Warner, John Foster

WARNER, John Foster (1859-1937) was a prolific architect in Rochester, N.Y. and son of Andrew Jackson Warner (1833-1910). Together the father and son dominated the architectural scene in that city for nearly ninety years; J. Foster Warner is best known for major commissions in Rochester such as the Monroe County Courthouse (1894-6), George Eastman House, East Drive (1902-05; with McKim, Mead & White), and the National Department Store (1924). In Canada he executed designs for two hotels, the first structure being that for the Ford Hotel, Bay Street at Dundas Street West, TORONTO, ONT., 1928; demol. c. 1970, executed in collaboration with Shepard & Calvin, Toronto (C.R., xlii, 1 Feb. 1928, 47). Warner incorporated a 'skyscraper bungalow' as a rooftop penthouse residence for Jack Green at this hotel (Toronto Daily Star, 7 Sept. 1928, 8, descrip.; C.H.G., vi, Jan. 1929, 30-1, illus.). He also designed the Ford Hotel, Dorchester Street West at Bishop Street, MONTREAL, QUE.,1929-30, with local associate J.O. Turgeon of Montreal (Gazette [Montreal], 15 March 1929, 4; and 13 Jan. 1930, 12, descrip.; C.R., xliii, 4 Sept. 1929, 1053-4, illus. & descrip.; Canadian Hotel Review, viii, April 1930, 15-18, illus. & descrip.; inf. Scott Edwards). Warner died in Rochester on 20 April 1937 (obituary in the New York Times, 21 April 1937, 23; obit and list of works in The Architectural Forum [New York], lxvi, June 1937, The Month in Building section, 102; biography and list of works in B. Brayer, The Warner Legacy in Western New York, 1984)