the campus buildings there.
Ross was born in Arlington, Massachusetts
on July 18th, 1893, the third of the five children of Louis Hall Ross and Mable Louisa Rawson. He was the grandson of agriculturalist Warren Winn Rawson and Helen Maria Mair. Graduating from Arlington High School
in June 1913, he entered the Massachusetts Agricultural College (presently the University of Massachusetts Amherst) as a pomology major in the fall of that same year. During his time at the college he was notably active in college sports, having played on the football, baseball, and hockey teams, serving as captain of the latter. He was also a member of the campus "mandolin club" and the Phi Sigma Kappa
fraternity.
Ross graduated in 1917, entering the army soon after. He would serve as an infantry lieutenant in the 166th Regiment of the 42nd Infantry Division, better known as the "Rainbow Division", in France during the First World War. By the end of the war he had been awarded a Purple Heart
with an oak leaf cluster
.
After the war, Ross entered the Harvard Graduate School of Architecture
in 1921, graduating four years later in 1925. He would spend the next ten years working as a draftsman for prominent Boston
architect, Edward T. P. Graham
before starting his own firm in 1935. One of his first independent projects, Thatcher House, was designed for his alma mater as the first dorm of the Northeast Residential Complex and the oldest dormitory still in use on campus today. His first design was seen as such a success by the university (by known this time known as Massachusetts State College) that he was given a gold medal at the 1938 commencement for his design and oversight of the building's construction. This would be the first of over 20 dormitories that he would design for the university, among other buildings.
Although not as widely known as his campus work, Ross would also design a variety of buildings in the towns of Amherst, Northampton, Winchester, Needham and Newton.
Ross moved to Newton in the early 1920s where he met Dorothy M. Pickett; the couple were wed on October 8, 1928. They had two children, a son, Warren R. Ross, and a daughter, Sally L. Pestalozzi. In the last 10 years of his life Ross spent his summers in Rockport
, and continued his work up until the age of 72, only a year prior to his death. After what was described as "a brief illness", Louis Warren Ross passed away on Thursday, September 8, 1966. Although his namesake is confined to the Builder's Association plaques of the many university buildings, never before, or since, has the Amherst campus been shaped so thoroughly by any single individual as Ross had done in his 30 years of service to the institution. It may be said that entire sections of the campus, encompass his legacy.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
from Boston, Massachusetts, perhaps best known for his work at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
, where he designed over thirty of the campus buildings there.
Ross was born in Arlington, Massachusetts
Arlington, Massachusetts
Arlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, six miles northwest of Boston. The population was 42,844 at the 2010 census.-History:...
on July 18th, 1893, the third of the five children of Louis Hall Ross and Mable Louisa Rawson. He was the grandson of agriculturalist Warren Winn Rawson and Helen Maria Mair. Graduating from Arlington High School
Arlington High School (Arlington, Massachusetts)
Arlington High School is a secondary school located in Arlington, Massachusetts. As of 2010, the school enrolls approximately 1,300 students annually. The current school principal is Mary Villano.-History:...
in June 1913, he entered the Massachusetts Agricultural College (presently the University of Massachusetts Amherst) as a pomology major in the fall of that same year. During his time at the college he was notably active in college sports, having played on the football, baseball, and hockey teams, serving as captain of the latter. He was also a member of the campus "mandolin club" and the Phi Sigma Kappa
Phi Sigma Kappa
-Phi Sigma Kappa's Creed and Cardinal Principles:The 1934 Convention in Ann Arbor brought more changes for the fraternity. Brother Stewart W. Herman of Gettysburg wrote and presented the Creed, and Brother Ralph Watts of Massachusetts drafted and presented the Cardinal Principles.-World War II:The...
fraternity.
Ross graduated in 1917, entering the army soon after. He would serve as an infantry lieutenant in the 166th Regiment of the 42nd Infantry Division, better known as the "Rainbow Division", in France during the First World War. By the end of the war he had been awarded a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
with an oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
.
After the war, Ross entered the Harvard Graduate School of Architecture
Harvard Graduate School of Design
The Harvard Graduate School of Design is a graduate school at Harvard University offering degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning and Design.-History:...
in 1921, graduating four years later in 1925. He would spend the next ten years working as a draftsman for prominent Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
architect, Edward T. P. Graham
Edward T. P. Graham
Edward T. P. Graham was an American architect best known for his design of Roman Catholic churches in Boston, Massachusetts and throughout the Midwest.- Early life :Described at his death as "the dean of Boston architects", Mr...
before starting his own firm in 1935. One of his first independent projects, Thatcher House, was designed for his alma mater as the first dorm of the Northeast Residential Complex and the oldest dormitory still in use on campus today. His first design was seen as such a success by the university (by known this time known as Massachusetts State College) that he was given a gold medal at the 1938 commencement for his design and oversight of the building's construction. This would be the first of over 20 dormitories that he would design for the university, among other buildings.
Although not as widely known as his campus work, Ross would also design a variety of buildings in the towns of Amherst, Northampton, Winchester, Needham and Newton.
Ross moved to Newton in the early 1920s where he met Dorothy M. Pickett; the couple were wed on October 8, 1928. They had two children, a son, Warren R. Ross, and a daughter, Sally L. Pestalozzi. In the last 10 years of his life Ross spent his summers in Rockport
Rockport, Massachusetts
Rockport is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,952 at the 2010 census. Rockport is located approximately 25 miles northeast of Boston at the tip of the Cape Ann peninsula...
, and continued his work up until the age of 72, only a year prior to his death. After what was described as "a brief illness", Louis Warren Ross passed away on Thursday, September 8, 1966. Although his namesake is confined to the Builder's Association plaques of the many university buildings, never before, or since, has the Amherst campus been shaped so thoroughly by any single individual as Ross had done in his 30 years of service to the institution. It may be said that entire sections of the campus, encompass his legacy.
Selected works
- Newton Board of Appeals Building, Newton, MassachusettsNewton, MassachusettsNewton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
(1962)
University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Arnold House (1954)
- Baker HouseHugh P. Baker HouseThe Hugh P. Baker House, also known as Baker Hall, is a dormitory in Amherst, Massachusetts that is built in the georgian revival style with art deco accents. It is named after former president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College Hugh P. Baker. It is part of the Southwest Residential Area at...
(1952) - Brett HouseAlden C. Brett HouseThe Alden C. Brett House, also known as Brett Hall, is a dormitory in Amherst, Massachusetts that is built in the georgian revival style with art deco accents. It is named after former president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College Alden C. Brett. It is part of the Central Residential Area at...
(1962) - Brooks HouseWilliam P. Brooks HouseThe William P. Brooks House, also known as Brooks Hall, is a dormitory in Amherst, Massachusetts that is built in the georgian revival style with art deco accents. It is named after former professor at Massachusetts Agricultural College William P. Brooks. It is part of the Central Residential Area...
(1949) - Butterfield HouseKenyon L. Butterfield HouseThe Kenyon L. Butterfield House, also known as Butterfield Hall, is a dormitory in Amherst, Massachusetts named for Kenyon L. Butterfield, former president Massachusetts Agricultural College. It is part of the Central Residential Area at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The building is...
(1940) - Chadbourne HousePaul A. Chadbourne HouseThe Paul A. Chadbourne House, also known as Chadbourne Hall, is a dormitory in Amherst, Massachusetts that is built in the georgian revival style with art deco accents. It is named after former president at Massachusetts Agricultural College Paul A. Chadbourne. It is part of the Central Residential...
(1947) - Dwight House (1959)
- Greenough HouseJames C. Greenough HouseThe James C. Greenough House, also known as Greenough Hall, is a dormitory in Amherst, Massachusetts that is built in the georgian revival style with art deco accents. It is named after former president at Massachusetts Agricultural College James C. Greenough. It is part of the Central Residential...
(1946) - Gorman HouseEdwin D. Gorman HouseThe Edwin D. Gorman House, also known as Gorman Hall, is a dormitory in Amherst, Massachusetts that is built in the georgian revival style with art deco accents. It is named after former state senator for Holyoke, Massachusetts Edwin D. Gorman. It is part of the Central Residential Area at the...
(1962) - Hamlin House (1949)
- Johnson House (1960)
- Knowlton House (1949)
- Leach House (1953)
- Lewis House (1940)
- Lincoln Apartments (1958)
- Mary Lyon House (1959)
- New Africa HouseNew Africa HouseThe New Africa House, formerly known as Mills House, is an academic building and former dormitory of the University of Massachusetts Amherst built in the Georgian revival style with art deco accents. It is part of the Central Residential Area at the University of Massachusetts Amherst...
, formerly "Mills House" (1948) - Paige Laboratory (1951)
- Skinner Hall (1947)
- South College, renovations (1939)
- Student Union (1957)
- Thatcher House (1935)
- Thayer Laboratory (1953, 1956)
- University Apartments (1949)
- Van Meter HouseRalph A. Van Meter HouseThe Ralph A. Van Meter House, also known as Van Meter Hall, is a dormitory in Amherst, Massachusetts that is built in the georgian revival style with art deco accents. It is named after former president of the University of Massachusetts Ralph A. Van Meter. It is part of the Central Residential...
(1957) - Wheeler House (1958)
Other academic buildings
- Bowen Elementary School, Newton, MassachusettsNewton, MassachusettsNewton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
(1952) - East Street School, Amherst, MassachusettsAmherst, MassachusettsAmherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
(1936) - Jackson Gymnasium, Tufts UniversityTufts UniversityTufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
(1947) - Leeds Elementary School, Northampton, MassachusettsNorthampton, MassachusettsThe city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
(1953) - Winchester High School, Winchester, MassachusettsWinchester, MassachusettsWinchester is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, eight miles north of Boston. With its agricultural roots having mostly disappeared, it is now an affluent suburb...
(1955)