Lansing’s Young Architects: William Appleyard, R. Arthur Bailey and Frederick Thoman

Lansing was fortunate to have several local architects in the later 19th and early 20th Century. The works of Edwyn Bowd and Darius Moon are well known, but there were several others. James Appleyard, the contractor for the Michigan State Capitol served as a mentor to three young local architects: his son William Appleyard, the brother of his daughter-in-law, R. Arthur Bailey and the son of one of Lansing’s leading businessmen, Frederick Thoman. These are their stories and while their work was prolific, most of the buildings and homes these men designed no longer exist. This book is an effort to recognize their contributions to Michigan’s architectural history. Awarded the 2020 honor for Outstanding Michigan History Publication Private Printing by the Michigan Historical Society.