Mowbray and Uffinger comprised an architectural partnership in New York City formed in 1895. Known for bank buildings and as vault engineers they designed over 400 banks in the pre-World War II era throughout the country. The principals were Louis Montayne Mowbray and Justin Maximo Uffinger Sr.. Louis Montayne Mowbray was born 1867 in New York. A September 27, 1883, article in The New York Times stated that he had been admitted to the US Naval Academy. Mowbray married Anna Scott. He died in New York in June 1921. Justin Maximo Uffinger Sr. was born May 7, 1871, in New York City to German immigrants. He was born Justus Maximo Ueffinger but changed his name about the time of his marriage in 1905 to Marion I. Hoag. He began studies at the City College of New York at age 13 and completed his studies in engineering and architecture at Cooper Union in 1891. He articled for renowned architect Richard Morris Hunt while at Cooper Union and until 1895 when he formed a partnership with Mowbray. By 1910 the family was living in Summit, New Jersey. He had two sons, Justin M. Uffinger Jr. and Donald Hoag Uffinger. After Mowbray’s death, the firm continued under its previous name until 1927, when it was reorganized as Uffinger, Foster, and Bookwalter. Justin Uffinger would retire in 1930 but continued to work as a consultant as late as 1940. He died in Summit, New Jersey on November 24, 1948.
Notable commissions
All are extant unless otherwise specified. In chronological order:
People’s Trust Bank, 183 Montague Street, Brooklyn, New York. Later known as Citibank. Rear addition by Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon.
First National Bank, 125-129 West Crawford Avenue, Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The six-story building, demolished in 1997, had also housed Wright-Metzler Department Store, succeeded by Troutman’s Department Store.
Mowbray Residence, 874 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, New York. This townhouse was designed for the senior partner, Louis Mowbray, in a neo-Georgian style.
Mills Bee Lane House, 26 East Gaston Street, Savannah, Georgia. A two-story red brick Georgian Revival house.
Savannah Bank and Trust, 2-6 East Bryan Street, Savannah, Georgia. This is a 14-story neoclassical office building.
Poughkeepsie Savings Bank, 21-23 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, New York. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and now known as TD Banknorth.
John Hand Building, 17 20th Street North, Birmingham, Alabama. Originally known as First National Bank, this 20-story office building has been renovated for use as residential condominiums and offices. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hibernia Bank, 101 East Bay Street, Savannah, Georgia.
First National Bank of Rochester, 35 State Street, Rochester, New York. Originally known as the Old Monroe County Savings Bank, and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Butler Savings and Trust, 106 South Main Street, Butler, Pennsylvania. Also known as National City Bank and Integra Bank. This eight-story structure is one of two buildings the firm designed for this small community; also see Butler County National Bank.
Barnett National Bank, 112 West Adams Street, Jacksonville, Florida. 18 stories.
