Thornton F. Doan (died 12/19/1930) Bellingham, Washington

Pioneer architect in the Pacific Northwest, a specialist in public school work. One of his best known buildings was the High School at Mount Vernon, Washington, for which he planned an addition in later years. Mr. Doan was also architect of the Skagit County Court House in Mount Vernon, and Liberty Hall at Bellingham, new home of the American Legion.

Doan's body of work is extensive and varied, but many of his Bellingham buildings are no longer extant. In addition to the President Hotel, some of his other work include the Skagit County Courthouse in Mount Vernon (1922); the dormitory building (1920) at the State Normal School in Bellingham; Pacific College dormitory (1924) in Forest Grove, Oregon; fraternal halls such as the Elks Lodge (ca. 1912) in Anacortes and the Liberty Hall in Bellingham; Beth Israel Synagogue in Bellingham (ca. 1910); and scores of school buildings in Whatcom and Skagit counties including Silver Beach, Sunnyland, Larrabee, Lowell, Harmony, Birchwood, Roeder, Clearbrook, Deming, and Prairie schools.

Doan also knew how to market his talent. A photograph of the Doan-designed Sedro-Woolley High School was featured in a 1911 Bellingham City Directory quarter-page ad for "T.F. Doan, Architect." His motto was, "Don't Worry, Doan Can Plan It." Services offered included, "Plans, Specifications and Details for any kind of Building, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME."

Born in the village of Windfall in Tipton County, Indiana in 1866, Doan received his teaching degree from the Arkansas State Normal School, majoring in mathematics. He worked as a schoolteacher for thirteen years and also served as a high school principal (1892-1895) in De Valls Bluff, Arkansas. During his teaching years, he devoted his non-work time to the study of the art and science of architecture. He relocated to the Northwest in 1900 with his wife Lillian, and settled in Bellingham, seeking opportunities in a new profession. For three years, he worked as an engineering draftsman and designer in the office of J.J. Donovan, gaining technical and practical experience. Doan then established his own practice as an architect. He was one of the early Washington state architects who received an architect's license-no. 41, which is listed along with his name in the 1920-1921 Bellingham City Directory.

Thornton F. Doan died in his home in Bellingham on December 19, 1930 at the age of 64, following a two-year illness. He left a lasting architectural legacy.