Maurice E. Kressly

Maurice E. Kressly (1892–1963) was an American architect practicing in Pennsylvania and central Florida in the middle years of the twentieth century. Kressly was well known as a school architect in both states, as well as for designing romantic Mediterranean Revival and Tudor Revival residences in the Orlando area. While his name appears spelled both “Kressly” and “Kressley” in contemporary texts, the proper spelling is without the second “e”.

Maurice Elias Kressly was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on October 11, 1892, the son of James and Lucinda A. (Martz) Kressly. He was one of a family of six children, five boys and one girl. They grew up in the family home at 100 Hanover Street, Wilkes-Barre. Maurice’s father James was a carpenter and contractor. He graduated from high school in his home town in 1910.

Kressly studied architecture at Pennsylvania State University and graduated in the class of 1915. He was a charter member of the Omega Chapter Theta Chi Fraternity, at State College, Pennsylvania. Kressly entered the Second Training Company, Coast Artillery Corps, at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and was commissioned first lieutenant. He attained the rank of captain and was assigned to the office of the chief of artillery.

Following service during World War I, Kressly took fourth place in an architectural competition to design a community center building to be built of white pine. In 1918, Kressly was married to Louise V. Madden, of Wilkes-Barre.

Kressly first established his practice in Wilkes-Barre, at 314 South Fourteenth Street. In 1923, Kressly relocated to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he organized the firm of Maurice E. Kressly & Co. His office was located at 212-214 North Third, Harrisburg. For the next several years he specialized in the design of school buildings, including schools that were built at Greensburg, Ridgway and Rockport, Pennsylvania. Kressly also served as an assistant of the School Board Bureau of Pennsylvania.

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