Harry Hayman Cochrane ^869,1884

Lewiston Daily Sun
Lewiston, Maine
Saturday, September 21, 1946
p. 2

HARRY H. COCHRANE
MURAL, DECORATOR, COMPOSER DIES

Harry Hayman Cochrane, 86, acclaimed as one of the world's greatest mural decorators and known throughout New England and New York as a gifted musician, architect, composer, and writer as well as artist, died suddenly Friday morning at Central Maine General Hospital where he had been a patient since last Sunday. Until last night he had been recovering rapidly from surgery and seemed in very good condition.

Mr. Cochrane was born in Augusta, the son of Major J.H. Cochrane, who was a professional portrait painter. Later he became an architect and served for many years as Supervising Architect of Government Buildings, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. Because of his mother's early death, the boy was reared in the family of his grandfather, Dr. James Cochrane, Jr. at Monmouth.

Following the genius of his father, he began to draw early in life, and at the age of eighteen began portrait painting. Nine years later he decorated his first church; since then he had decorated over 150 churches and lodge halls, created designs and decorated buildings in all of New England and New York.

He attended Monmouth Academy and later the New York Art School and Chicago Art Institute; studied the works of the old masters in all the principal art centers of Europe, and in addition, traveled in Palestine, Syria and Egypt securing backgrounds for his mural painting.

When the fine Kora Temple building in Lewiston was opened in 1927, high Masonic officials from high and near paid enthusiastic tribute to the superb murals done by Mr. Cochrane, a Noble in the lodge. The series of murals have been said by many critics to express the height of Mr. Cochrane's genius.

He had devoted much of his time and talent in more recent years to memorial mural figure painting, commissions to do this kind of work pouring in from many places, even as far south as Tennessee and west to the Ohio line. One of his best known paintings is, "The Man on Horseback", that of Francis Asbury as the circuit rider.

In early life he became proficient in music, led bands and orchestras and even composed instrumental music. His most notable production was "The First Crusade", an ambitious and beautiful musical extravaganza based on the Crusades. Among his well-known published books are, "The History of Monmouth and Wales" and "Following the Fez."

In 1914, Bates College awarded the honorary degree of Master of Arts to Mr. Cochrane. He was commissioned to design the State of Maine Centennial coin in 1920, for the U.S. Mint. A lifelong Methodist, he had a prominent place in the annals of Maine Methodism. He was elected to the General Conference of 1912, and was a member of a male quartet, which sang before that conference.

He was a member of the 79th Maine Legislature, was elected a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason in 1940, had been chaplain of Monmouth Lodge No. 110 F & A.M. for 41 consecutive years; was president of the Cumston Public Library continuously for 39 years, and was an honorary member of the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club.

His wife, the former Ida Gott of Monmouth, was an outstanding woman and an unusual personality, greatly mourned by the artist since her passing, two years ago last March. It is said that he had visited her grave almost every day since then. The Cochranes lost their only child, a daughter, Lorena, between 25 and 30 years ago, when she was drowned in a tragic accident at Monhegan, while vacationing. Mrs. Cochrane had been his constant companion, even accompanying him on his tour of Europe.

Mr. Cochrane was always quiet and unassuming, shunning publicity, and his death will be a great personal loss to everyone who knew him.

Survivors include Mrs. Rena McIlroy of Lewiston; foster-daughter, who was brought up in the Cochrane home; three cousins, Mrs. Asa Slauenwhite of Monmouth, Miss Emma Cochrane of Winthrop, and Wirt Cochrane of California; a number of second cousins; and three nices on Mrs. Cochrane's side, Mrs. Margaret Edwards and Mrs. Eleanor Johnston of Auburn and Dorothy Deeter of Monmouth.

DIED - In Lewiston, Sept. 20, Harry H. Cochrane. Funeral services from the United Church, Monmouth, Monday at 2 o'clock. Interment at Monmouth Center.

  Events

• He worked as a historian, artist, musician, composer, decorator and photographer.

• He appeared on the census in 1900 at Main Street in Monmouth, Kennebec County, Maine. He lived with his wife in the household of his in-laws, from whom he rented.

• He appeared on the census in 1910 at South Main Street in Monmouth, Kennebec County, Maine. He lived with his wife in the household of his in-laws and rented. Relatives Rena and Shirley Leadbetter lived in the home as well.

• He appeared on the census in 1920 at 119 Sewall Street in Augusta, Kennebec County, Maine. He was head of household and rented.

• He appeared on the census in 1930 at Main Street in Monmouth, Kennebec County, Maine. He was head of household and owned property valued at $3,500. He also owned a radio set. Harry housed the extended family, which included his mother-in-law and the family of his sister-in-law, Winnie Edwards.

• He appeared on the census in 1940 at Main Street in Monmouth, Kennebec County, Maine. He was head of household and owned property valued at $3,500.

Harry married Ida Lorena Gott, daughter of Joseph Gould Gott and Rose Ellen Stinchfield, 9 June 1887 in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts ⁸⁶⁹.^,1884 (Ida Lorena Gott was born 24 February 1863 in Leeds, Androscoggin County, Maine,^869,1885 died 12 March 1944 in Monmouth, Kennebec County, Maine and was buried after 12 March 1944 in Monmouth, Kennebec County, Maine at Monmouth Center Cemetery.)