Elbridge Boyden

Elbridge Boyden (1810-1898) was a prominent 19th century American architect from Worcester, Massachusetts who designed numerous civil and public buildings throughout New England and other parts of the United States. Perhaps his best known work is Mechanics Hall (1855) in Worcester.

Boyden was born in Vermont on July 4, 1810 to Amos Boyden, a Revolutionary War Veteran.^[1] His mother was Abigail (Wood) Boyden. The family moved to Orange, Massachusetts where Elbridge was educated. At age sixteen he moved to Athol, Massachusetts where he apprenticed as a carpenter and studied architecture. He moved to Worcester in 1844 where he established his architecture practice. He married Louisa Davis of Royalston, Massachusetts.^[2]

In 1849, Boyden became associated with civil engineer Phineas Ball. The pair operated as Boyden & Ball from 1849 to 1860.^[3]

Later in his career his son joined his firm, then known as Elbridge Boyden & Son. Elbridge Boyden was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and served a term as vice-president of the Massachusetts Chapter. He died in Worcester on March 25, 1898.^[4]

Works include

• 1847 Emory Bannister House, Worcester, Massachusetts
• 1851 Taunton State Hospital, Taunton, Massachusetts (demolished 2009)
• 1855 Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts
• 1858 Larchmont, Worcester, Massachusetts
• 1858 Town House, Sherborn, Massachusetts^[5]
• 1860 Ash Street School, Worcester, Massachusetts
• 1862 Damon Mill, Concord, Massachusetts
• 1863 East Worcester School-Norcross Factory, Worcester, Massachusetts
• 1864 North Brookfield Town House, North Brookfield, Massachusetts
• 1867 Fenwick Hall, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts remodeled ^[6], later altered by Patrick W. Ford in 1875.
• 1867 Jerome Marble House, Worcester, Massachusetts
• 1868 Washburn Shops, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts^[7]
• 1869 Cambridge Street School, Worcester, Massachusetts
• 1870 Goddard House, Worcester, Massachusetts
• 1871 Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs, New York
• 1872 Crocker House, New London, Connecticut^[8]
• 1874 Cathedral of Saint Paul, Worcester, Massachusetts
• 1875 Hubbardston Public Library, Hubbardston, Massachusetts (Elbridge Boyden & Son) ^[9]
• 1879 Grafton Street School, Worcester, Massachusetts
• 1885 Conant Hall, Nichols College, Dudley, Massachusetts (Elbridge Boyden & Son) ^[10]
• 1893 Webster Street Firehouse, Worcester, Massachusetts (Elbridge Boyden & Son)

Legacy

In 1991 the Elbridge Boyden Society was established at Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts.^[11]

References