The Designs of
Architect F.W. Hollister

F.W. Hollister

Born in Gainesville, New York in 1847, F.W. Hollister started his career working in the office of Saginaw City architect John B. Dibble in 1864. In 1869 he was hired by Porter & Watkins, a Bay City architectural firm, and was placed in charge of an office the firm opened in Saginaw City. A year later he purchased the firm's Saginaw office.  In 1889 and 1890, he served in the Michigan House of Representatives. He designed numerous buildings throughout Michigan and other parts of the Midwest. He was prolific and his work included residences, churches, and commercial buildings.

Hollister’s designs for public buildings included the 1901 Schoolcraft County Courthouse, the  Michigan Soldiers’ Home in Grand Rapids and the Manistee fire station. When he passed away in 1923, his obituary noted he had designed 67 school buildings.