Background
Samuel N. Crowen was born in 1872 in Germany. He migrated to America when a youth.
Samuel N. Crowen was born in 1872 in Germany. He migrated to America when a youth.
Largely self-educated in architecture.
After a few years in New York he settled in Chicago he worked successively in some of the larger offices in the city, including that of S. S. Beman, and in 1894 began practice under the firm name of Crowen Richards. After three years in that association Mr. Crowen established his own office and carried on his own work alone until 1925 when he established the firm of S. N. Crowen and Associates.
Mr. Crowen designed buildings erected in the north section of Chicago known as Sheridan Park. Though dating from the early part of the century, many of his houses are still of architectural interest, particularly the entrance features, which exempli¬fied the "art noveau" then popular in France. During one phase of his career, from 1910 to 1930, Mr. Crowen devoted his time to industrial work, planning factory plants and stores. Still later he designed two important commercial buildings, the Willoughby Tower in Chicago, and the Hudson Tower in Minneapolis.