William R. Walker & Son
William R. Walker & Son (1881–1938) was an American architectural firm in Providence, Rhode Island. It included partners William Russell Walker (1830–1905), William Howard Walker (1865–1922), and later, William Russell Walker II (1889–1936).
William R. Walker began his architectural practice in 1864. Between 1876 and 1881 he partnered with Thomas J. Gould in Walker & Gould. In 1881, the two parted ways to start independent firms.[1] Walker took his son, William H. Walker into partnership to form the firm of William R. Walker & Son. William R. Walker died in 1905. William H. Walker died in 1922, at which point his son, William R. Walker, Jr., took charge until his own death in 1936.[1]
Throughout the firm's history, it was known for its educational buildings. All of the Walkers had important political connections, enabling them to obtain the commissions for these and other civic structures. The part of the Walker legacy that is most commonly passed over is their residential and commercial commissions. Prominent commercial commissions include Providence's Lederer Building (1897), Attleboro's Bronson Building (1903), and the Washington Building (1921) in Providence.
Architectural works
In Providence, Rhode Island:
- John E. Troup House, 477 Broadway, Providence, RI (1881)[2]
- Elmwood Grammar School, 15 Vineyard St., Providence, RI (1882)[3]
- George E. Boyden House, 20 Bainbridge Ave., Providence, RI (1882)[4]
- Frank M. Mathewson House, 224 Bowen St., Providence, RI (1883)[5]
- Masonic Temple, 127 Dorrance St., Providence, RI (1884) – Burned in 1896.[6]
- St. Theresa's R. C. Church, 265 Manton Ave., Providence, RI (1884) – Demolished.[7][3]
- Benjamin F. Vaughan House, 148 Power St., Providence, RI (1885) – Demolished.[8][9]
- John McAuslan House, 544 Elmwood Ave., Providence, RI (1885) – One of Providence's most fanciful dwellings. Demolished.[10][11]
- Smith Street Primary School, 400 Smith St., Providence, RI (1885)[2]
- Atwells Avenue Fire Station, 318 Atwells Ave., Providence, RI (1886) – Demolished.[8][12]
- Covell Street Primary School, 231 Amherst St., Providence, RI (1886)[13]
- Christ Episcopal Church, 909 Eddy St., Providence, RI (1888) – Demolished in 2006.[14]
- Manton Avenue Grammar School, 917 Manton Ave., Manton, RI (1888) – Demolished in 2002.[2]
- Boston Store Annex, 140 Union St., Providence, RI (1889)[15]
- Nicholas and Cyrus M. van Slyck Duplex, 4–6 Young Orchard Ave., Providence, RI (1889) – Purchased by Bryant, and variously known as Gardner and Allan Halls. Demolished.[10]
- Remodeling of Boston Store, 290 Westminster St., Providence, RI (1892) – New facade and the addition of two stories.[16]
- James E. Sullivan House, 254 Wayland Ave., Providence, RI (1893)[2]
- St. Joseph's R. C. Hospital, 21 Peace St., Providence, RI (1895) – Demolished.[2]
- Lederer Building, 137 Mathewson St., Providence, RI (1897)[17]
- Hotel Savoy, 135 Snow St., Providence, RI (1898) – Demolished in 1994.[18][19][20]
- Estelle R. Jackson Duplex, 121-123 Benevolent St., Providence, RI (1900)[2]
- George W. Robertson House, 242 Adelaide Ave., Providence, RI (1900)[2]
- Caesar Misch Building, 400 Westminster St., Providence, RI (1903)[21]
- Cranston Street Armory, 125 Dexter St., Providence, RI (1903)[22]
- Hanley Building, 56 Pine St., Providence, RI (1911)[23]
- Armory of Mounted Commands, 1051 N. Main St., Providence, RI (1913) – The headhouse was built in 1923–1925 from plans by William G. Richards.[24]
- Emery Theatre, 79 Mathewson St., Providence, RI (1914) – Later the Carlton. Demolished in 1954.[25]
- Gaiety Theatre, 220 Weybosset St., Providence, RI (1914) – Demolished.[26]
- The Everett, 111 Everett Ave., Providence, RI (1915)[2]
- Toy Theatre, 260 Thayer St., Providence, RI (1915) – Now known as the Avon Cinema.[27]
- Emery's Majestic Theatre, 201 Washington St., Providence, RI (1916) – Now home to the Trinity Repertory Company.[28]
- Esek Hopkins School, 480 Charles St., Providence, RI (1916)[29]
- Lederer Mausoleum, Congregation Sons of Israel and David Cemetery, 401 Reservoir Ave., Providence, RI (1916) – A Doric temple built of Westerly granite.[30]
- Modern Theatre, 440 Westminster St., Providence, RI (1916) – Demolished in 1966.[31][32]
- Remodeling of Hotel Dreyfus, 95 Mathewson St., Providence, RI (1916) – complete rebuilding, inside and out.[33][34]
- Medical Building, 234 Thayer St., Providence, RI (1917)[35]
- Vinton Building, 354 Westminster St., Providence, RI (1917) – Demolished.[36]
- Remodeling of Rialto Theatre, 121 Mathewson St., Providence, RI (1919) – Added the Mathewson facade. The auditorium was demolished in 1936.[37]
- Watkins Building, 274 Pine St., Providence, RI (1920) – Built for the D. W. Watkins Co.[38]
- Washington Building, 93 Washington St., Providence, RI (1921) – Demolished.[39]
- Hotel Berkshire Annex, 133 Mathewson St., Providence, RI (1922) – Now part of the Hotel Providence.[40]
- Jewish Orphanage of Rhode Island, 164 Summit Ave., Providence, RI (1924) – Remodeled in the 1950s to become Miriam Hospital.[41]
- Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences, 235 Benefit St., Providence, RI (1924) – Now a RISD building.[12]
- Henry Barnard School, Rhode Island College of Education, 199 Promenade St., Providence, RI (1926) – Now the site of Providence Place.[2]
- Gymnasium and Training School, 86 Mt. Hope Ave., Rhode Island School for the Deaf, Providence, RI (1934)[42]
Elsewhere in Providence County, Rhode Island:
- Ernest W. Tinkham House, 194 East Ave., Harrisville, RI (1881–82)[43]
- John F. Clarke House, 91 Broad St., Valley Falls, RI (1882)[44]
- Corliss Safe Manufacturing Co., 72 Fenner St., Cranston, RI (1883) – Altered.[45]
- First Freewill Baptist Church, 130 Broadway, Pawtucket, RI (1884)[46]
- Park Place Congregational Church, 12 Park Pl., Pawtucket, RI (1884) – Burned in 1934.[47]
- Mauran Avenue School, 186 Mauran Ave., East Providence, RI (1885) – Demolished.[48]
- Middle Street School, 260 Middle St., Pawtucket, RI (1885) – Demolished.[49]
- 1st Ward Wardroom, 171 Fountain St., Pawtucket, RI (1886)[50]
- 5th Ward Wardroom, 47 Mulberry St., Pawtucket, RI (1886)[50]
- East Providence Town Hall, 145 Taunton Ave., East Providence, RI (1888) – Burned in 1976.[51]
- United Congregational Church, 75 N. Broadway, East Providence, RI (1888) – Altered in 1931 by Benjamin W. Wright.[52]
- Williams Avenue School, 115 Williams Ave., East Providence, RI (1888) – Heavily altered.[52]
- Church Hill Grammar School, 81 Park Pl., Pawtucket, RI (1889)[53]
- Edgewood School, 185 Norwood Ave., Cranston, RI (1889) – Demolished.[54]
- Lincoln High School, 580 Broad St., Central Falls, RI (1889) – Built when Central Falls was a part of Lincoln. Now the City Hall.[10][55]
- Grove Street School, 16-26 Grove St., Pawtucket, RI (1890) – Demolished.[53]
- Charles C. Newall House, 234 Norwood Ave., Cranston, RI (1892)[56]
- Cumberland Town Hall, 45 Broad St., Valley Falls, RI (1894)[57]
- Pawtucket Armory, 172 Exchange St., Pawtucket, RI (1894)[58]
- Payne Building, 7 Goff Ave., Pawtucket, RI (1894) – Built as the headquarters of Broad Street Power. Demolished.[59]
- Pawtucket High School, 300 Broadway, Pawtucket, RI (1895) – Now apartments.[53]
- St. Charles Borromeo R. C. School, 62 Daniels St., Woonsocket, RI (1896) – Demolished.[60][61]
- Woonsocket District Courthouse, 24 Front St., Woonsocket, RI (1896)[42]
- Masonic Building, 55 High St., Pawtucket, RI (1897) – Demolished.[62]
- St. Joseph's R. C. Convent, 194 Walcott St., Pawtucket, RI (1900) – Demolished.[63]
- Harrisville School, 201 Callahan School St., Harrisville, RI (1902) – Demolished.[64]
- Social Street School, 706 Social St., Woonsocket, RI (1902)[65]
- Clark Street School, 20 Clark St., Valley Falls, RI (1904) – Demolished.[66]
- South Woodlawn School, 54 Warren Ave., Pawtucket, RI (1904) – Demolished.[66]
- Prospect Street School, 329 Prospect St., Pawtucket, RI (1908) – Demolished.[53]
- Woonsocket Armory, 350 S. Main St., Woonsocket, RI (1913)[67]
- Central Falls Police Station and Courthouse, 507 Broad St., Central Falls, RI (1914) – Recently sold by the city.[68]
- Clubhouse, Metacomet Country Club, 500 Veterans Memorial Pkwy., East Providence, RI (1919)[69]
- Fire Station No. 3, 1384 Cranston St., Cranston, RI (1920)[70]
- Thornton School, 4 School St., Thornton, RI (1920)[71]
- North Smithfield Memorial Town Building, 1 Main St., Slatersville, RI (1921) – Portico columns have been replaced.[72]
- Arthur E. Platt School, 80 Burnside Ave., Riverside, RI (1922)[73]
- Park Theatre, 848 Park Ave., Cranston, RI (1924)[74]
- Cranston High School, 899 Park Ave., Cranston, RI (1927)[74]
- Fire Station No. 1, 131 Park Ave., Cranston, RI (1927)[75]
- Chester W. Barrows School, 9 Beachmont Ave., Cranston, RI (1928)[75][76]
- East Providence Jr. High School, 20 Whelden Ave., East Providence, RI (1929) – Now part of Taunton Plaza apartments.[52]
- Masonic Temple, 2121 Smith St., Centerdale, RI (1928)[77]
- Frank C. Angell Memorial Town Hall, 2000 Smith St., Centerdale, RI (1929)[78]
- Edward S. Rhodes School, 164 Shaw Ave., Cranston, RI (1931)[79]
- Building for Disturbed Men, 16 Wilma Schesler Ln., Rhode Island Hospital for Mental Diseases, Howard, RI (1936) – A PWA project.[42][80]
- Building for Disturbed Women, 18 Wilma Schesler Ln., Rhode Island Hospital for Mental Diseases, Howard, RI (1936) – A PWA project.[42][80]
- District 4 School, 1515 W. Shore Rd., Warwick, RI (1886)[81]
- Warwick Town Hall, 3275 Post Rd., Apponaug, RI (1893) – Now the City Hall.[82]
- Pontiac School, Pontiac, RI (1907) – Demolished.[83]
- Remodeling of Kent County Courthouse, 125 Main St., East Greenwich, RI (1909) – Now the Town Hall.
- Kentish Artillery Armory, 3259 Post Rd., Apponaug, RI (1912)[82]
- Phenix Trust Co. Building, 704 Main St., Phenix, RI (1915) – Demolished.[84]
- Buttonwoods School, 3027 W. Shore Rd., Buttonwoods, RI (1916)[85]
- Cowesett School, Cowesett, RI (1916)[85]
- Spring Green School, 65 Shippen Ave., Spring Green, RI (1916)[85]
- Apponaug School, 20 Centerville Rd., Apponaug, RI (1920)[86]
- Miriam A. Duffy School, 10 Harris Ave., Arctic, RI (1921)[87]
- Quidnick School, 191 MacArthur Blvd., Quidnick, RI (1924)[88]
- West Warwick Jr. High School, 124 Providence St., River Point, RI (1926) – Now an elementary school[89]
- Oakland Beach School, 383 Oakland Beach Ave., Oakland Beach, RI (1933) – A WPA project.[90][81]
- Nelson W. Aldrich High School, 789 Post Rd., Warwick, RI (1934) – A WPA project. Now a jr. high.[91][81]
In Bristol County, Rhode Island:
- St. Mary's R. C. Church, 645 Main St., Warren, RI (1882) – Demolished.[92]
- George Hail Free Library, 530 Main St., Warren, RI (1888)[93]
- Warren Town Hall, 514 Main St., Warren, RI (1890) – Tower shortened after 1938.[94]
- St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 5 Chapel Rd., West Barrington, RI (1891)[92]
- Walley School, 260 High St., Bristol, RI (1896)[95]
- Oliver School, 151 State St., Bristol, RI (1900)[96]
- Drownville School, Lincoln Ave. & Walnut Rd., Drownville, RI (1903) – Demolished.[66]
- Maple Avenue School, 310 Maple Ave., Barrington, RI (1919)[97]
In Washington County, Rhode Island:
- Westerly Armory, 8 Dixon St., Westerly, RI (1901)[98]
- Ashaway School, 12 Hillside Ave., Ashaway, RI (1904) – Altered.[66]
- North Kingstown High School, 99 Phillips St., Wickford, RI (1908)[99]
- Westerly Town Hall and Courthouse, 45 Broad St., Westerly, RI (1912)[67]
- Doyle House, Exeter School, Exeter, RI (1925) – Demolished.[100]
- Higgins House, Exeter School, Exeter, RI (1927) – Demolished in 2013.[101]
In Massachusetts:
- First Universalist Church, 43 N. Washington St., North Attleborough, MA (1882) – Demolished.[102][103]
- Goff Memorial Building, 124 Bay State Rd., Rehoboth, MA (1884) – Burned in 1911.[104]
- Centenary M. E. Church, 39 N. Main St., Attleboro, MA (1885) – Heavily altered.[105][106]
- William H. Smith House, 185 S. Main St., Attleboro, MA (1885)[107]
- Rebuilding after fire of Fall River City Hall, 40 S. Main St., Fall River, MA (1886) – Demolished.[8]
- Mellen House, N. Main & Franklin Sts., Fall River, MA (1888) – Burned in 1943.[10][108]
- Byron W. Anthony House, 527 Rock St., Fall River, MA (1889)[109]
- Fall River National Bank Building, 59 N. Main St., Fall River, MA (1890)[110]
- Bronson Building, 8 N. Main St., Attleboro, MA (1904)[111]
- Attleboro Armory, 91 Pine St., Attleboro, MA (1910)[112]
- Goff Memorial Building, 124 Bay State Rd., Rehoboth, MA (1915)[113]
- Empire Theatre, 166 S. Main St., Fall River, MA (1918) – Demolished.[114][115]
- Sanford Building, 1 Park St., Attleboro, MA (1918)[116]
- First National Bank Building, 19 Park St., Attleboro, MA (1925)[117]
- Smart Memorial Library, 536 Fall River Ave., Luther's Corner, MA (1932) – Now occupied by offices.[118]
- Hiram Lake Chapel, Rehoboth Village Cemetery, Bay State Rd., Rehoboth, MA (1936)[119]
In Connecticut:
- Building No. 2, 555 Norwich Ave., Ponemah Mills, Taftville, CT (1883)[120]
In Maine:
- Narragansett Hotel, 149 Beach Ave., Kennebunk, ME (1905)[121][122]
Associated architects
Several architects were educated in the office of William R. Walker & Son, including:
- Albert H. Humes, Central Falls (1881–1887)[50]
- Thomas J. Hill Pierce, Providence (1912–1913)[105]
References
- 1 2 Jordy, William H. and Christopher P. Monkhouse. Buildings on Paper: Rhode Island Architectural Drawings 1825-1945. 1982.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Woodward, Wm. McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986.
- 1 2 McGowan, Lewis and Daniel Brown. Images of America: Providence. 2006.
- ↑ American Architect and Building News 4 Aug. 1883: 54.
- ↑ Sanitary Engineer 2 Aug. 1883: 211.
- ↑ "Freemasons' Hall, Providence". Freemasons' Repository Feb. 1886: 212-217.
- ↑ Sanitary Engineer 30 Aug. 1883: 307.
- 1 2 3 Greene, Welcome Arnold. The Providence Plantations for 250 Years. 1886.
- ↑ PPS Records for 125 Hope Street
- 1 2 3 4 Greive, Robert and John P. Fernald. The Cotton Centennial, 1790–1890. 1891.
- ↑ Gillon, Edmund V. Early Ellustrations and Views of American Architecture. 1971.
- 1 2 Cady, John Hutchins. The Civic and Architectural Development of Providence. 1957.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Buildings, for the Year Ending December 31, 1886. 1886.
- ↑ South Providence, Providence: Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-P-2. 1978.
- ↑ Engineering and Building Record 6 July 1889: 84.
- ↑ Downtown Providence Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1984.
- ↑ Engineering News 1 Oct. 1896: 108.
- ↑ Brickbuilder Oct 1897: 238.
- ↑ American Architect and Building News 2 Oct. 1897: 2.
- ↑ Providence City Documents for the Year 1898. 1898.
- ↑ Engineering Record 24 Jan. 1903: 118.
- ↑ Dedication plaque
- ↑ Downtown Providence: Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-P-5. 1981.
- ↑ Annual Report of the State Auditor. 1915.
- ↑ http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6381
- ↑ American Contractor 13 June 1914: 53.
- ↑ American Contractor 5 June 1915: 71.
- ↑ "The New Majestic Theatre". Providence Magazine April 1916: 283.
- ↑ American Contractor 30 Oct. 1916: 48.
- ↑ American Contractor 1 Jan. 1916: 61.
- ↑ Sheet Metal Worker 9 Feb. 1921: 26.
- ↑ Providence Magazine Oct 1916: 663.
- ↑ American Contractor 20 May 1916: 59.
- ↑ American Contractor 3 June 1916: 36.
- ↑ American Contractor 30 Dec. 1916: 39.
- ↑ American Contractor 11 Aug. 1917: 41.
- ↑ American Contractor 22 Feb. 1919: 60.
- ↑ American Contractor 4 Oct. 1919: 62.
- ↑ Power 19 April 1921: 645.
- ↑ Domestic Engineering 27 Aug. 1921: 404.
- ↑ Engineering News-Record 1923: 172.
- 1 2 3 4 Rhode Island State-Owned Historic Properties. 1989.
- ↑ Building Sept. 1881: 162.
- ↑ American Architect and Building News 3 May 1884: 210.
- ↑ The Sanitary Engineer 2 Aug. 1883: 211.
- ↑ Quality Hill Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1986.
- ↑ Sanitary Engineer 29 May 1884: 620.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Board of Education. 1886.
- ↑ Sanitary Engineer 17 Sept. 1885: 316.
- 1 2 3 Historic Resources of Pawtucket, Rhode Island NRHP Nomination . 198?.
- ↑ East Providence Historical Society. Images of America: East Providence. 1997.
- 1 2 3 East Providence Rhode, Island: Statewide Preservation Report P-EP-1. 1976.
- 1 2 3 4 Church Hill Grammar School NRHP Nomination. 2010.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Board of Education. 1891.
- ↑ Central Falls, Rhode Island: Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-CF-1. 1978.
- ↑ Norwood Avenue Historic District NRHP Nomination. 2002.
- ↑ Historic and Architectural Resources of Cumberland, Rhode Island. 1998.
- ↑ Engineering Record 7 April 1894: 308.
- ↑ Electrical World 23 Feb. 1895: 233.
- ↑ School Journal 2 Nov. 1895: 403.
- ↑ St. Charles Borromeo Church Complex NRHP Nomination. 1983.
- ↑ Brickbuilder Feb. 1897: 41.
- ↑ Engineering News 10 May 1900: 153.
- ↑ Annual Report of the State Board of Education, January, 1903. 1903.
- ↑ Engineering Record 19 Oct. 1901: 391.
- 1 2 3 4 Annual Report of the State Board of Education, January, 1905. 1905.
- 1 2 Annual Report of the State Auditor. 1913.
- ↑ Annual Report of the State Auditor. 1915.
- ↑ American Contractor 20 Sept. 1919: 52.
- ↑ American Contractor 12 June 1920: 48.
- ↑ American Contractor 15 Nov. 1919: 49.
- ↑ Worcester Historical Museum. Landscape of Industry. 2009.
- ↑ American Contractor 21 Jan. 1922: 67.
- 1 2 Cranston, Rhode Island: Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-C-1. 1980.
- 1 2 Edgewood Historic District – Taft Estate Plat NRHP Nomination. 2003.
- ↑ Guide Officiel des Franco-Américains. 1940.
- ↑ Domestic Engineering 1927: 106.
- ↑ Historic and Architectural Resources of North Providence, Rhode Island. 1978.
- ↑ Bridgemen's Magazine 1930: 614.
- 1 2 Bridgemen's Magazine 1935: 682.
- 1 2 3 Warwick, Rhode Island: Statewide Historical Preservation Report K-W-1. 1981.
- 1 2 D'Amato, Donald A. Images of America: Warwick. 1996.
- ↑ Annual Report of the State Board of Education. 1908.
- ↑ Domestic Engineering 12 June 1915: 323.
- 1 2 3 American Contractor 17 June 1916: 78.
- ↑ American Contractor 24 April 1920: 61.
- ↑ American Contractor 4 June 1921: 63.
- ↑ Engineering News-Record 1924: 150.
- ↑ Iron Age 1926: 667.
- ↑ Bridgemen's Magazine 1931: 608.
- ↑ Bridgemen's Magazine 1932: 162.
- 1 2 St. Matthew's Episcopal Church NRHP Nomination. 1991.
- ↑ "Library History". http://www.georgehail.org/. n.d.
- ↑ Jordy, William H. Buildings of Rhode Island. 2004.
- ↑ Report of the Commissioner of Public Schools of Rhode Island, 1896. 1896.
- ↑ Simpson, Richard V. Bristol: Montaup to Poppasquash. 2002.
- ↑ American Contractor 15 Nov. 1919: 49.
- ↑ Engineering Record 6 April 1901: 337.
- ↑ Engineering and Contracting 29 May 1907: 16.
- ↑ Map catalog-2.pdf
- ↑ Domestic Engineering 1927: 100.
- ↑ American Architect and Building News 13 April 1883.
- ↑ "First Universalist Church". http://www.nattleboro.com/. n.d.
- ↑ Tilton, George H. A History of Rehoboth, Massachusetts. 1918.
- 1 2 New England Families: Geneological and Memorial. Ed. William Richard Cutter. Vol. 2. 1914.
- ↑ "Centenary United Methodist Church". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web.
- ↑ Sanitary Engineer 16 July 1885: 136.
- ↑ Electrical World 3 Nov. 1888: 247.
- ↑ "Anthony, Byron W. House". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web.
- ↑ "Fall River National Bank Building". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web.
- ↑ "Bronson Building - Attleboro Masonic Hall". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web.
- ↑ "Massachusetts National Guard Armory". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web.
- ↑ "Goff Memorial Hall". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web.
- ↑ Bridgemen's Magazine May 1917: 261.
- ↑ Report of the Chief of the Massachusetts District Police for 1918. 1919.
- ↑ American Contractor 4 May 1918: 63.
- ↑ "First Bristol County National Bank". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web.
- ↑ "Smart Memorial Library". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web.
- ↑ "Rehoboth Village Cemetery - Lake, Hiram Chapel". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web.
- ↑ Sanitary Engineer 21 June 1883: 67.
- ↑ Board of Trade Journal Feb. 1905: 503.
- ↑ Tolles, Bryant F., Jr. Summer by the Seaside. 2008.