San Francisco County
Biographies
CORNICES AND ARCHITECTURAL
DECORATIONS
JOSEPH F. FORDERER
CORNICES
AND ARCHITECTURAL DECORATIONS – Throughout the history of the human race the
character of the architecture of a people has been a true index to their
intellectual and aesthetic advancement. From the Indian wigwam to the mansion,
man’s dwelling place is the measure of his intellectuality and refinement. And,
as in no other age of the world have culture and knowledge been so general
among the people of civilized nations, so in no other period have the homes of
the masses embodied so many elements of beauty as now, when, in this country at
least, few human habitations are devoid of some attempt at the ornate. This
appreciation of the beautiful not being confined to possessors of plethoric
purses, architectural ornamentations less expensive than sculptured marble or
granite are demanded by people of refined tastes and moderate means. This
demand is met in galvanized iron,[sic] and lately in
copper, for cornices and other exterior ornamental decorations for buildings.
By the use of these metals in the hands of ingenious designers and skillful
mechanics, a variety of pleasing architectural effects are
produced unequaled in any former era.
In
the later and better class of buildings erected in San Francisco and surrounding cities,
perhaps no other man has done so much towards gratifying and cultivating this
taste as Mr. Joseph F. Forderer, who has carried on a
large cornice and ornamental-iron manufactory and roofing business at 224 and 226 Mission street, for the past fifteen
years.
Mr.
Forderer is a native of Baden, Germany, but was brought up from
infancy in Cincinnati, Ohio, attending the city schools
till nine years of age, when, being the eldest of a family of three children,
and his parents in indigent circumstances, he started out to help earn a
living. He first found employment in a cotton factory for a year and a half, at
twenty-five cents a day, and then worked a year weaving wire cloth in a wire
factory at $2 per week; he then entered into a contract with Mr. Henry Beck, to
learn the galvanized iron[sic] trade, his remuneration
being $1.50 a week and board the first year, $2 per week for the second, and $3
per week the third year. During his apprenticeship he spent his spare hours in
diligent study, acquiring a good knowledge of the common branches, and becoming
quite proficient in arithmetic and geometry. Being a natural-born mechanic and
a lover of art, he made such rapid progress at his trade that before his
apprenticeship expired he was foreman of the shop, and at the age of nineteen
started in business for himself as a partner with W. G. Bierman,
which relation continued about five years, the firm doing a successful
business. Learning in 1874 that the Napa Insane Asylum was to be built, they,
with two other gentlemen, secured the contract for the galvanized-iron work,
which amounted to about $45,000, and involved the manufacture of over two miles
of cornices, besides seven towers. It was to execute this job that brought Mr. Forderer to California, expecting to return to the
Ohio metropolis when it was finished, but during the
eighteen months required to complete it he became so enamored with the country
and climate that he decided to make the Golden State his permanent home, and
opened a shop in San Francisco. His artistic designs and
superior workman- ship won the indorsement and
confidence of architects and builders, and created a prosperous, growing
business, which has steadily extended over the Pacific coast. His extensive
works are equipped with the best improved machinery and tools for making
galvanized iron and copper cornices and other ornamental work. The latter metal
is coming into favor because of its fine finish – requiring no paint - and of
its great resistance to the action of the elements, rendering it as durable as
adamant. Mr. Forderer also does a large business in
tin, iron, copper, slate and tile roofing. He employs fifty to seventy-five
skilled men, to whom he pays $2,000 to $3,500 per month in wages, and turns out
$100,000 worth of work a year.
Among
the important buildings on this coast which bear testimony to his industrial
enterprise and skill, are the Napa Insane Asylum, the Lick Observatory, Union
Club building, Huntington-Hopkin’s [sic] Company’s
building, St. Ann’s, Stock Exchange, Lachman Block,
Pioneer Hall, Masonic Temple, Safe Deposit Building, Polytechnical
School, Academy of Sciences; Deaf and Dumb Asylum in Oakland; Dolph & Thompson Building in Port-Land, Oregon; Odd
Fellows Hall, Reno, Nevada; Sacramento Cathedral; Eureka Court House; Masonic
Hall, Bakersfield; Leland Stanford, Jr., University, the Chronicle Building,
with its immense copper tower, and the Concordia Building.
Mr. Forderer is an
inventor as well as a constructer. Forderer’s
Improved Patent Ventilated Skylights are recognized as the best yet invented,
being built so as to secure perfect ventilation through all parts of the iron
work, thus preventing condensation of moisture and consequent corrosion. It is
also stronger and more substantial than any other, for which qualities it was awarded
the diploma at the State Fair at Sacramento. Mr. Forderer
won the silver medal at the late Oregon State Fair, for the finest display of
galvanized-iron work. His high standing as a manufacturer and his honorable
re-cord as a business man have earned the confidence and esteem of architects
and builders, and his large establishment is taxed to its utmost to turn out
work as fast as the trade demands. Mr. Forderer was
born in 1850, and was married in 1873 to Miss Carrie Heidt.
Their family consists of three sons and five daughters.
Transcribed by Walt Howe.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, pages 151-153, Lewis Publishing Co.,
1892.
© 2005 Walt Howe.
California Biography Project
San Francisco
County
California
Statewide
Golden Nugget
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