User:JPRiley/Portland



Philip S. Wadsworth (September 9, 1899 – November 1, 1973) was an American architect in practice in Portland, Maine from 1930 until his death in 1973.

Life and career
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 Portland public schools and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating in 1924. He then traveled abroad and worked for architect James W. O'Connor in New York City. In 1930 Wadsworth returned to Portland, where with former classmate Royal Boston Jr. he formed the partnership of Wadsworth & Boston, architects. Boston had been previously employed by local architect John P. Thomas. In 1944 they were joined by William D. Tuttle, and the firm was known as Wadsworth, Boston & Tuttle until Tuttle withdrew in 1952.

In 1960 Wadsworth & Boston celebrated their thirtieth anniversary and were joined in partnership by architects Donald L. Dimick and Robert H. Weatherill and engineer Raymond J. Mercer. In 1965 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.

Wadsworth joined the American Institute of Architects in 1933 and was elected a Fellow in 1970. He was the third Maine, and first Portland, architect to be elected a Fellow under the modern system instituted in 1898.

Personal life
Wadsworth was married in 1941 to Elizabeth H. Laughlin. They lived in Falmouth. He died November 1, 1973 at the age of 74.

Legacy
After his death Wadsworth's firm was continued by his partners. In 1982 the firm was renamed Wadsworth, Boston, Mercer & Weatherill and it was dissolved in the 1990s.

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. 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.

Wadsworth & Boston, 1931–1944 and 1952–1965

 * 1934 – York County Courthouse, 45 Kennebunk Rd, Alfred, Maine
 * 1936 – Kenneth T. Burr house, 16 Chadwick St, Portland, Maine
 * 1938 – Gorham High School (former), 75 South St, Gorham, Maine
 * 1942 – Saco Armory (former), 75 Franklin St, Saco, Maine
 * 1953 – Scarborough High School, 11 Municipal Dr, Scarborough, Maine
 * 1955 – St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 885 Shore Rd, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
 * 1957 – Post Office Square, 400 Congress St, Portland, Maine
 * 1960 – Payson Smith Hall, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine
 * 1961 – Yarmouth High School, 286 W Elm St, Yarmouth, Massachusetts
 * 1962 – YWCA Building, 87 Spring St, Portland, Maine
 * 1965 – Luther Bonney Hall, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine
 * 1965 – John F. Kennedy Memorial School, 64 West St, Biddeford, Maine

Wadsworth, Boston & Tuttle, 1944–1952

 * 1947 – Warren Memorial Library (former), 479 Main St, Westbrook, Maine
 * 1948 – Farnsworth Art Museum, 16 Museum St, Rockland, Maine

Wadsworth, Boston, Dimick, Mercer & Weatherill, from 1965

 * 1966 – Murray Hall, University of Maine, Orono, Maine
 * 1967 – Telstar High School, 284 Walkers Mills Rd, Bethel, Maine
 * 1969 – Mountain Valley High School, 799 Hancock St, Rumford, Maine
 * 1969 – James V. Sullivan Recreation and Fitness Complex, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine
 * 1970 – Cape Elizabeth High School, 345 Ocean House Rd, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
 * 1972 – University of Maine School of Law Building, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine
 * 1978 – Wells Public Library, 1434 Post Rd, Wells, Maine
 * 1982 – Deering High School addition, 370 Stevens Ave, Portland, Maine