Theodore Wells Pietsch I

Theodore Wells Pietsch

Theodore Wells Pietsch, about 1925
Born October 2, 1869
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died January 1, 1930 (aged 60)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Alma mater Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Occupation Architect

Theodore Wells Pietsch (October 2, 1869, Chicago, Illinois – January 1, 1930, Baltimore, Maryland) was a well-known American architect, best remembered for a large body of work in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Among his most famous buildings is the St. Philip and St. James Catholic Church at 2801 North Charles Street, Baltimore.

Education and early career

After graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, class of 1889, he began his career working for the architectural firms of Flanders & Zimmerman and Burnham & Root, both of Chicago. On September 12, 1891, he left the U.S. for Paris and spent the next six years studying at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts where he received the French Government Diploma for architecture in December 1897, the ninth American to receive this award.[1] In 1898, he received an honorary mention in the Salon, the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. After returning to the U.S. in 1898, he spent two years in New York offices, with competitive work, followed by three or four years in Washington, D.C., where for more than a year he was in the employ of Messrs. Hornblower & Marshall, and after that, for some two years, as Chief Designer in the Office of the Supervising Architect Mr. James King Taylor.[2]

Mid- and late career

The Fallsway Fountain designed by T. W. Pietsch, with sculpture by Hans Schuler

When the Great Baltimore Fire occurred in February 1904, he was called to help rebuild the city, where, in that same year, he entered into partnership with Otto G. Simonson (1862-1922), establishing the firm of Simonson and Pietsch, which lasted until about 1908.[3][4] His principle works in Baltimore include Eastern High School, the Public Market, the U.S. Fidelity & Guarantee Building, the Lanahan Warehouse, Broadway Pier (the City Pier or "Recreation Pier," located on Thames Street between Broadway and Ann Street, which opened on August 20, 1914; built by the city at a cost of over $1 million as a commercial pier with community facilities, including a ballroom, on the top floor), the Tin Decorating Company plant, the Industrial Building, the Sonneborn Building, Fallsway Viaduct, Zion Church, the Association of Commerce Building, Jackson Place School, the residence of Dr. E. G. Mars, 5 Blythewood Road, the facades of numerous motion picture theaters (e.g., the Elektra, the New Wilson, and Excelsior),[5] and his greatest contribution, the St. Philip and St. James Catholic Church, 2801 North Charles Street, Baltimore, a cruciform edifice of Roman classic design, constructed of Indiana limestone, completed in 1929. Works outside Baltimore include the Maryland House of Correction in Jessup, Maryland.

Warden's residence, Maryland House of Correction, Jessup, Maryland, designed and drawn by T. W. Pietsch, September 1914

Personal life

He became a citizen and resident of the State of Maryland on October 27, 1908, at which time he gave his address as "Mt. Royal Apts." A poet of sorts, he published a number of his works in local newspapers. Fluent in the French language, he served in 1917–1918 as an instructor in French to officers of the 316th regiment at Camp Meade, Maryland. He was awarded two medals in architecture from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects, elected March 10, 1903; a member of Friends of Art, Baltimore; a Democrat; a Protestant; and an active member of the University, Merchants, Jockey, and Elkridge clubs.[6] His residence was at 27 Wickford Road (later changed to 4327), Roland Park, Baltimore, which he purchased in about 1912; his office was at 1210-11 American Building, Baltimore.

On November 7, 1911, Pietsch married Gertrude Carroll Zell (May 2, 1888 – May 5, 1968),[7] with whom he had three sons: Theodore Wells Pietsch, Jr. (September 23, 1912, Baltimore – August 24, 1993, Everett, Washington); John Oliver Carroll Pietsch (July 21, 1914, Baltimore – December 15, 1986, Birmingham, Michigan); Robert Brooke Pietsch (April 28, 1923, Baltimore – ). On the morning of January 1, 1930, he committed suicide in his studio above the garage (which he himself designed) behind the Wickford Road house, the apparent reasons being worry over ill health and large loss of money during the 1929 stock market crash.[8][9] He is buried at the New Cathedral Cemetery, 4300 Old Frederick Road, Baltimore.

References

  1. ↑ Chicago Daily Tribune, December 19, 1897, p. 13.
  2. ↑ Dorsey, J., and J. D. Dilts. 1981. A Guide to Baltimore Architecture, Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged. Tidewater Publishers, Centreville, Maryland.
  3. ↑ Hayward, M. E., and F. R. Shivers, Jr. (editors). 2004. The Architecture of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.
  4. ↑ Lee, A. J. 2000. Architects to the Nation: The Rise and Decline of the Supervising Architect's Office. Oxford University Press, Oxford and New York.
  5. ↑ Headley, R. K. 2008. Images of America: Maryland's Motion Picture Theaters. Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, South Carolina.
  6. ↑ Who's Who in America, Vol. 15, 1928-1929.
  7. ↑ Baltimore American, November 8, 1911, p. 9.
  8. ↑ Baltimore Sun, January 1, 1930, p. 1
  9. ↑ New York Times, January 2, 1930, p. 10.

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