Charles Archibald Pearce

by Katie Torrey. Charles Archibald Pearce (1870-1944) lived in the Copper Country for only ten years, from 1893-1903. His most important commission was Suomi College’s (Finlandia University’s) Old Main. He also designed a few buildings in association with other architects as well as some residences. Biography Pearce was born on May 10, 1870, in Maryland.1 His… Read more Charles Archibald Pearce

St. Joseph’s Church

by Katie Torrey Associate Architect: Charles Archibald Pearce Location: 701 Calumet St., Lake Linden Built: Begun 1901, not completed until 1912 with a modified design Pearce was listed as associate architect on this building; Charlton, Gilbert & Demar were the architects of record. See main entry and second entry for this building Buildings by Charles Archibald Pearce in the… Read more St. Joseph’s Church

Hall Building

by Katie Torrey Associate Architect: Charles Archibald Pearce Alternative Name: Citizens’ National Bank Location: 320 Shelden Ave, Houghton Built: 1902 Contractor: Herman Gundlach Pearce was listed as an associate on this building; Charlton & Gilbert were the architects of record. See main entry for this building Buildings by Charles Archibald Pearce in the Copper Country

Elba Johnson House

Courtesy of Corey Frederickson

by A. K. Hoagland. Architect: Charles Archibald Pearce Location: 200 Hubbell St., Houghton Built: 1901 Demolished: after 1928 (1960s?) Although this building no longer stands, it is an interesting example of a house built to accommodate Michigan Tech (then called the Michigan Mining School) students and faculty.  Situated directly across from campus, and most likely… Read more Elba Johnson House

Richard Light House

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by Katie Torrey Architect: Charles Archibald Pearce Location: 308 Harris St., East Hancock Built: 1900 Pearce designed this house for Richard and Catherine Light. Richard was a travel agent and commissioner. This house originally had a tower on the west side, which was later replaced by a dormer. The Light family owned this house until… Read more Richard Light House

Edwin Henwood House

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by Katie Torrey Architect: Charles Archibald Pearce Location: 209 Center St., East Hancock Built: ca. 1900 If Pearce had any role in the design of this house, he borrowed heavily from Frank P. Allen, who published this design in his 1892 book Artistic Dwellings.  Blueprints of Allen’s design were found in the house in 1986.1  Pearce… Read more Edwin Henwood House

Emma Jane Pearce House

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by Katie Torrey Architect: Charles Archibald Pearce Location: 312 Cooper St., East Hancock Built: ca 1900 Pearce designed this house for his mother, Emma Jane Pearce, and his siblings.1 After his mother died in 1908, his unmarried sisters, Amy and Rhoda Pearce, inherited the house and continued to live there for the rest of their lives.2 Neither… Read more Emma Jane Pearce House

Suomi College, Old Main

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by Katie Torrey Architect: Charles Archibald Pearce Alternative Name: Finlandia University, Old Main Location: 601 Quincy St., Hancock Built: 1900 Contractors: Bajari & Ulseth; William Scott, masonry Suomi Old Main was the first permanent structure to be built for the Suomi Academy, a school that was started by the Finnish Lutheran Church to meet the spiritual… Read more Suomi College, Old Main