Résumé

N. August Nordin began as a carpenter and building contractor in San Francisco, CA, between 1897-1899. With the new century, he rebranded himself as an architect. He moved frequently during the 1930-1936 period, both professionally and personally, often a sign of some instability and/or financial hardship.

Principal, Nicolaus August Nordin, Carpenter, San Francisco, 1896. (See Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1896, p. 1187.)

Principal, N. August Nordin, Building Contractor, San Francisco, CA, 1897-1899.

Principal, August Nordin, Architect, San Francsico, CA, c. 1900- . In 1900, Nordin had his office in Rooms #15-16 in the building at 1926 Market Street in San Francisco. (See The Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1900, p. 1303.) He moved his office to Room #501 in the Emma Spreckels Building, 927 Market Street, by 1905. (See Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1905, p. 1397.) By 1917, he maintained an office in the Mills Building, 220 Montgomery Street, in San Francisco. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1917, p. 1512.)

Relocation

The builder and architect Nicolaus August Nordin was born in Sweden, and had made his way to San Francisco, CA, before 08/01/1896, the date of his US naturalization. In 1896, he resided at 5 Hattie Street in what would become San Francisco's Castro District. (See Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1896, p. 1187.) Two years later, he had an address of 4075 19th Street also in the Castro District.

Working as a contractor in 1897, Nordin lived at 13 Hattie Street in San Francisco. (See The Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1897, p. 1297.)

Nordin lived in San Francisco, CA, in 1907, at 563 Fillmore Street. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1907, p. 1211.) After his marriage in 07/1907, he and his bride Florence lived at 28 Belvedere Street in San Francisco, according to marriage records.

Nordin and his wife lived at 1541 Oak Street in San Francisco in 1917. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1917, p. 1512.)

A year before his death, August lived with his two sons, Robert and Leonard Nordin at 1390 Page Street in the city's Panhandle neighborhood. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1935, accessed 09/12/2023.)

August Nordin died on 01/08/1936 and was buried in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, CA.

Spouse

Nordin married at least twice. Prior to 1896, he wed Mary A. Hunt, likely in San Francisco, CA. The architect separated from her by at least 1905. The Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1905, (p. 1397) listed his wife Mary Nordin separately from him, living at 118 Lyon Street. Her city directory listing indicated that she was a "widow" although August was listed, alive and well, three lines above hers.

At age 37, Nordin married Florence E. Brown Gaige (born 04/08/1875 in San Francisco, CA) on 07/11/1907 in San Francisco, CA. They wed at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church, a church composed primarily of Swedish-Americans. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Archives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Elk Grove Village, IL, USA; Swedish American Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths, and Burials; Parish: Ebenezer Lutheran Church; ELCA Film Number: S618(2); SSIRC Film Number: S-618, accessed 09/12/2023.) This was at least her second marriage, as she had a daughter named "Phyllis Gaige Overman." She likely was married to George Brown (born in New Haven, CT) previously, who had died by 1924.

It appears from Florence Nordin's US passport form of 01/02/1924 that they divorced on 06/05/1923 in the Superior Court of California. This US passport form noted her address to have been 402 Hudson Street in Oakland, CA. Florence planned a six-month sight-seeing trip to the British Isles, France, Germany, Japan and China during 1924.

Children

He and Mary Hunt had a son, Robert Eric Nordin (born 07/05/1896 in San Francisco, CA-d. 05/04/1961 in San Francisco, CA). He also had a son Leonard Nordin. Robert worked as an architect in 1935, Leonard, a construction-cost estimator.

Biographical Notes

Voter records of 1935 indicated that August Nordin was a registered Democrat. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1935, accessed 09/12/2023.)