Thomas Podmore (1859–1948) was a British-born American architect. In addition to his lengthy architectural career as an architect, Podmore is noteworthy for his experiments with the fabrication of concrete products.
Early life
Thomas Podmore was born at Cherrington, Shropshire, England in 1859, the son of a farmer, and was baptized at the nearby village of Tibberton on March 23, 1859.familysearch.org, English Births & Christenings. In 1881, he was living on St. Ann Street in Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, employed as an "architect's assistant."1881 UK Census, Stoke-upon-Trent.
Career in America
Podmore emigrated to the United States about 1883, worked for a few years in New York, then moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. There, in 1886, he joined forces with Albert Hamilton Kipp to form the architecture firm Kipp & Podmore.Wilkes-Barre Record, December 25, 1886, page 1. The firm dissolved by mutual consent at the end of 1891.Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader, December 26, 1891, page 4.
In 1903, Podmore received a patent for a "machine for molding concrete blocks,""Patents," The National Builder, November 1904, page 35. and in 1907 founded the Podmore Concrete Co., for the manufacture of concrete blocks by a method of Podmore's own devising."Notes of the Industry," Rock Products, Vol. VI, No. 10, April 22, 1907, page 48.
Podmore retired in 1928 after the completion of his last building, Sprague Memorial Hall, in Kingston, Pennsylvania.The Wilkes-Barre Record, February 3, 1948, page 13. He died in 1948.Wilkes-Barre Record, August 16, 1948
Principal architectural works Nelson Memorial Hall, Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pennsylvania, built in 1887 — as Kipp & Podmore.The Sunday Leader, September 11, 1887, page 8. Methodist Episcopal Church, Dallas, Pennsylvania, completed in 1889 — as Kipp & Podmore.Wilkes-Barre Record, June 1, 1939, page 4. Armory, Gaylord Avenue, Plymouth, Pennsylvania, built in 1891 — as Kipp & Podmore.Sunday News, June 8, 1890, page 3. State Street School, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, built in 1891 — as Kipp & Podmore.The Plymouth Tribune, October 16, 1891, page 8. St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Plymouth, Pennsylvania, built in 1893.Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader, October 18, 1893, Page 8. Wyoming Valley Country Club, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, built 1896.The Wilkes-Barre Record, October 19, 1896, page 5. W. G. Eno Residence, Ross Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, built 1899.Dollar Weekly News, December 16, 1899, page 3. J. B. Woodward Residence, Northampton Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, built 1899.Dollar Weekly News, December 16, 1899, page 3. Town Hall, Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, built 1899.The Wilkes-Barre Record, December 18, 1899, page 13. Wyoming Valley Country Club Enlargement, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, built 1903.The Wilkes-Barre Record, April 25, 1903, page 7. Grace English Lutheran Church, 500 S. Franklin St, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, dedicated May 1911.The Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (1917). R. R. M. Carpenter Residence, Wilmington Delaware, built in 1911.Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader, January 27, 1911, page 19. Wilkes-Barre Contagious Hospital, East Division Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, completed 1918.The Evening News (Wilkes-Barre), December 10, 1918, page 1. Walter S. Carpenter Jr. Residence, Wilmington, Delaware, completed in 1918.The Evening Journal (Wilmington, Delaware), June 29, 1918, page Nesbitt Memorial Athletic Field, Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pennsylvania, dedicated October 1922.The Wilkes-Barre Record, October 4, 1922, page 5. Sprague Hall, Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pennsylvania, completed in 1928.The Wilkes-Barre Record, March 21, 1928, page 17.
Gallery
See also Architecture of Plymouth, Pennsylvania List of British architects List of American architects
References