Eccles Everhart

LOUIS FRANCIS VOORHEES (1892-1974)

Voorhees was born in Adrian MI, the son of Ella M. Finch and William B. Voorhees. He was educated in the city schools of Toledo OH and later attended the University of Michigan where he studied under architectural historian Fiske Kimball and received a Bachelor of Architecture in 1916 and a Master of Science in Architecture in 1917. After serving with the Rainbow Division as sergeant in the Camouflage Corps during World War I--one of many artists and architects who applied their drawing and painting skills to the newly developed art of camouflage--Voorhees practiced architecture in San Francisco until 1921, when he moved to Charlottesville VA. There he practiced and taught design at the University of Virginia with Fiske Kimball, and met his future wife, Elizabeth Peyton of High Point. They moved to High Point in 1924.

Voorhees first worked under architect Herbert Hunter, then practiced under his own name for a short time before forming a partnership in 1938 with Eccles D. Everhart, bottom photo left, an established High Point architect. 

During World War II Voorhees was briefly employed as an engineer at the Oak Ridge Project in TN. In 1959 Everhart and Voorhees took on a third partner, George C. Connor, Jr.  He retired from Voorhees Everhart Connor in 1965 but remained a consultant for the firm.

Source: North Carolina Architects and Builders

Here's a firm photo from 1954:

Left to right:  Howard Olive, Frances Hoover, Bob Conner, Ruth Summey, Eccles Everhart, Dave Oden, Willie Merrit, Louis Voorhees, unknown, Hilda Laprade, unknown.  Photo provided by Lib Conner.

About 1935 - The Pearl M. and S. Colon Vuncannon House, 1001 Ferndale Boulevard, High Point NC.  As of 2011 owned by Terrell George Allen.

1938 - The W. Phil and Marcia L. Robin House, 490 North Avalon Road, Winston-Salem NC.  Designed by Voorhees and Everhart.  Addition in 1960.  As of 2011 owned by architect Quinn Pillsworth.

1953 - The Smith Young House, 300 Woodlawn Drive, Lexington NC.  Designed by Voorhees and Everhart.  Impressive guest house in the back, bottom two photos, which features a spiral staircase and a loft with a 3D square geometric patterned wooden loft railing. Photos by Gabe Nicholson.  As of 2011 owned by Phillip and Kathleen Watson.

1959 - The Hinkle Residence, 304 Country Club Drive, Lexington NC.  Traditional design by Voorhees and Everhart.  Sold to a second owner.  Sold to a third owner in 2004.  As of 2011 owned by William Bates. At one time, the house shared a pool with the house next door.

1959 - The Joe P. Temple House, High Point NC.  Built by Coltrane Graham Construction.  Featured in the June 1959 Southern Architect. 

Sources include: Gabe Nicholson, North Carolina Architects and Builders, Curtis Leonard.