Braseth and Houkom Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 2205
Scope and Content
The Braseth and Houkom Photograph Collection contains 39 photographic prints removed from a portfolio album featuring building designed by the architecture firm. The original embossed cover of the album has been retained and can be found within the box.
Some of the buildings represented are, Bentson-Bunker Fieldhouse, Black Building, Steele County (N.D.) Courthouse, First Ward School in Moorhead, Minn., Roosevelt School in Fargo, Jackson Hall at Oak Grove School in Fargo, St. Mary’s School in Fargo, Woodrow Wilson School in Fargo, Sheldon (N.D.) Public School, Lucca (N.D.) Public School, Hawthorne School in Fargo, City Hall in Moorhead, American State Bank in Moorhead, Doyle Motor Company in Fargo, Masonic Temple and City Hall in Enderlin, N.D., Plymouth Congregational Church in Fargo, Grace Lutheran Church in Fargo, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, House at 901 4th Avenue S. in Fargo, House at 620 8th Street S. in Fargo, House at 509 11th Street S. in Fargo, Fargo Ice Arena under construction, Martin’s American Lutheran Church in Casselton, and Petersburg Lutheran Church in Petersburg, N.D. Most of the photos were taken by Dewey Studio, or David Anderson of Fargo.
At the end of the collection are two files containing photographs of S. Marius Houkom. The first was taken in the 1930s by The Oyloe Studio of Moorhead, Minnesota. The second photo was taken by Harry Jennings, and appeared in the Fargo Forum newspaper December 29, 1974. It shows Mr. Houkom in his office located in the deLendrecie Building.
At the end of the collection are two files containing photographs of S. Marius Houkom. The first was taken in the 1930s by The Oyloe Studio of Moorhead, Minnesota. The second photo was taken by Harry Jennings, and appeared in the Fargo Forum newspaper December 29, 1974. It shows Mr. Houkom in his office located in the deLendrecie Building.
Dates
- 1926-1974
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
The NDSU Archives owns the copyrights.
Biography
Sveinung Marius Houkom was born on April 24, 1891, at Mekinock, North Dakota. His parents, Olaf S. and Marie, were Norwegian immigrants. Olaf was a Lutheran minister from 1884 until 1902, serving several different congregations in North Dakota. He began farming in 1902 in Grand Forks County, North Dakota, and purchased more land in adjacent Cass County in 1912. That same year S. Marius Houkom began college at the North Dakota Agricultural College in Fargo. He later attended the University of
Michigan at Ann Arbor. After earning his degree in architecture, he returned to Fargo and was employed by Braseth and Rosatti, Architects. In about 1924 he became partners with Mr. Braseth in the Braseth and Houkom architecture firm, which continued until Houkom established his own practice during World War II. He was partners with Herman Skaret in the Houkom and Skaret firm from 1951 to 1956. From that time until he retired in 1978, Mr. Houkom again practiced independently.
In a career spanning over fifty years, Mr. Houkom designed seventy-eight churches as well as several homes, schools, athletic facilities, hospitals, and commercial buildings. Some of his projects in Fargo included Plymouth Congregational Church, Peace Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church, the original Island Park swimming pool, and the old field house at North Dakota State University. His last architectural project was the El Zagal Temple in Fargo.
Mr. Houkom was licensed to practice in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. He was a member of the North Dakota State Board of Architecture, which he served as vice-president and president. Other organizations in which he was active included the Masons, Orpheus Male Choir, Norwegian Singers Association, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, and the North Dakota Association of Architects.
On August 29, 1929, Mr. Houkom married Zora Rejahl in Fargo. She was the daughter of William and Carrie Rejahl of Chicago. Miss Rejahl had lived in the Fargo area for some years working as a stenographer. On July 4, 1930, Mrs. Houkom died during childbirth. On October 27, 1932, Mr. Houkom married Lillian P. Meiers, the daughter of John and Augusta Meiers of Ross, North Dakota. In 1978 Mr. Houkom moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, to live with his daughter Zora (Mrs. Raymond) Anderson. Mr. Houkom died there on November 3, 1980. Mrs. Houkom died in Fargo on April 1, 1983. Both are buried at Riverside Cemetery in Fargo.
In a career spanning over fifty years, Mr. Houkom designed seventy-eight churches as well as several homes, schools, athletic facilities, hospitals, and commercial buildings. Some of his projects in Fargo included Plymouth Congregational Church, Peace Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church, the original Island Park swimming pool, and the old field house at North Dakota State University. His last architectural project was the El Zagal Temple in Fargo.
Mr. Houkom was licensed to practice in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. He was a member of the North Dakota State Board of Architecture, which he served as vice-president and president. Other organizations in which he was active included the Masons, Orpheus Male Choir, Norwegian Singers Association, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, and the North Dakota Association of Architects.
On August 29, 1929, Mr. Houkom married Zora Rejahl in Fargo. She was the daughter of William and Carrie Rejahl of Chicago. Miss Rejahl had lived in the Fargo area for some years working as a stenographer. On July 4, 1930, Mrs. Houkom died during childbirth. On October 27, 1932, Mr. Houkom married Lillian P. Meiers, the daughter of John and Augusta Meiers of Ross, North Dakota. In 1978 Mr. Houkom moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, to live with his daughter Zora (Mrs. Raymond) Anderson. Mr. Houkom died there on November 3, 1980. Mrs. Houkom died in Fargo on April 1, 1983. Both are buried at Riverside Cemetery in Fargo.
Extent
41 Photographic Prints (41 photographic prints.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Long-time Fargo architects, known particularly for the numerous churches they designed.
Provenance
Donated by S.M. Houkom, 1980 (Acc. 2050), and Zora E. Anderson, 1980 (Acc. 2063).
Separated Materials
Manuscript Materials processed as Mss 48
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Braseth and Houkom Photograph Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu