Résumé

Draftsman, [William Adams] Delano and [Chester] Aldrich, Architects, New York, NY, 1927-1928. Delano and Aldrich was one of the most prestigious, high-society architectural firms working in New York during the first decades of the twentieth century. Work for such a well-known firm would undoubtedly have opened doors to employment in most Seattle offices of the 1930s and 1940s.

Draftsman/Designer, Arthur Loveless, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1929-1935. The Seattle City Directory, 1935, business listings listed Lester Fey and Arthur Loveless separately, althought they both worked at 711 Broadway North in Seattle. (See Seattle City Directory, 1935, p. 1653.)

Partner, Loveless and Fey, Architects, Seattle, WA, c. 1936-1940, 1946-1956.

Partner, Loveless, Fey and Lamont, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1941-1942. In 02/1942, the Loveless, Fey and Lamont office was located at 711 Broadway in Seattle.

Partner, Lamont and Fey, Architects, Seattle, WA, c.1948-1956. Lamont and Fey was not listed in the Seattle City Directories of 1957, 1958 or 1959, but reappeared in 1960. The partnership ended for good around 1968.

Architect, W.C. Nickum and Sons, Naval Architects, Seattle, WA, 1957- c. 1960. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1957, p. 874.) During the 1950s, Lamont and Fey formed a professional association with naval architects, W.C. Nickum and Sons, in Seattle. William Bowman Nickum (d. 1959) directed it until his retirement in 1954, due to failing health. (See "William B. Nickum," Tacoma News Tribune and Ledger, 03/22/1959, p. A13.) W.C. Nickum and Sons won commissions to design ferries for the Washington State system and its governing body, the Washington Toll Bridge Authority, in 1957. (See "New Ferry Boat Design Approved," Longview Daily News, 07/12/1957, p. 5 and "Sequim News," Port Angeles Evening News, 04/17/1959, p. 3.) It appears Nickum consolidated its operations with Lamont and Fey during the 1957-1959 period.

Partner, Lamont and Fey, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1960-c. 1968. Between 1960 and 1962, at least, Lamont and Fey, Architects, had an office at 71 Columbia Street in Downtown Seattle. The leadership of Lamont and Fey in 1960 consisted of Daniel Lamont, Lester Fey and the engineer Mark Goodrich Reese (born 05/26/1913 in Ritzville, WA), who had worked for W.C. Nickum since at least 1940. (See Pacific Bell Telephone Company Directory, 1960, p. 940 and American Architects Directory, 1962, George S. Koyl, editor, [New York: R.R. Bowker, 1962], p. 401.) Lester Fey left the partnership in about 1968, according to his obituary. (See "Memorial Rite for Lester Fey, 78," Seattle Times, 03/20/1980, p. D20.)

Fey's obituary stated: "He was at one time a partner in the firm of Lamont & Fey Architects. The firm dissolved about 1968 when he joined the firm of [The] Richardson Associates. He retired in 1974." (See "Memorial Rite for Lester Fey, 78," Seattle Times, 03/20/1980, p. D20.)

Professional Activities

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA).

High School / College

Graduate, Broadway High School, Seattle, WA, 09/1917-1920. He was a member of the Boys Club at Broadway High.

Coursework, University of Washington, Seattle (UW), Seattle, WA. As noted in his obituary, Fey "...studied architecture in Europe." (See "Memorial Rite for Lester Fey, 78," Seattle Times, 03/20/1980, p. D20.)

Relocation

Lester Paul Fey resided with his parents, brother and sister on Main Street of Monroe, WA, in 1910. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Monroe, Snohomish, Washington; Roll: T624_1669; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0301; FHL microfilm: 1375682, accessed 01/04/2018.)

A decade later, Lester lived with his family at 956 20th Avenue in Seattle. They owned the house but paid a mortgage to do so. Charles Fey's brother Henry (born c. 1887 in PA), also remained at home in 1920. Henry worked as an architectural draftsman at the time which may have been significant for a young Lester.

Ten years later, the 1930 US Census documented that they had remained in this house, worth approximately $3,500.

In 1940, Lester still lived at home with his parents and sister at 1224 5th Avenue West in Seattle. The Fey Family residence had an estimated value of $6,000 in 1940, slightly higher than average for the time. Since his father was a builder, he likely had a hand in its construction. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: T627_4377; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 40-127, accessed 01/04/2018.) As per his World War II draft card, Lester Fey continued to live at 1224 5th Avenue West in 02/1942. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 54, accessed 03/05/2021.)

He and his wife, Alyce, lived at 2201 Harvard Avenue North in 1948. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1948, p. 422.) The 1950 US Census confirmed that Fey, his wife and three daughters lived at 2201 Harvard. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: 2804; Sheet Number: 3; Enumeration District: 40-360, accessed 01/12/2023.)

He lived at 714 Hamlin Street in Seattle from at least 1951 until 1957. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1951, p. 403 and Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1957, p. 471.)

Parents

His father, Charles Louis Fey (born 03/28/1874 in PA-d. 10/27/1958 in Seattle, WA), worked as a carpenter in Monroe, WA, in 1910. Charles Fey became a general contractor and construction supervisor in later years, who worked on several important public buildings, including the Thurston County Courthouse, a veteran's facility in Port Orchard and a Washington State Reformatory in Monroe. (See "Funeral Set for Charles Louis Fey," Seattle Times, 10/29/1958, p. 28.)

His mother, Katherine "Kittie" Nelson Allie Fey, (born c. 03/1874 in WI-d. 01/07/1951 in Seattle, WA) managed the household that included four children, Lester, Amos Charles Fey (b. 05/21/1900 in Chicago, IL-d. 03/03/1935 in Galesburg, IL), Lillian Elizabeth Fey (born c. 1903- d. 04/29/1979 in Seattle, WA), and Louis Fey (born 02/05/1912-d. 12/04/1990).

Charles and Kittie married in Chicago, IL, on 06/14/1899. By 1920, Charles worked as the foreman at a Seattle dredging company. In 1918, he was employed by the Department of Construction of the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Washington; Registration County: King; Roll: 1991926; Draft Board: 09, accessed 01/04/2018.)

Kittie's parents were Amos Allie (born 06/18/1835 in Canada-d. 03/19/1921 in Chicago, IL), a cooper, and Martha Smoke (born c. 1842 -d. 01/16/1895 in Chicago, IL).

Lester had a brother Dr. Louis A. Fey and a sister Lillian Fey. In 1980, Louis Fey resided in Seattle. (See "Memorial rite for Lester Fey, 78," Seattle Times, 03/20/1980, p. D20.)

Spouse

Fey married at least twice. He married Pauline Ulanov (born c. 1902 in NY-d. 04/05/1958) on 03/12/1928 in Brooklyn, NY. They divorced relatively shortly after being wed, as she remarried to George Fichtner on 03/26/1936. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 03/05/2021.)

He wed Alyce Stewart (born c. 1907 in MN) in Portland, OR, on 06/07/1943. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Oregon, U.S., Marriage Indexes, 1906-2009 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2000, accessed 03/05/2021.)

Children

He and Alyce had three daughters: Sharon L. Fey Long (born c. 1935 in WA), Janet L. Fey Wallis (born c. 1943 in WA) and Mary A. Fey Erwin (born c. 1944 in WA). At his death in 1980, Sharon lived in Seattle, WA, Janet in Twisp, WA, and Mary in Irving, TX. (See "Memorial rite for Lester Fey, 78," Seattle Times, 03/20/1980, p. D20.)

Biographical Notes

Lester Fey traveled aboard the White Star Liner R.M.S. Majestic (in a tourist, third-class cabin) from Southampton, UK, to New York, NY, between 07/25/1928 and 07/31/1928. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1928; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 4311; Line: 4; Page Number: 166, accessed 01/04/2018.) Oddly, he had been married in 03/1928, but his wife did not accompany him on this trip abroad.

His World War II draft card identified Fey as Caucasian with a light complexion. He stood 5-feet, 6-inches and weigher 145 pounds, His eyes were gray and hair, brown. The draft card noted that Fey had a "crooked right arm (fracture)." Arthur L. Loveless was his next-of-kin notification name. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 54, accessed 03/05/2021.)

Member, College Club, Seattle, WA.

Member, Seattle Yacht Club, Seattle, WA.

Member, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Seattle, WA.

SSN: 532-20-4965.

• Seattle, WA (Architect's Death)
  Seattle, WA

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• Seattle, WA (Architect's Birth)
  Seattle, WA

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