Invention Timeline - Orlando Whitney Norcross, American Builder; Formed a Copartnership With His Brother, James A., Since Well Known as Norcross Brothers
b. October 25, 1839 and d. ?
American builder. After leaving school he worked in the leather business and later learned and practiced the carpenter’s trade. After service in the civil war he, with his brother, James A., formed a copartnership, since well known as Norcross Brothers. In 1867 the firm built a Church at Leicester, Mass., and the business has since grown to be the largest on the continent. Among their buildings are: Chamber of Commerce (Cincinnati), Exchange Building (Boston). Bloomingdale Insane Asylum, Trinity Church (Boston), Corcoran Art Gallery (Washington), Library of Columbia College, and many state houses, court houses and public libraries. The business was conducted by O. W. Norcross solely from 1892 to 1902, when it was incorporated.
Yes, thou dear, noble Mother! if ever men’s praise
Could be claimed for creating heroical lays,
Thou hast won it; if ever the laurel divine
Crowned the Maker and Builder, that glory is thine!
Thy songs are right epic; they tell how this rude
Rock-rib of our earth here was tamed and subdued;
Thou hast written them plain on the face of the planet
In brave, deathless letters of iron and granite;
Thou hast printed them deep for all time; they are set
From the same runic type-fount and alphabet
With thy stout Berkshire hills and the arms of thy Bay-
They are staves from the burly old Mayflower lay.
—A Fable for Critics: Lowell
