Elmer I. Thomas (1863–1895) was an American architect who practiced in Auburn and Lewiston, Maine.
Biography
Elmer Thomas was born in Lewiston in 1863 to Sylvanus D. and Julia Thomas. He attended the public schools before entering Amherst College, where he remained for only two or three years. After a period at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he entered the office of noted Lewiston architect George M. Coombs, remaining with him until the end of the decade. After gaining a position of high responsibility, he departed from the office in 1889. He operated an office in Auburn until December 1893, when he relocated to Lewiston, reestablishing his office in the new Osgood Building. He died on Christmas Day in 1895, at the age of 33. Early the following year his chief assistant, William R. Miller, began operating the office under his own name.
Despite his brief career, Thomas became one of Maine's most sought-after architects within a few years of beginning his practice. He was also the state's first architect to have a college education. At least two of his works have been individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and several more contribute to listed historic districts.
Architectural work
1888 - Mechanics Savings Bank Building, 79 Main St, Auburn, Maine
George M. Coombs, architect of record
1889 - George D. Armstrong House, 27 Frye St, Lewiston, Maine
1890 - Enoch Lowell House, 402 Main St, Saco, Maine
1891 - Brunswick High School (Hawthorne School), 46 Federal St, Brunswick, Maine
Substantially rebuilt after a 1915 fire. 1891 - Sylvanus D. Thomas Duplex, 185 Main St, Auburn, Maine Occupied in part by the architect 1892 - Atkinson Building, 220 Lisbon St, Lewiston, Maine 1892 - Byron Armstrong House, 29 Frye St, Lewiston, Maine 1892 - Bethel M. E. Church, 75 Main St, Bethel, Maine 1892 - Fairfield Block, 148 Main St, Biddeford, Maine 1892 - McLain School, 40 Lincoln St, Rockland, Maine 1893 - Opera House Block, 29 Elm St, Camden, Maine 1894 - John H. Chase House, 16 Elm St, Auburn, Maine 1894 - Roger Williams Hall, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine 1895 - Hall Cottage, Good Will Home and School, Hinckley, Maine 1895 - E. Mont Perry House, 70 Beech Street, Rockland Maine 1895 - Weston Avenue School, head of Middle St, Madison, Maine Demolished in 2014