Edward Buxton Cristy Bernalillo County, New Mexico

Much of the urban improvement of Albuquerque during the past fifteen years has been effected after designs planned by Edward Buxton Cristy, architect. Mr. Cristy is a native of New York City and a graduate, in the architectural course, of Columbian University, from which he received the degree of Ph. D. in 1891. While he engaged in his chosen calling for a brief period in New York before removing to Albuquerque, his best work is to be seen in the latter city. He has been architect for the A. A. Grant estate, and drew the plans for the new Presbyterian Church erected in 1905-6; for Hadley Science Hall, the Girls' and Boys' apartments, and the power house of the University of New Mexico, and all the university building undertaken in late years. The girls' apartments are a radical departure from the conventional style, being a modernization of the old Pueblo style of architecture, constructed of brick covered with cement. He remodeled the Congregational church after its partial destruction by fire, and several of the public school buildings, including the plans for the Central school building, the work on these, the university building and the city hall, erected in 1906, being in competition with other architects. Among the other work planned by him, either for the entire construction or for remodeling buildings previously constructed, should be mentioned Pearson Hall, the First National Bank building, the Barnett block, adjoining the post office, the Armijo block, on the corner of Third street and Railroad avenue, the remodeled interior of the Immaculate Conception church, Episcopal church and Methodist Episcopal church, and most of the finer residences in the city. Many other buildings in the Territory are monuments to his skill.

Mr. Cristy was a member of the park commission for several years, and planned a large portion of the work in connection with its improvement. He is a Mason and has passed all the chairs in the local lodge of Odd Fellows.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.