From the book Building America, A History of the Family
Feick (Feik-Fike) by Anita Gundlach Feick, pages 256-257
George Feick, Jr. worked in Minneapolis as an architect with
Purcell, Feick & Elmslie from 1903 to 1913. They designed modern buildings
and were widely recognized. They were often mentioned in Architectural resource
books. At this same time Frank Lloyd Wright was also innovating. George, Jr. was
influenced by oriental design but most of their "famous" buildings are
modern commercial ones, with a few innovative houses on the side - from Cape Cod
to the West. None of these involved Feick Builders. To our knowledge, he did not
design and also construct an buildings under G. Feick Sons, though he may have
helped in the design of some. There are no records.
George Feick III grew up at 426 Franklin street in Sandusky
and remembers with glee the "forbidden" storage sheds at the rear of
the lot, where he played when he could get away with it.
George Feick & Sons did little building after the 1929
crash. George Feick Jr. did some work at Farrell-Cheek Foundry, an addition or
renovation, and George Feick, Sr. did some remodeling. George Sr. had extensive
real estate holdings. He built several houses in the Central Avenue-Monroe
Street area and around 426 Franklin Street. He built a house for each of his
children. George Feick Jr. completely remodeled and restored (including a
wonderful ceiling) the 1421 Columbus Avenue place where they moved ca. 1933-4.
Gus Feick and George Jr. both attended Cornell. Gus was a
salesman, George recalls. And as he recalls, after George Sr. died his wife
Minnie lived alone but Olga and Clara as well as George, Jr. remained in Sandusky.
Apparently George, Jr. ran the business end of the sons, and managed the
extensive holdings (real estate) of George, Sr. When Sr. died, the real estate
became owned by the George Feick Heirs, with management retained by George Feick
Jr. the only remaining piece now (1983) is the Feick Building on Market Street.
Ernestine Feick Henderson married a Cleveland man and we're a bit vague about
what he did. George III does not remember his Uncle Emil at all. Remember that
his father was in business for 17 years before George III was born. He is a lot
younger than his cousins. He mainly recalls coming home for noon dinner. His
father was very active in civic affairs and his happiest non-civic activity was
the Men's Literary Club.
Apparently George Feick Sr. was a real perfectionist. George
recalls his father's tale: George Feick Jr. agreed to make a chest for a friend
for a set price. Upon completion, George Sr. Looked at it, said it wasn't good
enough for the money and made the price lower. George Jr. was apparently quite
upset by this happening to remember it and to relate the tale to his son years
later. It is too bad but George recalls little of his grandparents. They did not
spend holidays with them or many casual visits.