Santa Clara County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



THEODORE W. LENZEN
ARCHITECT, San Jose, California, 1892
 
Of the well-known firm or architects of Jacob Lenzen & Son, was born in San Jose 
November 17, 1864. His father, the senior member of the firm, came from Chicago, 
establishing an office which has become one of the best known in the county.

Theodore W. was educated in the High School at the University of the Pacific, 
and commenced the study of his profession in San Francisco, completing the 
course in Europe. Mr. Lenzen did not confine his investigations in the old 
country to any one place, but visited various great cities making studies and 
sketches of some of the most noted edifices, many of them the work of masters of 
by-gone centuries. This work has been invaluable to him, many of his recent 
conceptions showing the results of his study abroad.

The Santa Clara valley is noted for its many beautiful residences and public 
buildings, of which the firm of Jacob Lenzen & Son has planned and superintended 
the construction of no small number. The beautiful Hotel Vendome, the Y.M.C.A. 
building opened in November, the Hall of Records, one of the finest public 
edifices in the State, St. Josephs College, Post-office building, the Rucker, 
Straus, Doerr, Archer, Letitia, San Carlos, Sweigert and I.O.O.F. building, the 
vast insane asylum at Agnews, are among the many notable specimens of 
architecture which have established the reputation of this firm.

T. W. Lenzen was married in February, 1889 to Miss Kate A. Berlingen of Contra 
Costa, and has one son, Victor Lenzen. Mr. Lenzen is extremely popular with a 
large circle of friends and a life-long residence in San Jose has made him 
familiar with the requirements for homes, business or public buildings in this 
section of the county.

transcribed by jchavnar
From the Commemorative Edition January 1, 1892, San Jose Daily Mercury
MEN WE ALL KNOW
THEODORE W. LENZEN- ARCHITECT, San Jose, California- 1892
Biographical Sketches of Well-Known San Joseans
THE STORY OF THEIR SUCCESS.