Otto G. Simonson (1862-3/24/1922) Baltimore, Maryland

Otto G. Simonson was born in Germany in 1862. At the age of 21 he immigrated to the United States and soon became superintendent of public buildings for the United States government. In 1902 he came to Baltimore to oversee the construction of the United States Custom House, decided to move to that city, and went into business as an architect. Simonson designed so many buildings after the fire of 1904 that his obituary could note: "So many are the beautiful buildings for which Mr. Simonson was architect that the skyline of Baltimore might be said to be part of his own creation."

Formerly in practice with William F. Stone, Jr., Mr. Simonson carried on his work alone for a number of years. He was known as the architect of a number of business structures in Baltimore, with the Maryland Casualty Company Building (also known as Hearst Tower) his most important work. In addition to architectural practice, Mr. Simonson served for twenty-five years as Superintendent of Public Works in Baltimore.