Adolf Scherrer (August 30, 1847 – February 13, 1925) was a Swiss-born American architect. He practiced architecture in Indianapolis from 1880 until his retirement . As the successor to architect Edwin May he was responsible for completing May's Indiana State House before going on to have a notable career of his own.
Early life and professional career Adolf Scherrer, sometimes referred to as Adolph, was born August 30, 1847, in St. Gallen, Switzerland. He studied architecture in Vienna and Budapest before immigrating to the United States in 1870. After landing at New York City he went to Chicago, where he lived for two years. In 1872 he settled in Indianapolis and joined the office of architect Edwin May as a drafter. In 1878 May was awarded the contract to design the Indiana State House (1888), the planning of which occupied the next two years, but he died unexpectedly in February 1880 before construction was begun. Scherrer was appointed supervising architect in his place and completed the building eight years later.Connie J. Zeigler, "Adolf Scherrer," Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, February 2021. Accessed October 30, 2025."Pioneer architect of city is dead; Adolph Scherrer drafted plans for State Capitol and other buildings," Indianapolis Star, February 14, 1925, 1 and 3.
Scherrer's notable works include the Old Pathology Building (1895, NRHP-listed) and the Benjamin Franklin Public School Number 36 (1896, NRHP-listed) in Indianapolis and the Tipton County Courthouse and associated jail (1895, NRHP-listed) in Tipton. After the turn of the century Scherrer was joined by his sons, J. Anton and Herman A. Scherrer, who had been educated at Columbia University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, respectively."H. A. Scherrer services to be held Tuesday," Indianapolis News, February 17, 1941, 5."Anton Scherrer, noted architect-writer, dies," Indianapolis Star, January 9, 1960, 1 and 4. Their collaborative works include the Maennerchor Hall (1906, demolished 1974), Rink's Womens Apparel Store (1910, NRHP-listed) and the Independent Turnverein (1914, NRHP-listed) all in Indianapolis. Late in his career, Scherrer's reputation was such that he was the only midwestern architect invited to compete to design what are now the Unruh Building and Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building (1928) in Sacramento, California, which was won by Weeks & Day of San Francisco.William C. Hays, "The Sacramento State Buildings competition" in Architect and Engineer of California 55, no. 1 (October 1918): 39-62.
About 1919 Scherrer suffered a stroke which forced his retirement. His sons continued the firm under his name until their joint retirement in 1929 to pursue other interests. Their works include the former Cathedral High School (1927) and St. Patrick's Catholic Church (1929), both in Indianapolis.
Personal life and death In 1891 mayor Thomas L. Sullivan appointed Scherrer to the first Indianapolis Board of Public Works, which was organized to develop the city sewage system. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Indianapolis Maennerchor and the Indianapolis Architects Association and was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
Scherrer was married in 1877 to Emma Aneshaensel. They had two children, both sons. He died February 13, 1925, at home in Indianapolis at the age of 77.
He was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Architectural works 1885 – Gate and waiting station, Crown Hill Cemetery, IndianapolisWayne L. Sanford and Jessica Erin Fischer, "Crown Hill Cemetery," Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, March 2021. Accessed October 30, 2025. NRHP-listed. 1895 – Old Pathology Building, Central State Hospital, IndianapolisKatherine Mandusic McDonell and Jessica Erin Fischer, "Indiana Medical History Museum," Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, March 2021. Accessed October 30, 2025. As of 2025, the Indiana Medical History Museum. NRHP-listed. 1895 – Tipton County Courthouse, 101 E Jefferson St, Tipton, Indiana NRHP-listed. 1895 – Tipton County Jail, 203 S West St, Tipton, Indiana NRHP-listed. 1896 – Benjamin Franklin Public School Number 36 (former), 2801 N Capitol Ave, Indianapolis NRHP-listed. 1897 – Indianapolis Police Department headquarters, 35 S Alabama Ave, Indianapolis Demolished. 1906 – Maennerchor Hall, N Illinois and W Michigan Sts, Indianapolis Demolished in 1974. 1910 – Rink's Womens Apparel Store, 29 N Illinois St, Indianapolis NRHP-listed. 1914 – Independent Turnverein, 902 N Meridian St, IndianapolisConnie J. Zeigler and William L. Selm, "Independent Turnverein Building," Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, March 2021. Accessed October 30, 2025. NRHP-listed. 1916 – Old National Bank Building, 20 Main St, Evansville, Indiana"Architecture of Old State Bank building shows character, solidity and security," Evansville Journal-News, July 23, 1916, 4. Designed by Adolf Scherrer, architect, with Shopbell & Company, associate architects. Demolished. 1927 – Cathedral High School, 1400 N Meridian St, Indianapolis 1929 – St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 950 Prospect St, Indianapolis
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