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49 Hawthorne Street
23 Hawthorne Street
Photographs by Sarah Burks..
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Lois Lilley Howe (1864-1964), architect
Lois Lilley Howe, one of the first woman fellows of the American Institute of
Architects, designed the eclectically styled Cambridge home at 49 Hawthorne
in 1900. It
is a relatively
early example
from her career which spanned the years from 1889 to 1963. Howe began her career
as an architect in 1888 when she entered MIT’s two-year “Partial
Architecture” course. After she graduated, she worked as a draftsman
with a local Boston firm. In 1891, Howe entered the nationwide design contest
for the Woman’s Building at the Chicago Columbian Exposition. She came
in second place, behind her classmate Sophia Hayden, and received $500. She
earned her first commission to build a house in 1894, and six years later,
she and Eleanor Manning (1884-1973), another MIT graduate, established one
of the longest-lasting and most prolific women’s architectural firms.
At a time when women architects were limited to residential design, the firm
of Howe & Manning distinguished itself by championing the problems of urban
housing. Manning designed the first public, low-income housing in Boston, and
Howe focused on small, affordable houses in the suburbs. Howe received at least
33 commissions in Cambridge alone, and several there and in other Boston-area
suburbs are listed in the National Register. Howe furthered the advance of
architectural technology when she contributed an article about her innovative
use of plaster to Architectural Review and Architectural Record in
1907. Howe, Manning & Almy--Mary Almy (1883-1967), also of MIT, joined
the firm in 1913--became known for using the Colonial Revival-style in both
building and renovating. The same year Almy joined the firm, in fact, Howe
published Details of Old New England and Houses with Constance Fuller.
Although the firm was dissolved 1937, Howe continued to work with Manning’s
private firm. She passed away 12 days short of her 100th birthday.
The houses at 49 and 23 Hawthorne St. in Cambridge, MA., are not open to the public.
The Lois Lilley Howe House is located at 6 Appleton St. in Cambridge, MA.
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