Henry Aspinwall

Henry Aspinwall (September 15, 1895 – May 18, 1979) was an American World War I veteran, politician, and architect, best known for his work in the New York metropolitan area.

Biography

Early life Henry Aspinwall was born on September 15, 1895, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to Louis Miniturn Aspinwall – the grandson of businessman William Henry Aspinwall.

During World War I, Aspinwall served in the United States Armed Forces, as a Second Lieutenant in the 26th Division, stationed in France.

In 1923, Aspinwall married Winifred Cramp, and the couple relocated to West Virginia, before moving again – this time to Port Washington, New York – circa 1926. Together, they formed a Great Neck, New York-based partnership, Aspinwall & Simpson in 1935, with offices at South Station Plaza in Great Neck Plaza. Through their firm, Aspinwall was responsible for designing several residential homes and apartments, factory buildings, car dealerships and other businesses, and other structures throughout the New York metropolitan area – including for the 1939 New York World's Fair, in collaboration with M. W. Del Gaudio. The firm, furthermore, designed several homes in and around the Nassau County communities of Flower Hill, Munsey Park, Roslyn Estates, and Russell Gardens – and across the Port Washington and Great Neck peninsulas – during this era, on Long Island's North Shore. Aspinwall, through this partnership, also worked with major local developers of the era, such as the Callan Brothers, in designing the homes for large-scale developments, including the Callan-developed Wyngate section of Great Neck. Other major developments for which he was responsible for designing the homes was Broadlawn Harbour in Kings Point, New York.

Following the 1941 dissolution of his partnership with Simpson, Aspinwall formed the Port Washington, New York-based firm of Henry T. Aspinwall and Associates. Aspinwall and his firm additionally designed structures for the 1964 New York World's Fair.

Aspinwall also served for a number of years as the Building Inspector of the Village of Russell Gardens.

Public service In addition to his work as an architect, Aspinwall was a local politician, serving as a Village Trustee in the Village of Baxter Estates, New York, where he resided. He held this office for 17 years, between 1941 and 1958, when he retired from that position.

Later life In 1969, Aspinwall retired as an architect and moved to Seattle, Washington, where he would live for the rest of his life. Aspinwall Associates continued to operate, with his practice's partners, Eugene Gerbereux and Joseph E. Hnatov, subsequently talking over. The couple were longtime members of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Port Washington. Manorhaven Beach Park Pavilions (Manorhaven, New York) Sands Point Village Hall (Sands Point, New York)