User:JPRiley/Portland
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Philip S. Wadsworth | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 9, 1899 |
| Died | November 1, 1973 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | United States |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | FAIA |
Philip S. Wadsworth FAIA (1899–1973) was an American architect in practice in Portland, Maine from 1930 to 1973.
Life and career[edit]
Philip Shirley Wadsworth was born September 9, 1899 in Portland, Maine to Wendell Franklin Wadsworth and Carrie Belle (McIntyre) Wadsworth. He was educated in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating in 1924. He traveled abroad and worked for architect James W. O'Connor in New York City before returning to Portland in 1930 where he opened his own office. In 1931 he formed the firm of Wadsworth & Boston with his former classmate Royal Boston Jr., then a member of the office of John P. Thomas.[1][2] In 1944 they were joined by William D. Tuttle, and the firm was known as Wadsworth, Boston & Tuttle until Tuttle left in 1952.[3] In 1960 Wadsworth and Boston were joined in partnership by architects Donald L. Dimick and Robert H. Weatherill and engineer Raymond J. Mercer.[4] Later in the decade Boston retired and the firm was renamed Wadsworth, Boston, Dimick, Mercer & Weatherill. During this later period Wadsworth's firm completed their best-known work, the University of Maine School of Law Building in Portland, designed by Wadsworth and Dimick and completed in 1972. This controversial building is a rare example of Brutalist architecture in Maine and is planned to be demolished by the university.[5]
Wadsworth joined the American Institute of Architects in 1933 and was elected a Fellow in 1970.[6]
Personal life[edit]
Wadsworth was married in 1941 to Elizabeth H. Laughlin. They lived in Falmouth. He died November 1, 1973 at the age of 74.
Legacy[edit]
Wadsworth was noted for his modern versions of traditional revival styles, especially the Colonial Revival style. The Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, designed by Wadsworth, Boston & Tuttle, is noted as a modernized version of the Greek Revival style, in keeping with the simple buildings of the neighboring Farnsworth homestead.[7] He was also a leader in the development of local modern architecture, his Union Mutual Building, later Post Office Square, being the first large modern building in Portland.
Several of his works contribute to historic districts listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places.
Architectural works[edit]
- York County Courthouse,[a] 45 Kennebunk Rd, Alfred, Maine (1933–34)[2]
- Kenneth T. Burr house,[b] 16 Chadwick St, Portland, Maine (1936)[8]
- Gorham High School (former),[c] 75 South St, Gorham, Maine (1938)[9]
- Saco Armory (former),[d] 75 Franklin St, Saco, Maine (1941–42)[10]
- Farnsworth Art Museum, 16 Museum St, Rockland, Maine (1946–48)[2]
- Warren Memorial Library (former), 479 Main St, Westbrook, Maine (1947)[11]
- Scarborough High School, 11 Municipal Dr, Scarborough, Maine (1953)[11]
- Post Office Square, 400 Congress St, Portland, Maine (1955)[12]
- YWCA Building, 87 Spring St, Portland, Maine (1960, demolished 2007)[13]
- Yarmouth High School, 286 W Elm St, Yarmouth, Massachusetts (1961)[13]
- Luther Bonney Hall, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine (1965)[14]
- Murray Hall, University of Maine, Orono, Maine (1966)[15]
- Telstar High School, 284 Walkers Mills Rd, Bethel, Maine (1967)[12]
- James V. Sullivan Recreation and Fitness Complex, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine (1968–69)[14]
- Cape Elizabeth High School, 345 Ocean House Rd, Cape Elizabeth, Maine (1970)[12]
- University of Maine School of Law Building, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine (1972)[14]
- Wells Public Library, 1434 Post Rd, Wells, Maine (1977–78)[16]
- Deering High School addition, 370 Stevens Ave, Portland, Maine (1981–82)
See also[edit]
- Wadsworth and Boston architectural drawings and records collection, Maine Historical Society
Notes[edit]
- ^ A contributing resource to the Alfred Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1983.
- ^ A contributing resource to the Western Promenade Historic District, NRHP-listed in 1984.
- ^ Presently (2022) the Gorham Municipal Center.
- ^ Presently (2022) the Saco Community Center.
References[edit]
- ^ "Wadsworth, Philip Shirley" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 580.
- ^ a b c "Wadsworth, Philip Shirley" in Who's Who in America (Chicago: Marquis Who's Who Inc., 1974): 3182.
- ^ "Tuttle, William Dana" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 569.
- ^ "Dimick-Mercer-Weatherill Join Portland Firm" in New England Architect and Builder 4, no. 24 (December, 1960): 11.
- ^ Archer Thomas, "Saying Goodbye to the UMaine School of Law Building," Greater Portland Landmarks, August 10, 2021. Accessed October 5, 2022.
- ^ "AIA Fellows" in New England Architect 1, no. 3 (June, 1970): 18-21.
- ^ Pamela J. Belanger, Maine in America: American Art at the Farnsworth Art Museum (Lebanon: University Press of New England, 2000)
- ^ Western Promenade Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1984)
- ^ Engineering News-Record 121, no. 14 (October 6, 1938): 56.
- ^ Maine state reports
- ^ a b "Boston, Royal Jr." in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 54.
- ^ a b c "Wadsworth, Philip Shirley" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 954–955.
- ^ a b "Boston, Royal Jr." in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1962): 69.
- ^ a b c Campus Descriptions—Portland, University of Southern Maine.
- ^ Department of Zoology (University of Maine) Records, 1873-1997, University of Maine.
- ^ History of the Wells Public Library, Wells Public Library.