William R. Walker & Son was an American architectural firm based in Providence, Rhode Island. From 1881 to 1936 it was led by three successive generations of the Walker family: founder William R. Walker, his son W. Howard Walker and his grandson William R. Walker II.
Firm history William R. Walker (1830 – 1905) began his architectural practice in Providence in 1864. From 1876 to 1880 he worked in partnership with Thomas J. Gould, an employee since 1868, under the name Walker & Gould. In January 1881 Walker took his son W. Howard Walker (1856 – 1922) into partnership to form the firm of William R. Walker & Son, Gould having withdrawn.The elder Walker retired in 1903 and died in 1905."Gen. William R. Walker dead," Providence Journal, March 12, 1905. W. Howard Walker was sole proprietor of the firm until 1911, when he was joined by his son, William R. Walker II (1884 – 1936). W. Howard Walker died in 1922, at which point his son took charge until his own death in 1936.William H. Jordy and Christopher P. Monkhouse, Buildings on Paper: Rhode Island Architectural Drawings, 1825-1945 (1982): 237-238. After the death of the last Walker, the firm was briefly succeeded by Rice & Arnold, the partnership of George H. Rice (1881 – 1945) and Roy F. Arnold (1884 – 1972), both draftsmen in the Walker office. Both retired during the early years of World War II and the firm was finally dissolved.“George H. Rice dead, his age 64,” Providence Journal, November 11, 1945.“Roy Franklin Arnold,” Providence Journal, June 1, 1972.
For forty years, the offices of the firm were in the Vaughan Building on Custom House Street, completed by Walker & Gould in 1879. They remained in the building even after it was gutted by fire in 1884, destroying their property."An alarming conflagration," Providence Journal, January 18, 1884. During the year-long reconstruction of the building they were located in the Daniels Building across the street."Removal," Providence Journal, January 20, 1885. In 1921 they relocated to Hall's Building on Weybosset Street, where they remained until Arnold dissolved the firm."Business" in American Contractor 42, no. 23 (June 4, 1921): 47. Throughout the firm's history, it was known for the design of public buildings including state armories, town and city halls and public schools. All of the Walkers had important political connections which enabled them to obtain these commissions. Though never the most important part of their practice, the Walkers also designed churches, private homes, commercial buildings and movie theatres, the latter of which may have grown from their experience with wide-span structures in armories.
Walker family biographies
William R. Walker
W. Howard Walker William Howard Walker (January 19, 1856 – October 19, 1922) was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He was educated in the Pawtucket public schools and at Mowry & Goff's preparatory English and Classical School in Providence before joining his father's office as a student draftsman at the age of 19. After the withdrawal of Thomas J. Gould, his father's partner, he took his place. Between his father's retirement in 1903 and his son's return from Europe in 1911, Walker was sole proprietor of the firm."Walker" in New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial 4, ed. William Richard Cutter (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915): 2274-2276.
Walker was married in 1881 to Hattie Boone Newell of Providence. They had three children, including two sons and one daughter. Like his father, Walker was prominent in the Rhode Island militia and in Freemasonry, retiring from the former in 1912 with the rank of Quartermaster General. While a sole proprietor Walker completed the Cranston Street Armory (1907) and designed the Attleboro (1910) and Woonsocket (1912) armories. He was also a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Rhode Island Philatelic Society, Sons of the American Revolution and the To Kalon Club and served two terms in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. He died at home in Providence at the age of 66 after an illness of ten months."Gen. W. H. Walker dead at his home," Providence Journal, October 20, 1922.
William R. Walker II William Russell Walker II (January 28, 1884 – September 26, 1936) was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He was educated in the Pawtucket public schools and at Brown University before transferring to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he graduated in 1910. He then spent a year abroad, studying in a Beaux-Arts atelier in Paris. He returned to Providence in 1911 and joined his father's firm. He became its head after his father's death in 1922. Like his father and grandfather, he continued the firm's focus on institutional work. In 1932 he was chosen by United States Commissioner of Education William John Cooper to be an advisory architect for school construction.
Walker was married in 1914 to Jessie Philpott of Providence. They had three children, all daughters. Unlike his father and grandfather, Walker was not affiliated with the state militia, but was prominent in masonic circles. He was also a member of the AIA, the Rhode Island Country Club and the Turks Head Club. He died at home in Providence of a heart attack at the age 52."Walker, William Russell" in National Cyclopedia of American Biography 27 (New York: James T. White & Company, 1939): 451."Brunonians Far and Near" in Brown Alumni Monthly 37, no. 4 (November, 1936): 106."William Walker, architect, dead," Providence Journal, September 27, 1936.
Legacy The Walker office was the first employer of Albert H. Humes, later a noted Pawtucket architect and Central Falls mayor, and of Franklin R. Hindle, partner in the ecclesiastical architectural firm of Murphy, Hindle & Wright.Murphy, Hindle & Wright Architects records They also employed Thomas J. Gould, former partner of William R. Walker, at the end of his career, from 1919 to 1923."Former leading architect dead," Providence Journal, September 4, 1923.
At least sixteen works completed by the firm have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and over fifty more contribute to listed historic districts.
Architectural works In Providence, Rhode Island 1881 – John E. Troup house, 477 Broadway, ProvidenceWilliam McKenzie Woodward and Edward F. Sanderson, Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources, ed. David Chase (Providence: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1986) A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Broadway–Armory Historic District. 1882 – George E. Boyden house, 20 Bainbridge Ave, ProvidenceAmerican Architect and Building News (August 4, 1883): 54. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Broadway–Armory Historic District. 1883 – Elmwood Grammar School (former), 15 Vineyard St, ProvidenceLewis McGowan and Daniel Brown, Images of America: Providence (Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2006) 1883 – St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church (former), 265 Manton Ave, ProvidenceSanitary Engineer (August 30, 1883): 307. 1884 – Frank M. Mathewson house, 224 Bowen St, ProvidenceSanitary Engineer (August 2, 1883): 211. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed College Hill Historic District. 1885 – John McAuslan house, 544 Elmwood Ave, ProvidenceRobert Greive and John P. Fernald. The Cotton Centennial, 1790-1890 (Providence: J. A. & R. A. Reid, 1891): 149-150.Edmund V. Gillon, Early Illustrations and Views of American Architecture (1971) One of Providence's most eleborate houses of the era. Demolished. 1885 – Smith Street Primary School, 400 Smith St, Providence NRHP-listed. 1886 – Atwells Avenue Fire Station, 318 Atwells Ave, ProvidenceJohn Hutchins Cady, The Civic and Architectural Development of Providence, 1636–1950 (Providence: The Book Shop, 1957) Demolished. 1886 – Covell Street School, 231 Amherst St, ProvidenceAnnual Report of the Superintendent of Public Buildings, for the Year Ending December 31, 1886 (Providence: City of Providence, 1886) NRHP-listed. 1886 – Masonic Temple, 127 Dorrance St, Providence"Freemasons' Hall, Providence" in Freemasons' Repository (February 1886): 212-217. Burned in 1896 and replaced by a building designed by Fred E. Field. 1888 – Christ Episcopal Church, 909 Eddy St, ProvidenceEngineering and Building Record (October 8, 1887): 528. Formerly NRHP-listed. Demolished in 2006. 1888 – Manton Avenue Grammar School, 917 Manton Ave, Providence Demolished in 2002. 1889 – Boston Store annex, 140 Union St, ProvidenceEngineering and Building Record (July 6, 1889): 84. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Downtown Providence Historic District. 1891 – Johnston High School (former), Killingly and Jewell Sts, ProvidenceWm. R. Walker & Son, Architectural Portfolio (New York: Architectural Engraving and Publishing Company, 1895) After the Olneyville and Silver Lake neighborhoods of Johnston were annexed to Providence, this building was used by the city as a primary school. Demolished. 1893 – James E. Sullivan house, 254 Wayland Ave, Providence A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Wayland Historic District. 1894 – Boston Store, 239 Westminster St, ProvidenceDowntown Providence Historic District NRHP Nomination (1984) Incorporating the original Boston Store, designed by Walker and completed in 1873, and the annex, completed in 1889. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Downtown Providence Historic District. 1895 – St. Joseph's Hospital, 21 Peace St, Providence Demolished. 1897 – Lederer Building, 137 Mathewson St, Providence A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Downtown Providence Historic District. 1898 – Hotel Savoy, 135 Snow St, ProvidenceBrickbuilder (October 1897): 238.American Architect and Building News (October 2, 1897): 2.Providence City Documents for the Year 1898 (Providence: City of Providence, 1898) Demolished in 1994. Formerly a contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Downtown Providence Historic District. 1900 – Estelle R. Jackson duplex, 121-123 Benevolent St, Providence A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Hope–Power–Cooke Streets Historic District. 1900 – George W. Robertson House, 242 Adelaide Ave, Providence A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Elmwood Historic District. 1904 – Caesar Misch Building, 400 Westminster St, ProvidenceEngineering Record (January 24, 1903): 118. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Downtown Providence Historic District. 1907 – Cranston Street Armory, 125 Dexter St, ProvidenceDedication plaque A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Broadway–Armory Historic District. 1911 – Hanley Building, 56 Pine St, ProvidenceWilliam McKenzie Woodward, Downtown Providence: Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-P-5, ed. David Chase and Bernard Mendillo (Providence: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1981) A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Downtown Providence Historic District. 1914 – Armory of Mounted Commands, 1051 N Main St, ProvidenceAnnual Report of the State Auditor (Providence: State of Rhode Island, 1915) The headhouse was built in 1923–1925 from plans by William G. Richards. 1914 – Carlton Theatre, 79 Mathewson St, Providence Demolished in 1954. 1915 – Avon Cinema, 260 Thayer St, ProvidenceAmerican Contractor (June 5, 1915): 71. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed College Hill Historic District. 1915 – Everett Apartments, 111 Everett Ave, Providence A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Wayland Historic District. 1916 – Esek Hopkins School, 480 Charles St, ProvidenceAmerican Contractor (October 30, 1916): 48. 1916 – Modern Theatre, 440 Westminster St, ProvidenceSheet Metal Worker (February 9, 1921): 26.Providence Magazine (October 1916): 663. Demolished in 1966. 1917 – Hotel Dreyfus, 95 Mathewson St, ProvidenceAmerican Contractor (May 20, 1916): 59.American Contractor (June 3, 1916): 36. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Downtown Providence Historic District.