The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 81, July 1977 - April, 1978 Page: 491

Book Reviews

buildings in the Greek Revival Style for Bangor during the 183os. The
designs for these and the details which were taken from pattern books
reveal that he was a sensitive designer.
In addition, this energetic figure involved himself in numerous other
activities including engineering and speculation. However, his efforts
in the latter area were ruined by the Panic of 1837. The effects of the
depression caused Bryant to abandon architecture and join the military
where he became Grand Eagle (military divisional leader) of the Mis-
sissquoi Division during the Canadian Rebellion of 1837. Later he also
conducted a military school.
In 1839, seeking employment and financial betterment, Bryant moved
to Texas where his fortunes again rose and fell. Among the early mas-
terbuilders in the Republic, he advertised as an architect, engineer,
draftsman, engraver, and lithographer. After architectural progress in
Texas was curtailed by Mexican invasions, he joined the Texas army
in 1842. Then he tried logging and growing corn before returning to
architecture. During the peak of his career in Texas he designed the Mi-
chael B. Menard House (1838), St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral (1847-
1848) and the Galveston Cdunty Prison and Court Room (1847-1848)
-all fine works built in Galveston and described in the last chapter of
the book.
The authors have made a fine contribution to our information on
early nineteenth-century architecture. Good documentation and ade-
quate illustrations contribute to the effectiveness of the study, although
some descriptions of details which are easily appreciated in the photo-
graphs tend to become laborious. This book is recommended reading
for those who have an interest in the early nineteenth-century architec-
ture in the United States in general and in Maine and Texas in partic-
cular.

Texas Tech University

491

WILLARD B. ROBINSON