Norris, L. (Lemuel), 1848-1930

<p>Lemuel Watson Norris; b. 29 Aug 1848, Loudoun County, Virginia; d. 23 Nov 1930, District of Columbia.</p>

<p>Lemuel Watson Norris (1848-1930) was born 29 August 1848 in Leesburg, Virginia, to John Norris (1811-1905) and Hannah Birkby Norris (1814-1886). Lemuel graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1870 and worked as an architect and carpenter, usually for the family construction business, Norris and Sons. In 1888 Lemuel married Mary Catherine Turner (1856-1904) also of Leesburg. By November 1889 they had relocated to Washington, DC, and had a child named Hannah. Here, Lemuel continued to work as an architect in both private practice and for the government of the District of Columbia. Buildings designed by him that are still in use include the Nathaniel Parker Gage School in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Northwest DC and Walsh Stable, located in the Dupont Circle Neighborhood. Both are included on the National Register of Historic Places.</p>
<p>This collection consists of a handwritten draft agreement regarding a contract awarded to Lemuel Norris by the "Court of Loudoun" for the construction of a bridge on the Leesburg/Georgetown Turnpike. Dates, other than the year, are left blank, and there are no signatures on the document.</p>