Background
George Clarence Gardner was born 1865 at Florence, Massachusetts, United States.
George Clarence Gardner was born 1865 at Florence, Massachusetts, United States.
After attending public schools in Springfield, he completed a course of architectural study at "Boston Tech”.
During the eighties he served as a draftsman in his father’s office, and between 1889 and 1911 was a member of the firm of Gardner, Pyne & Gardner, whose early works in Sprinfield included a number of then important buildings. Among these were the City Hospital and the Republican Block both erected in 1889, and the Chestnut Street Grammar School, completed in 1905. The firm also designed Mary Lyons Chapel at Mount Holyoke College, c. 1891; and the Noble Hospital at Westfield, c. 1900.
Mr. Gardner also prepared plans for many private residences in Springfield and adjacent cities, and after his father's death maintained an independent practice. During that period he was architect of several city schools, of which the Van Sickle Junior High, completed in 1930 was an outstanding example, also designed the new Court House in Springfield, built in the same year.
In addition to his architectural practice, Mr. Gardner participated actively in civic affairs. He was largely responsible for the organization of the Springfield Planning Board, and after being elected its first Chairman, served in that position until the time of his death, devoting much study and thought to Zoning and other municipal problems.