FREDERICK S. HARRISON

FREDERICK S. HARRISON.--A very interesting personality is the distinguished representative of the architectural profession in Sacramento County, Frederick S. Harrison, who was born in far-off, romantic and beautiful Tasmania, having first seen the light at Hobart, on July 23, 1885. His father was Arthur Harrison, an influential gentleman of that country, who had married Miss Alice E. Sharp; and fortunate in such progressive parents, our subject enjoyed the best of educational advantages. He spent his boyhood days in Honolulu, and then went off to Toronto, where he pursued the thorough courses, first of the preparatory school and then of the college proper, at the Upper Canada college in that city. After that, he entered the office of Messrs. Gregg & Gregg, architects, of Toronto, where he spent a year very profitably, and on his return to Honolulu, he took charge of the Arthur Harrison Mill Company, Ltd., for a couple of years. After that he was in the United States district court as deputy clerk for Honolulu, an office he filled with signal ability, for three years.

During this time, too, Mr. Harrison worked at his profession, architecture; and after the San Francisco fire, he came to the United States, and for two years was engaged in wrecking operations at the scene of the great disaster, and also in superintending important rebuilding. Then he was with Messrs. Bliss & Faville, architects, for a couple of years, and after that he took up special studies at the University of California, where he mastered the work he essayed so well that he was the only one to make Grade 1.

In 1912 Mr. Harrison came to Sacramento, and was for three years in the state architect's office. Then he was chief draughtsman for Messrs. Cuffs & Diggs, and drew the plans for the Thompson-Diggs Building, the Travelers' Hotel, and Chauncey Dunn Apartments, and became superintendent for the city of Sacramento on the construction of the Western Pacific warehouse. Then he continued in the engineer's department of the city as architect and draughtsman and worked out the architectural problems of the Inhoof Tanks and the Ice Plant, the incinerators, the remodeling and the addition to the Water Works. He was also superintendent of construction of Oak Park fire station. Then he was deputy building inspector, and city building inspector for five years.

Mr. Harrison opened his own office as architect in the People's Bank Building in 1918, and ever since he started there he has been more than successful. His wide and varied experience, his expert training, and his agreeable disposition as a professional adviser anxious to serve and to please his patrons, have all contributed to provide for him an enviable clientele.

He is a member of the Exchange Club, and the Architects and Engineers Club. He is a member of Schiller Lodge No. 105, I. O. O. F., and is a past grand. He served two years as president of the Odd Fellows Club and was also vice-president of the Odd Fellows Relief, and is a member of Sacramento Lodge No. 6, B. P. O. E., and an appreciated member of the Chamber of Commerce of Sacramento. He is also a member of the Press Club of San Francisco. He resigned his professional position in order to join the engineers in the World War, but on account of his domestic ties his application was not accepted.

At San Rafael, Mr. Harrison was married to Miss Lillian E. Taylor, a native of Denver, Colo., but a resident of Sacramento; and their fortunate union was blessed with the birth of two children: Lillian Alice and Ruby Florence.

Transcribed by Vicky Walker, 7/19/07.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 967-968. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.