Adolphus Druiding (1838–1900) was a German-born American architect who was known for his work in creating Roman Catholic churches, schools, rectories, and convents. Druiding's work represents a significant body of German Catholic architecture in the United States between the end of the Civil War and 1900.Roy A. Hampton III, German Gothic in the Midwest: The parish Churches of Franz Georg Himpler and Adolphus Druiding
Early life and career Druiding was born May 29, 1838, in Aschendorf, a province of Hanover, Germany. He studied at the secondary school in Papenburg and at the Polytechnic School in Munich where he graduated with honors. He worked briefly at a French architect's office and then entered government service in Munich. After this he studied in Berlin under Strach, Adler, and Local. He built one church in Schoenwalde and was employed erecting government stations in the Netherlands.
Architectural practice In 1865, after completing his work in the Netherlands, Druiding came to the United States where he practiced designing Roman Catholic churches throughout the Midwest.
Druiding was noted as an aggressive businessman who was prepared to assume projects large and small. Seaton Hall Chapel article discusses Druiding aggressiveness.
Legacy Druiding was one of approximately 20 American architects involved in the design of Roman Catholic ecclesiastical architecture during the later 19th century. His church buildings have been documented in books on church architecture and are listed on some National Registers.
Works
Alabama
Cathedral of St. Paul in BirminghamSchnorrenberg, John M. (2000) Aspiration: Birmingham's Historic House of Worship. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society
Arkansas Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith
District of Columbia St. Anthony of Padua Church in Washington, D.C.
Iowa Blessed Sacrament Church in Sioux City
New York Blessed Sacrament Church in Buffalo Church of the Guardian Angel in Brooklyn Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Buffalo (now King Urban Life Center) Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Bridgehampton St. Michael Church in Rochester
Ohio
Immaculate Conception in Ottoville Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Camp Washington, Cincinnati St. Charles Borromeo Church in Carthage, Cincinnati St. Aloysius-on-the-Ohio Church in Cincinnati St. Michael Church in Cleveland St. Henry Church in Harriettsville St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Maria Stein St. Henry Catholic Church in St. Henry St. Joseph Church in Plymouth St. Lawrence Church in Cincinnati Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church inCincinnati Mt. St. Joseph Sisters of Charity Convent and Mother House in Cincinnati St. Mary's Catholic Church in Delaware Franciscan Sisters of the Poor – St. Clare Convent & Chapel near Hartwell/ Cincinnati – Springfield Township St. Patrick Church in Toledohttp://media.aeoned.org/portal/members/atticadmin/content/2644_stpatrickschurch_6347_0669_7243_8091.pdf St. Patrick Church Toledo OH
Illinois St. Hyacinth Church in Chicago (first church constructed in 1895 and replaced by much larger church by Worthmann and Steinbach) St. George Church in Chicago St. John Cantius Church in Chicago St. Hedwig Church in Chicago
Indiana St. Benedict Church in Terre Haute (destroyed by fire 1930, partially rebuilt)
Kentucky St. Peter Church in Lexington St. Stephen Church in New Port
Minnesota Saints Peter and Paul in Glencoe (now St. Pius X) Saint Michael in Prior Lake (1890) Saint Michael Church in St. Michael Saint Mary Church in Waverly
Missouri
St. Agatha Church in St. Louis Shrine of St. Joseph in St. Louis St. John Nepomuk Church in St. Louis St. Alphonsus Liguori Church in St. Louishttp://stlouis.missouri.org/government/heritage/buildtyp/p2-2.htm St. Alphonsus Liguori Church St. Peter's Churchin Jefferson City
New Jersey St. Joseph Chapel, Seton Hall University in South Orange
Pennsylvania Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Pittsburgh St. Joseph Church in Oil City St. Patrick Church, in Philadelphia
South Dakota St. Paul Church in Marty
Wisconsin St. Boniface Church in Manitowoc St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay St. Joseph's Church in Waukesha With St. Mary Oratory in Wausauhttp://www.institute-christ-king.org/wausau/ St. Mary Oratory St. Mary Church in Oshkosh St. Mary (originally “of the Immaculate Conception”) Catholic Church in Menasha St. Mary's Church in Kaukauna
References