L'auteur | |
 | Mr. Cone, the author, was born Lawrence Karekin Conedrajian of Armenian parentage in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 20, 1888. He furthered his education in an American Mission High School for boys in the town of Bardezag, near Istanbul, Turkey. Later he studied architecture and sculpture (a five year course) at the Academy of Fine Arts in Istanbul, Turkey, from which he was graduated as an architect in 1909. Mr. Cone first came to the United States in 1911 and became a citizen in 1919. It was at this time that he changed his name from Conedrajian to Cone. In 1923 he was licensed by the State of California as an architect. He began his architectural practice in this country in Fresno, California, in 1912. During that year he designed and supervised the construction of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church, the first church of its kind ever built with Armenian Church Architecture in these United States of America. In subsequent years Mr. Cone designed other churches in California in Armenian style architecture, which were erected in Oakland, Yettem (Tulare County), (Encino) Los Angeles, Mr. Cone continued his private practice until 1927. After that year he worked as a Federal Architect for the United States Government which took him to Hawaii, Washington, B.C. and other areas. He also served as an Architect for the City and County of San Francisco, Cal., retiring from that position at the age of 65. He is a member of the Society of Architectural Historians, and his biography appears in the directory "Who's Who on the Pacific Coast" published by A. N. Marquis Co. Mr. Cone married the former Zuvart M. Gaulian in Chicago, Illinois, on June 30, 1917. They had three daughters and five grandchildren. Cone's early Craftsman Bungalows are modest compared with his exuberant Beaux-Arts student designs. His Tateosian Home (1914) reflects how he adapted his designs to the needs of his Valley clientele. The only Fresno house which reflects his formal Beaux-Arts training is the Fathy Home (1922). Cone maintained ties with the Armenian community throughout his career, designing St. Mary's Church in Yettem in 1947. His surviving drawings are in the Department of Special Collections, Henry Madden Library, California State University, Fresno. Lawrence K. Cone died in Oakland on January 23, 1984. |
