August Geiger (September 2, 1887 - 1968) was one of the most prominent American architects in South Florida from 1905 to the late 1940s. He experimented in Mission, Neo-Renaissance and Art Deco architecture, but is most noted for his works in the Mediterranean Revival style. A number of his works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Life
Geiger was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of Margaretha (Rettenmeyer) Geiger and Louis Geiger, a manufacturer of moldings and other fine woodwork for interior decoration. He was educated at the city's public schools, and completed his studies at Boardman's Manual Training School. Showing a talent for drawing and design, he determined to be an architect and secured a position in a New Haven firm. In 1905, Geiger moved to Miami, where he had vacationed with his family since around 1899, and worked at a local architectural firm for 6 years. The 10th registered architect in Florida, he opened his own firm in 1911, and in 1915 opened a second office in Palm Beach. He worked for Carl Fisher on various construction projects in Miami Beach, and was appointed architect for the Dade County School Board. In 1915 he married Ruth Hinson.
Some of his projects
Villa Serena (1913) in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida
Homestead Public School (also known as Neva Cooper School) (1914), in Homestead, Florida; listed in the National Register Southside School (1914), 45 S.W. 13th St., Miami, Florida, NRHP-listed Miami City Hospital, Building No. 1, (1915), 1611 NW 12th Ave., Miami, Florida, also called “The Alamo”—and now known as Jackson Memorial Hospital, (Geiger, August), NRHP-listed, (1916-1918) Miami Beach Municipal Golf Course House (1916), in Miami Beach, Florida Lincoln Hotel (1916), in Miami Beach, Florida (demolished) Alton Beach Water Tank, Miami Beach, Florida Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Club (1917) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Davie School (1918), 6650 Griffin Rd., Davie, Florida, NRHP-listed Hindu Temple (1920) in Miami, Florida Fire Station No. 2 (1924), 1401 N. Miami Ave., Miami, Florida (Geiger, August C.), NRHP-listed St. Francis Hospital (Miami Beach, Florida) (1924) in Miami Beach, Florida. (demolished) Community Theater of Miami Beach (1924) on Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, Florida (demolished) Dade County Courthouse (1925) in Miami, Florida; listed in the National Register Carl Fisher Residence (1925) in Miami Beach, Florida Miami Women's Club (1925) 1737 N. Bayshore Dr., Miami, Florida; NRHP-listed First Church of Christ, Scientist (1925) in Miami, Florida Coral Way Elementary School (1936) Miami, Florida Ida M. Fisher Junior High School (1936), Miami Beach, Florida North Beach Elementary School (1936), Miami Beach, Florida Chase Federal Bank (1937) Miami Beach, Florida Dade County Courthouse, 73 W. Flagler St., Miami, Florida (Geiger, August), NRHP-listed Homestead Public School-Neva King Cooper School, 520 N.W. First St., Homestead, Florida (Geiger, August), NRHP-listed One or more works in Boca Chita Key Historic District, NW section of Boca Chita Key, roughly bounded by Biscayne Bay and a stone wall Biscayne National Park, Florida (August Geiger Firm), NRHP-listed
See also
Southside School
Dade County Courthouse
First Church of Christ, Scientist
Coral Way Elementary School
Spanish Colonial style
Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture
References
Notes
Bibliography
Klepser, Carolyn & Parks, Arva Moore, Miami Then and Now (Then & Now) (Thunder Bay Press; 2002); Barbara Baer Capitman, Deco Delights: Preserving the Beauty and Joy of Miami Beach Architecture (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1988) Armbruster; Kleinberg; Florida Architecture and Allied Arts, 1939, 1940, 1941; Curl; Works Progress Administration Patricia Gabriel, The Villagers’’ Book of Outstanding Homes of Miami (Coral Gables, Fla.: University of Miami Press, 1975 Florida Editors Association, The Book of Florida (No place); James O. Jones, 1925