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AUGUST LEWIS POLIER, AIA (1922-2000)

Polier graduated from Hugh Morson High School in 1939 and NCSU in 1949, with a stint in the Army during WWII.  He first worked with Richard Rice and moved with him to Cooper, Haskins and Rice.  In 1955, he worked for Jesse Page and became a partner when the firm was renamed Page, Polier, Flowers, Ballard & Branan in 1974.  When Page left in 1976, Polier became a senior partner until his retirement in 1988.  He was known for many buildings at NCSU and ECU, plus the Bath Building (North Carolina Labs) in downtown Raleigh.  

He married Afton Daniels, pictured at left, his high school sweetheart, in 1942.  During his student days at the NCSU School of Design, she worked to help pay his way.  They both spent their entire marriage totally involved in the world of North Carolina architects and architecture.

From 1959 to 1977, with the assistance of Afton, he served as the Executive Secretary of the North Carolina Board of Architecture for almost 20 years.  They raised four Raleigh-born daughters in a happy marriage until Afton’s death in 1973 from cancer. 

1955 - His own house at 111 Longview Lake Drive, Raleigh.  Sold in 2004 to Adrianne Wilson.  Sold in 2006 to Adrianne and Thomas Jorgenson (she got married).  Sold in 2007 to Matthew and Ashley Griffith.

 

1954 - The Charles Styron Residence, 920 Williamson Drive, Raleigh.  Designed by Polier when he worked for Haskins and Rice.  Sold in 2004 to Nikki Mercer.  Substantial renovations in 2005 designed by Dail Dixon.  4000 square feet on .72 acres.  Three bedrooms, 4.5 baths.   According to Kathleen Haskins Thompson, daughter of Al Haskins, original construction was finished October 20, 1954. The original cost was $46,647 and the architect’s fee was 8 percent.  The bottom four photos reflect Dail Dixon's detailed and transformative 2005 renovation. Has been on and off the market 2008-2010.

Sources include:  News and Observer Obituary, Polier's daughter Marsha Grossman, Matthew Griffith,
Polier's sister Kate Sakas, NCSU Special Collections, Dail Dixon, Kathleen Haskins Thompson, and Debra Smith.


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