William R. Walker (architect)

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William Russell Walker
Born(1830-04-14)April 14, 1830
Seekonk, Massachusetts, US
DiedMarch 11, 1905(1905-03-11) (aged 74)
Alma materScholfield's Commercial College
OccupationArchitect
SpouseEliza B. Hall
PracticeWilliam R. Walker & Son
Walker & Gould
BuildingsRobinson Hall,
Equitable Building,
Northbridge Memorial Town Hall

Robinson Hall, Brown University, 1876.

William R. Walker (April 14, 1830 – March 11, 1905) was an American architect from Providence, Rhode Island, who was later the senior partner of William R. Walker & Son.

Early life[edit]

Major-General William Russell Walker was born on April 14, 1830, in a part of Seekonk, Massachusetts that is presently part of East Providence, Rhode Island, to Alfred and Huldah Walker. He attended the public schools, and graduated from the Seekonk Classical Seminary in 1846. For three years he was a builder's apprentice in Providence, and studied architectural drawing at Scholfield's Commercial College in his free time. In 1850 he went to Augusta, Georgia, but returned to Pawtucket the following year, where he would live for the rest of his life. In 1861 he was commissioned first lieutenant of Company E of the 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia. The regiment mustered out three months later in August.[1]

Architectural career[edit]

In 1864, Walker established himself as an architect in Providence's Merchants Bank Building,[1] moving to the Reynolds Building (37 Weybosset) by 1871.[2] In 1874 his son, W. Howard Walker, entered the office as a student and draftsman.[3] Walker practiced alone until January 1876, when he made Thomas J. Gould, draftsman since 1868, partner in Walker & Gould.[4] In about 1878, Walker & Gould moved into their new Vaughan Building, on Custom House Street. Walker & Gould was dissolved as of January 1881, and the Walkers formed a new firm, William R. Walker & Son. Gould established Gould & Angell with Frank W. Angell, another Walker draftsman. During the 1880s to 1890s, Walker & Son grew to become one of the state's largest firms.

Walker continued in his position as senior partner until his death in 1905. His son (died 1922) and grandson (died 1936) each operated the firm until their deaths.[5]

Personal life[edit]

In 1852, Walker married Eliza B. Hall, who died in 1895. They had two children, George Clinton (1853-1883) and William Howard (1856-1922), the latter of whom was associated with him in his business.[1]

Walker was politically active. He was a member of the North Providence town council, as well as that of Pawtucket when it incorporated as an independent town, and served two terms in the Rhode Island general assembly. He was active in the state militia for twenty years, retiring with the rank of major-general. It was through his many political connections that Walker obtained so many public commissions throughout the state.[1]

Walker died on March 11, 1905. He is buried at Swan Point Cemetery.[6]

Selected works[edit]

William R. Walker, 1864-1875[edit]

Walker & Gould, 1876-1880[edit]

Gallery[edit]

  • Pawtucket Hair Cloth Mill, Central Falls. 1864.
    Pawtucket Hair Cloth Mill, Central Falls. 1864.
  • Equitable Building, Providence. 1872.
    Equitable Building, Providence. 1872.
  • Cedar Hill, Warwick. 1872.
    Cedar Hill, Warwick. 1872.
  • Bell Street Chapel, Providence. 1875.
    Bell Street Chapel, Providence. 1875.
  • Music Hall, Danielson, Connecticut. 1876.
    Music Hall, Danielson, Connecticut. 1876.
  • First Baptist Church, East Providence. 1879.
    First Baptist Church, East Providence. 1879.
  • Nicholson File Office Building, Providence. 1880.
    Nicholson File Office Building, Providence. 1880.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Grieve, Robert. An Illustrated History of Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Vicinity. 1897.
  2. ^ Providence Directory. 1871.
  3. ^ Greive, Robert and John P. Fernald. The Cotton Centennial, 1790-1890. 1891.
  4. ^ American Architect and Building News 16 Feb. 1884: 75.
  5. ^ a b Jordy, William H. and Christopher P. Monkhouse. Buildings on Paper: Rhode Island Architectural Drawings, 1825-1945. 1982.
  6. ^ "The Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries Transcription Project" (PDF). The Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries Transcription Project. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  7. ^ Historic Resources of Central Falls, Rhode Island. n.d.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Woodward, Wm. McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986.
  9. ^ Yarnall, James L. Newport Through its Architecture. 2005.
  10. ^ a b c New England Families: Genealogical and Memorial. Ed. William R. Cutter. Vol. 4. 1915.
  11. ^ Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island. Vol. 1. 1908.
  12. ^ South Providence, Providence: Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-P-2. 1978.
  13. ^ Warwick, Rhode Island: Statewide Preservation Report K-W-1. 1981.
  14. ^ "Davis, Isaac House". mhc-macris.net. n.d.
  15. ^ Pawtucket, Rhode Island: Statewide Preservation Report P-PA-1. 1978.
  16. ^ History of the State of Rhode Island with Illustrations. 1878.
  17. ^ a b c d e New England Families: Genealogical and Memorial. Ed. William R. Cutter. Vol. 2. 1913.
  18. ^ Johnson, Elizabeth J., James L. Wheaton, and Susan L. Reed. Images of America: Pawtucket. Vol. 2. 1996.
  19. ^ Lanpher, Bob, Dorothea Donnelly, and George Cunningham. Images of America: North Attleborough. 1998.
  20. ^ "Northbridge Town Hall". mhc-macris.net. n.d.
  21. ^ Historic and Architectural Resources of Narragansett, Rhode Island. 1991.
  22. ^ Tolles, Bryant F., Jr. Summer by the Seaside: The Architecture of New England Coastal Resort Hotels 1820-1950. 2008.
  23. ^ Builder and Wood-Worker Dec. 1880: 1880.
  24. ^ American Architect and Building News 21 Oct. 1876.
  25. ^ Boston Post, February 18, 1878, page 2.
  26. ^ Richardson, Erastus. History of Woonsocket. 1876.
  27. ^ American Architect and Building News 6 April 1878.
  28. ^ New England Families: Genealogical and Memorial. Ed. William R. Cutter. Vol. 3. 1914.
  29. ^ Greene, Welcome Arnold. The Providence Plantations for 250 Years. 1886.
  30. ^ American Architect and Building News 13 Oct. 1877.
  31. ^ American Architect and Building News 20 Jan. 1877: 21.
  32. ^ a b Cady, John Hutchins. The Civic and Architectural Development of Providence, 1636-1950. 1957.
  33. ^ Historic Resources of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. n.d.
  34. ^ American Architect and Building News 14 Dec. 1878.
  35. ^ Phillipsdale Historic District NRHP Nomination. 2011.
  36. ^ a b East Providence, Rhode Island: Statewide Preservation Report P-EP-1. 1976.
  37. ^ "Young, Charles P. House". mhc-macris.net. n.d.
  38. ^ American Architect and Building News 28 March 1880: 124.
  39. ^ American Architect and Building News 28 Feb. 1880: 88.
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