Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1921, Thomas G. Moses traveled to Tacoma, Washington, to secure a project. While in the area, he met with other clients about potential work. Moses wrote, “Ran over to Seattle and was pleased to see friend Davis and was surprised to see George Purvis.” This was the well-known architect and builder George B. Purvis, credited with theaters in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and British Columbia, Canada. When I first read Moses’ 1921 diary entry about Purvis, I intended to do a quick search about his theaters and then a small biographical outline. Not in a million years, did I expect to connect a few missing links for his descendants, nor uncover a story that not everyone wanted to know.
Many writings about Purvis are quick to point out his theaters in Cordova, Fairbanks, and Anchorage, Alaska, as well as theaters in Bellingham, Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia, Everett, Walla Walla, Washington. Better known venues included the Imperial Theatre and Avenue Theatre in Vancouver, BC (1912), Mack Theatre in Port Angeles, WA (1922); Columbia Theatre in Longview, WA (1924); Montlake Theatre (1924) and Arabian Theatre (1925) in Seattle, WA; Liberty Theatre in Olympia, WA (1924); and the Vitaphone Theatre in Wenatchee, WA (1930). Purvis is always cited as a prolific American architect.
When Moses encountered Purvis in Seattle, the architect was working on several projects, including the city’s 45th Street Theatre, now known as the Guild 45th Theatre. Purvis was also working on a project in Spokane that year. On January 12, 1921, the “Spokane Chronicle” announced, “Complete Plans for New Theater” (page 1). The article continued, “Architect’s Design All Ready – Purvis Will Have Charge of Work. Architect’s plans have been completed for the proposed $500,000 theater and office building to be erected at Howard and First by A. J. Lindsay and C. S. Crews, manager of the Hippodrome, according to an announcement made today by Mr. Lindsay. George Purvis, known throughout the west as a theater builder, will have charge of the construction project and will select all fittings and equipment. The plans provide a seating capacity of 2000. The building will be five stories high and 26 offices will be provided on each of the floors set aside for office space, which will be offered specially to doctors and dentists. The entire building will be constructed of materials from local markets if that is possible, said Mr. Lindsay today. ‘Only the nest brick, marble and other materials will be used, and the estimated cost will run approximately in the neighborhood of $500,000. The cost of the theater equipment will add probably another $100,000.’”
Purvis always lived life in the fast lane and his personal history is pretty fascinating.
George Blair Purvis was born on Nov. 5, 1866, in Leeds, England. Later in life, George B. Purvis would state that he was born in New York in 1869, listing this information in both the 1920 and 1930 census reports. Misrepresenting his birthplace and citizenship was common for the architect, causing an endless series of problems throughout his life. Even his death certificate lists New York as his official birthplace.
However, on Nov. 4, 1889, Purvis declared his intent to become a United States citizen in Portland, Multhoman County, Oregon State. He emigrated to the United States as a young boy of four yrs. old and was raised in Illinois. Naturalization records show that Purvis renounced all allegiance and fidelity to the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland during the process, verifying his English lineage. He would have been twenty-years old at the time when he first filed papers for naturalization. Interestingly, his petition did not go to court until May 6, 1908. His petition provides a definitive birthdate, Nov. 5, 1866, Leeds England. It notes that Purvis emigrated from West Hartlepool, England to the United States on the ship Averill. He arrived in Norfolk, Virginia on 19th of August 1873.
Other genealogical records purport that George Blair Purvis was the son of George and Hannah Purvis, again, still born on November 5, 1866, in Leeds, England. I believe these records to be accurate. His father was from Scotland and his mother from England. Purvis was one of eight children born to the couple that included Joseph, Hannah, Isabelle, Alice, Caroline, Robert and Agnes. The 1880 US Federal Census listed the Purvis family as living in Chicago, Illinois. It was likely in Chicago that George B. Purvis first entered the theatre industry. By the late 1880s, however, George had moved west and settled in Portland, Oregon, the birthplace of his future wife Ella Victoria Isaacson (1876-1951) in 1888. Isaacson was an actress. The two supposedly met while she was performing and soon ran away together. They may have been working on the same touring production. In 1891, Purvis was listed in the Portland City Directory as the calcium operator at the Marquam Grand, residing at 12 Market. Traveling with touring shows, the couple traveled the country, eventually settling in the east by the turn of the twentieth century. Their daughter, Edna Elizabeth, was born on September 18, 1901, in Philadelphia, PA.
By 1903,the small family was living in New York City. Purvis was listed in the City Directory as working for a Theatrical Construction Co, located as 112 E. 125th. By 1904, the George B. Purvis Theatrical Company was organized. They were not in New York for long, soon crossing the country to life in California. His constant moving will make sense in a few paragraphs.
Although Purvis began the naturalization process in 1889 while living in Portland, Oregon, he did not complete it until two decades later. Purvis was living in Arcadia when he completed the process for naturalization. In 1908, Purvis listed that he was an “inn keeper” in Arcadia, California. He worked as the proprietor of ‘White City,’ situated at Arcadia Racetrack. In the end, Purvis was denied his application for naturalization on November 5, 1908 (Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 1908, page 14).
Events surrounding the California judge’s denial of Purvis’ citizenship application answered a lot of questions for me. In 1908 Purvis testified before a judge as to his qualifications for becoming a US Citizen. Upon leaving the courtroom he was arrested for perjury. The problem was that Purvis listed Illinois as his birthplace when registering to vote during a city election on a few months prior. This meant that he registered to vote before securing his naturalization papers. Purvis explained, “Well, Mr. Baldwin the clerk, asked me where I was born, and I told him ‘on the other side,’ but that I was raised in Illinois. He said, ‘Put down Illinois then,’ and it was put down that way” (Los Angles Express, 16 Sept 1908, page 1). It is very probable that Purvis had been listing himself as a United States Citizen for quite some time. My rationale was that he continued to do it even after being denied citizenship. Purvis continued to list his birthplace as in the United States for both the 1920 and 1930 census. The only difference was that in later years he listed New York instead of Illinois.
The charge of perjury against Purvis was dismissed by Justice Stephens on recommendation of the district attorney. The “Los Angeles Herald,” reported, “To prosecute the case further, it is said, witnesses would have to be brought to Los Angeles from England, Purvis’ birthplace, and the dismissal was requested in order to save expense to the country” (10 October 1908, page 12). However, there was other information brought to light about Purvis during the next month. The new information confirmed what I suspected while tracing various Purvis family trees in the US and Canada. Historical records hinted at polygamy and marital desertion. As I traced Purvis’ genealogy there were two different family lines with George B. Purvis in the center. I even mentioned this aspect to my husband, explaining, “I think this guy had one family in the US and one family in Canada, hence why he kept crossing the border so much.” By 1908 Purvis had been married to Ella for fourteen years and their daughter was seven yrs. old. Life must have been miserable for both wife and daughter, as they were likely cast out of a few social circles.
After the dismissal of Purvis’ perjury case, Federal authorities and Chief Detective Brown of the District Attorney’s staff began digging into Purvis’ past. On Nov. 6, 1908 the “Los Angeles Times” announced, “Past Revealed” (page 14). The article reported, “In reply to questions by United States Attorney Carlos G. White, Purvis said that he married Ella V. Purvis in Washington, D. C., in 1894, and that his child Edna, was born in Philadelphia. He was asked whether he testified at a Coroner’s inquest in July 1905, that he was married to Mrs. Hanna Purvis, who was burned to death in a gasoline explosion at Willowbrook. He refused to answer on the ground that he might incriminate himself. He also refused to state whether he was ever married to Elizabeth Eastman, in British Columbia, in 1885, or whether he deserted her in Chicago in 1900, abandoning his three children at that time. He denied that he is a deserter from the English army or navy, or that he ever served time in Portland, Or., for forgery, but after admitted that he had been imprisoned there for three months on another charge. The department of criminal investigation of the District Attorney’s office has received a letter from Mrs. G. B. Purvis of Chicago, who says Purvis deserted her in 1900, and eloped with an actress.”
With all the modern research tools at my fingertips, it is easy to see how Purvis’ case spiraled out of control, and I have to wonder if someone in particular had it in for him. I agree that he was married to both Elizabeth Eastman and Ella Isaacson at the same time, fathering children to both women. However, his father’s name was also George; a George who was married to a Hannah. There were more than one George and Hannah Purvis marriage recorded in North America. Keep in mind that there were also many, many men named George Purvis who were living in the United States and Canada between 1870-1910.
It wasn’t long after the 1908 scandal that George, Ella and Edna left the country. Purvis began working as an architect in Canada, settling in Vancouver, B.C., and establishing a partnership there. This is purportedly where he constructed some of his earliest theater buildings. Between 1910 and 1911, Purvis partnered with Richard Thomas Perry (1884-1935), establishing Perry & Purvis.
The Purvis family did not return to the United States until 1913. By that time, his daughter was sixteen years old and they moved to Seattle, Washington. There are two events to consider while contemplating the Purvis family’s return to the United States. The first is the Balkan War, fought from October 8, 1912 to May 30, 1913. This event caused many to believe that a European war would soon occur. In the United State, Woodrow Wilson also became president at the beginning of 1913. He would later issue a statement of neutrality as Europe plunged into war. Purvis’ return to America, despite his previous scandal, may have seemed the safest option when examining the big picture.
By 1914, Purvis was listed as an architect, working at 607 Northern B & T building, and residing at 1909 Naomi Place in Seattle, Washington. In 1915, Purvis was still working in Seattle, but now running Purvis & Redmond. At this time the Purvis family moved to 325 ½ 8th Ave. He continued in this capacity until 1917, listing his position as an architect and working at 617 Northern B & T building.
About the same time that the United States declared war on Germany, Purvis relocated his practice to Anchorage, Alaska. In 1917 he designed a theatre complex with apartments in Anchorage. His work in Alaska included theaters in Cordova, Fairbanks and Anchorage. After the War ended, Purvis returned to the United States with his wife and daughter. By 1920, the Purvis family was again living in Seattle. Moses records meeting Purvis in Seattle during 1917. As the family had just returned to the country, this is what likely surprised Moses in seeing his old friend.
Purvis continued to work on a variety of theatre endeavors, including Alaska. By 1922, Purvis established the Alaska Motion Picture Association, owning a theatre chain throughout the state.
By 1925, Purvis was listed as the general manager of the Columbia Theatre Co. Inc, living at 210 Columbia Apartments. He remained in Seattle, living at 12039 Greenwood Avenue, until his passing on March 20, 1934. Both Moses and Purvis died in the same year, only a few months apart.
To be continued…
