Francis R. Richmond

Francis Richard Richmond was born April 20, 1851, in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts to Otis Abiathar Richmond and Laura Elmer (Ware) Richmond. He was educated in the public schools and academy of Townshend, Vermont and trained as a carpenter in Amherst.[1] As a young man he moved to Springfield, where he was educated in architecture in the office of Eugene C. Gardner. He remained with Gardner until 1882, when he formed a partnership with B. Hammett Seabury, practicing as Richmond & Seabury. They worked together until 1890, when the partnership was dissolved and each opened an independent office.[2] Richmond practiced in Springfield until his death in 1907.

Richmond was married, and had four children. He was a member of the Masons and the Odd Fellows.[3] In 1896 he was a representative from the 8th Hampden district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a Democrat.[1]

The Richmond family home was at 20 Greenleaf Street in the Forest Park neighborhood, which Richmond had built in 1893.[4]

Richmond died November 6, 1907, at the age of 56.[3]

Richmond was the architect of at least four buildings that have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.

Richmond's work was designed in the popular styles of the day. During his partnership with Seabury his buildings relied on Queen Anne models, as well as the contemporary works of H. H. Richardson. Later, in the aftermath of the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, Richmond turned towards Classical, Renaissance and Colonial sources.