| Clarence W. Wigington | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 21, 1883 Lawrence, Kansas |
| Died | July 7, 1967 (aged 84) Kansas City, Missouri |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse | Viola Williams |
Clarence Wesley "Cap" Wigington (1883-1967) was an African-American architect who grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. After winning three first prizes in charcoal, pencil, and pen and ink at an art competition during the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in 1899, Wigington went on to become a renowned architect across the Midwestern United States. It was a time when there were few African-American architects in the entire United States.[1] Wigington was the nation's first black municipal architect,[2] serving as senior designer for the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota's architectural office for 34 years when the city had an ambitious building program. [3] Sixty of his buildings still stand in Saint Paul, with several recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. His architectural legacy constitutes one of the most significant bodies of work by an African-American architect.[4]
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Clarence Wesley Wigington was born in Lawrence, Kansas in 1883, but his family moved to Omaha, where he was raised in the Walnut Hill neighborhood of North Omaha. After graduating from Omaha High School at the age of 15, in 1902 Wigington left an Omaha art school to work for Thomas R. Kimball, then president of the American Institute of Architects. After six years he started his own office. In 1910 Wigington was listed by the U.S. Census as one of only 59 African-American architects, artists and draftsmen in the country.[4] While in Omaha, Wigington designed the Broomfield Rowhouse, Zion Baptist Church, and the second St. John's African Methodist Episcopal Church building, along with several other single and multiple family dwellings.[5]
After marrying Viola Williams, Wigington received his first public commission to design a small brick potato chip factory in Sheridan, Wyoming. He ran the establishment for several years.[6]
It was in Saint Paul, Minnesota where Wigington created a national reputation. He moved there in 1914 and by 1917 was promoted to the position of senior architectural designer for the City of St. Paul. During the 1920s and 30s, Wigington designed most of the Saint Paul Public Schools buildings, as well as golf clubhouses, fire stations, park buildings, airports for the city. Other Wigington structures include the Highland Park Tower, the Holman Field Administration Building and the Harriet Island Pavilion, all now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Wigington also designed monumental ice castles for the St. Paul Winter Carnival in the 1930s and 40s.[7]
Wigington was among the 13 founders of the Sterling Club, a social club for railroad porters, bellboys, waiters, drivers and other black men. He founded the Home Guards of Minnesota, an all-black militia established in 1918 when racial segregation prohibited his entry into the Minnesota National Guard during World War I. As the leader of that group, he was given the rank of captain, from which the nickname "Cap" was derived.[8]
After retiring from the City of St. Paul in 1949, Wigington began a private architectural practice in California. Soon after moving to Kansas City, Missouri in 1967, he died on July 7.[9]
As senior architect for the city, Wigington designed schools, fire stations, park structures and municipal buildings. Aside from his work in Omaha, Wigington also designed the building which originally hosted the North Carolina State University at Durham.[10]
Nearly 60 Wigington-designed buildings still stand in St. Paul. They include the notable Highland Park Clubhouse, Cleveland High School, Randolph Heights Elementary School, and the downtown St. Paul Police Station, in addition to the Palm House and the Zoological Building at the Como Park Zoo.[11]
| Notable Wigington-designed buildings in order of year of construction | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Location | Constructed | NRHP?[12] | ||
| Broomfield Rowhouse | 2502-2504 Lake Street, North Omaha, Nebraska | 1913 | Yes | ||
| Zion Baptist Church | 2215 Grant Street, North Omaha | 1914 | No | ||
| Como Park Elementary School | 780 Wheelock Parkway W., St. Paul, Minnesota | 1916 | No | ||
| Highland Park Tower | 1570 Highland Parkway, St. Paul | 1928 | Yes | ||
| Roy Wilkins Auditorium | 175 Kellogg Boulevard West, St. Paul | 1932 | No | ||
| Holman Field Administration Building | 644 Bayfield Street, St. Paul | 1939 | Yes | ||
| Hamline Playground Recreation Center | 1564 Lafond Ave., St. Paul | 1940 | No | ||
| Harriet Island Pavilion | 75 Water Street, St. Paul | 1941 | Yes | ||
| St. James A.M.E. Church | 624 Central Avenue West, St. Paul | No | |||
Sixty of his buildings still stand in Saint Paul, with four recognized by listing on the National Register of Historic Places. His architectural legacy constitutes one of the most significant bodies of work by an African-American architect.[4]
Renamed to honor Wigington in 1998, the Harriet Island Pavilion is now called the Clarence W. Wigington Pavilion.[13]