Quick Facts
LibraBiography
George Adrian Applegarth (1875 – 1972) was an American architect. Applegarth’s career included designing the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, the Clift Hotel (now The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel), and projects for the town of Clyde, California. He co-founded the architectural firm, MacDonald & Applegarth.
Early life and education
George Adrian Applegarth was born on October 4, 1875 in Oakland, California, to parents Henrietta Anne (née Sanders) and John Applegarth. His mother was born in Walcot, Somerset, England, and his father was born in Canada. George Sanders, of the architectural firm Wright & Sanders was his maternal uncle; and John Arnold Sanders, a noted English painter and sculptor, was his maternal grandfather.
He graduated from Oakland High School; and began his career as a draughtsman for the Wright & Sanders in San Francisco, while he studied drawing at the University of California, Berkeley under Bernard Maybeck. Applegarth continued his training at École des Beaux-Arts in Paris (degree in April 1906), where he met his future work partner Kenneth A. MacDonald Jr.
Career
He returned to the United States after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fires. In 1907, Applegarth obtained his architecture license in California. From 1907 until 1912, he was part of the architecture firm MacDonald & Applegarth, a collaboration with his former classmate.
Around 1917, he helped in the construction of Clyde, California, once a company town built for the employees of the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Company. Bernard Maybeck led the project, and it was funded in part by the United States government loan.
He was a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and for a period of time served as president of the San Francisco chapter.
Personal life and death
Applegarth was married to Gwendolyn Powers (1889–1981), together they had three children.
He died on January 19, 1972, while in a hospital in San Francisco.
List of notable buildings
| Year | Name | Firm | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1907 | Eyre Building, 161 Kearny Street | San Francisco, California | ||
| 1907 | Metropolis Trust and Savings Bank, 623–631 Market Street | San Francisco, California | ||
| 1907 | St. Andrew Hotel, 438 Post Street | San Francisco, California | ||
| 1908 | Forrest Building, 1053–1055 Market Street | San Francisco, California | ||
| 1908 | Phoenix Building, 220–228 Grant Avenue | San Francisco, California | ||
| 1908 | 3 Presidio Terrace | MacDonald & Applegart | Presidio, San Francisco, California | |
| 1908 | 4 Presidio Terrace, MacDonald House | MacDonald & Applegart | Presidio, San Francisco, California | |
| 1908 | 5 Presidio Terrace, Dr. Hartland Law House | MacDonald & Applegart | Presidio, San Francisco, California | |
| 1909 | Eastern Outfitting Company Building, 1017–1021 Market Street | Applegarth | Union Square, San Francisco, California | |
| 1913 | Clift Hotel (The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel), 495 Geary Street | MacDonald & Applegart | Tenderloin, San Francisco, California | |
| c. 1912–1913 | Spreckels Mansion, 2080 Washington Street | MacDonald & Applegarth | Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California | Built for businessman Adolph B. Spreckels. |
| 1912 | King George Hotel, 334 Mason Street | MacDonald & Applegarth | Union Square, San Francisco, California | |
| 1916 | 2775 Vallejo Street | Applegarth | Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California | |
| 1916 | 2785 Vallejo Street | Applegarth | Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California | |
| 1919 | Oceanic Building | Applegarth | San Francisco, California | was demolished in 1979, and replaced by 101 California Street |
| 1953 | Downtown Center Garage (now Mason O'Farrell Garage), 325 Mason Street | Applegarth | Union Square, San Francisco, California |
