Partners: network

Charles William Dickey, John Walter Dolliver Sr., Albert Lincoln Farr, William Sterling Hebbard Sr., Emile Schroeder Lemme, James William Reid, Merritt Jonathan Reid, Watson Elkinah Reid

Active 1880-1932

Firm Notes

The Reid Brothers began architectural operations in Evansville, IN, with James W. Reid and Merritt J. Reid from 1880-1891. James headed West in late 1886 with youngest brother Watson to open an office in San Diego, CA, which lasted until 1899. James then reestablished the firm's headquarters in San Francisco, CA, between 1889-1891; Merritt came West to open a Portland, OR, office in 1891 (created while the office designed the Portland Oregonian Newspaper Building) Watson remained in San Diego until 1899, when he chose to return to New Brunswick, Canada.

In 1896-1899, the Reid Brothers also operated an office in Los Angeles, CA, in Room #402 of the Stimson Block. (See Maxwell's Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1896, p. 1670 and Maxwell's Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1897, p. 1026.) It was situated in Room #406 of the Stimson Building in 1899. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1899, p. 1000.)

Reid Brothers' San Francisco office prospered with many commissions after the Great Earthquake of 04/18/1906, doing many commissions for schools and theatres in the Bay Area. Over the years, the Reid Brothers maintained offices in the Flood Building, Mills Building, and the Call Building. Offices in the Call Building occupied its 18th floor, then the tallest point in the city. James closed the Reid Brothers firm after Merritt's death in 1932.

PCAD id: 284