George F. Hammond

George Francis Hammond (November 26, 1855 – April 26, 1938) was an architect in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, who designed commercial buildings, hotels, schools, churches, residences, and the plans for Kent State University's layout and original buildings. His work is mostly Neoclassical architecture, including in the Beaux Arts Architecture style, and includes an example of Egyptian Revival architecture in the basement foyer of the Hollenden Hotel.

Early life Hammond was born in the Roxbury section of Boston, Massachusetts and attended the Massachusetts Normal Art School. He studied with William R. Ware at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, founded the first American curriculum based on the Beaux-Arts system of architectural training. Hammond lived at 1863 Caldwell Road in Cleveland Heights.

He designed hospitals, schools, factories, and power buildings in Chicago, Kansas City, New Orleans, Toronto, and Montreal.

Much of the interior design work was overseen by Hammond. The hotel was said to have had the longest bar in town, and to have been a meeting place for precinct workers, when it was not hosting "colorful balls and festivities". Five presidents, McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson and Harding, and many other dignitaries and celebrities stayed at the hotel.

It was upgraded and expanded in a $5 million effort and was managed by several owners until 1960 when the 600 Superior Corporation bought it, but two years later with developer Jas M. Carney they demolished mostly empty guest house and built a new 400 room Hollenden House and parking garage that opened in 1965. With the decline of downtown Cleveland it became unprofitable in the 1980s and closed permanently in 1989. John W. Galbreath built a 32-story office building on the site. He also wrote foreword praising Skeleton construction in buildings.

Other work He planned a $6,000 residence for C.L. Lane at 54 Front Street in Berea, Ohio

Personal life Hammond married Annie Borland Barstow in 1883 and after her death in 1886 married Annie E. Butcher of Toronto in 1897 and they had a child Adelaide. He also authored Architectural Competitions for Public Buildings noted in Engineering magazine for subscription. Stark County Courthouse (1895), a building in the Beaux Arts Classicism architecture style. Lane Metropolitan Church (1900) at 2131 East 46 Zanesville Federal Building Master campus plan and five original buildings of the Ohio State Normal College At Kent (Kent State University), 1911-15 including: Lowry Hall Merrill Hall Administration Building (later renamed Cartwright Hall) Science Hall (later renamed Kent Hall)

Demolished Gillsy Hotel (demolished)