Theodore Lenzen (1833–1912)[1][2] was a Prussian-born American architect. He was prolific with architectural designs in San Jose, California, during the late 19th-century. He was part of the firm Theodore Lenzen & Son, with his son Louis T. Lenzen.[3]
Lenzen was born in Prussia on September 29, 1833.[4][5] His parents were Gertrude (née Morsch), and Nicholas Lenzen.[4] His brother Jacob was an architect, and his brother Michael worked as a contractor and painter.[4] Starting at age 15, Lenzen apprenticed as a builder.[4]
Lenzen moved to the United States at the age of 21 (c. 1854), initially settling in Chicago.[4] He arrived in San Francisco on January 24, 1861, where he lived for one year and worked on improving his building skills.[4][5] A year later he relocated to Santa Clara, in order to design Santa Clara College (now Santa Clara University).[4] Lenzen is responsible for designing over 500 buildings during his career, in places including Salinas, California; El Paso, Texas; Hollister, California; Santa Cruz, California; Gilroy, California; Sacramento, California; and Los Angeles, California.[4][6]
He died on October 20, 1912, in San Jose,[1] and was buried in Oak Hill Memorial Park cemetery. The Lenzen Street name in San Jose, California is the location of his former home, and Theodore Lenzen Park on Lenzen Street are both named in his honor.[7]