The Streamline Era Greyhound Terminals: The Architecture of W.S. Arrasmith [Hardcover]

Frank E. Wrenick (Author), Elaine V. Wrenick (Editor), Richard Longstreth (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786425504 | ISBN-13: 978-0786425501 | Publication Date: December 8, 2006

In post-Depression America, Greyhound brought the glamour of travel within the reach of everyone, regardless of financial status. Their bus terminals functioned as gateways to the cities in which they were located. With this in mind, the Greyhound bus company found an architect who could embody in architectural form the sleek aerodynamics of the buses that served its transportation system: William Strudwick Arrasmith. This volume explores the life and achievements of William Strudwick Arrasmith, one of architecture's defining artists during the short-lived era of streamline design. It examines Arrasmith's development as architect, focusing on his work for Greyhound during their streamline era from 1937 to 1948, and thereafter. During this time, Arrasmith designed at least fifty terminals and other facilities for Greyhound--buildings which were literally spread across the country from Jackson, Mississippi to Erie, Pennsylvania. The final third of the book is dedicated to a detailed then-and-now examination of twenty-eight specific Greyhound terminals designed by Arrasmith, including those in Binghamton, New York (1938); Cincinnati (1941); and Boston (1950). A full chronology of Arrasmith's firms and commissions is also included.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Finely detailed social history...intimate...charming...personalized. --The Journal of American Culture

The magnitude of...research... is impressive...a definitive academic reference work...belongs in every architectural...and...transportation history library. --Society for Commercial Archeology Journal

"Extensive chronology, notes, sources and index are impressively detailed. A fitting tribute to a little-known man behind an instantly recognizable icon of American transportation." --Hemmings Motor News

About the Author

Retired attorney Frank E. Wrenick is a freelance contributor to the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper. He writes articles for a variety of other publications and lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 204 pages
• Publisher: McFarland (December 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786425504
• ISBN-13: 978-0786425501
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,466,125 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A worthy book for folks interested in buses or architecture, January 30, 2008

By 

P Cohen (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Streamline Era Greyhound Terminals: The Architecture of W.S. Arrasmith (Hardcover)

Strongly recommedned...

I bought this book to study the history of bus terminals in the United States. As this volume easily shows, Arrasmith designed his bus terminals (or depots as the book explains) to merge function with art. His plans satisfied all of Greyhound's necessary elements: location of bus bays, street access, in-terminal restaurants, ticket booths, and more mundane features such as administrative offices, water fountains and restrooms. But Arrasmith's plans explored modern styles which were attractive and inviting. His plans far exceeded Greyhound's basic needs for useful space, Arrasmith's terminals were objects of art and became destinations in their own rite. Although the bus industry is far less glamorous than it was in Arrasmith's time (1930s to 50s) his terminals, many of which still stand, deserve as much praise today as ever.

Note: the first half of the book is almost pure biography. For those interested more specifically in the architecture of bus terminals, skim the first few chapters but focus strongly on the second half of the book.