Daniel J. Patterson
Encyclopedia
Daniel James Patterson was an American architect around the turn of the 20th century. Much of his work was done for the Southern Pacific Railroad
.
Patterson was born in Jefferson County, New York
in 1857, the second of six children born to Tomkins and Susan Patterson. His father was a carpenter by trade. He grew up in Minnesota and received his college training at the University of Minnesota. After college, he moved to Seattle, Washington to work as a draftsman for Willis Ritchie
. His most notable designs during this time in the Pacific Northwest included the Old Capitol Building
in Olympia, and the courthouses in Spokane, Whatcom, and Port Townsend. He also designed a number of public school buildings.
In 1889, Patterson moved to San Francisco to establish a practice there. His work caught the attention of the Southern Pacific Railroad which had its headquarters in San Francisco. They had him design a number of their stations and other facilities, many of which survive. Among these were the San Antonio Station
, Berkeley Station
(1906), the Salt Lake City Union Station
, the Tucson Station
, the Willits
depot, and San Bernardino Station. He was also the architect for the Union Station
(1911) in Seattle, Washington. He designed three of the SP's hospitals, in San Francisco, El Paso, and Houston. He also designed many of the railroad's industrial structures such as electrical sub-stations and the Alameda Shops
.
Although most of his work in San Francisco was done for the SP railroad, Patterson maintained his practice on behalf of other clients. One of these was himself. He designed his own home which still stands on Divisadero Street. He also designed a large 4-story house for Jeremiah and Elizabeth Burke in Berkeley, California. The house has been preserved as the landmarked Burke House which has served for many years as the home of the Judah L. Magnes Museum
, a museum of Jewish history in the American west.
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
.
Patterson was born in Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
in 1857, the second of six children born to Tomkins and Susan Patterson. His father was a carpenter by trade. He grew up in Minnesota and received his college training at the University of Minnesota. After college, he moved to Seattle, Washington to work as a draftsman for Willis Ritchie
Willis Ritchie
Willis Alexander Ritchie was an architect whose career began in Ohio and Kansas, but reached maturity in Seattle and Spokane, Washington...
. His most notable designs during this time in the Pacific Northwest included the Old Capitol Building
Old Capitol Building
The Old Capitol Building is a building in Olympia, Washington. Designed by Willis A. Ritchie, it was built 1890–1892 as the Thurston County Courthouse, and served 1905–1928 as the state capitol, seat of the legislature of Washington; in 1928 the legislature moved to the current Capitol Building...
in Olympia, and the courthouses in Spokane, Whatcom, and Port Townsend. He also designed a number of public school buildings.
In 1889, Patterson moved to San Francisco to establish a practice there. His work caught the attention of the Southern Pacific Railroad which had its headquarters in San Francisco. They had him design a number of their stations and other facilities, many of which survive. Among these were the San Antonio Station
San Antonio Station
San Antonio Station serves as the Amtrak train station in San Antonio, Texas. It serves two Amtrak lines; the Sunset Limited and the Texas Eagle...
, Berkeley Station
Berkeley Station
Berkeley Station was the name of the principal railroad station in Berkeley, California from 1878 to 1911. It was located in what is now downtown Berkeley, on Shattuck Avenue between University Avenue and Center Street. The tract is today occupied by Shattuck Square and Berkeley Square...
(1906), the Salt Lake City Union Station
Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot
The Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot is a spacious building on the western edge of downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Built from 1908 to 1909, it harkens back to a more prosperous era in the history of American railroad travel...
, the Tucson Station
Tucson (Amtrak station)
Amtrak serves the Tucson depot three times a week with the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle.The depot was built in 1907 by the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was designed by the SP's architect, Daniel J. Patterson who designed a number of depots during the same era, including the San Antonio Station....
, the Willits
Willits, California
Willits is a city in Mendocino County, California, United States. Willits is located north-northwest of Ukiah, at an elevation of 1391 feet . The population was 4,888 at the 2010 census, down from 5,073 at the 2000 census. Willits is at the center of Mendocino County and its redwood forests...
depot, and San Bernardino Station. He was also the architect for the Union Station
Union Station (Seattle)
Union Station is a former train station in Seattle, Washington, USA, constructed between 1910 and 1911 to serve the Union Pacific Railroad and the Milwaukee Road. It was originally named Oregon and Washington Station, after a subsidiary line of the Union Pacific. Located at the corner of S. Jackson...
(1911) in Seattle, Washington. He designed three of the SP's hospitals, in San Francisco, El Paso, and Houston. He also designed many of the railroad's industrial structures such as electrical sub-stations and the Alameda Shops
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
.
Although most of his work in San Francisco was done for the SP railroad, Patterson maintained his practice on behalf of other clients. One of these was himself. He designed his own home which still stands on Divisadero Street. He also designed a large 4-story house for Jeremiah and Elizabeth Burke in Berkeley, California. The house has been preserved as the landmarked Burke House which has served for many years as the home of the Judah L. Magnes Museum
Judah L. Magnes Museum
The Judah L. Magnes Museum is a museum of Jewish history, art, and culture in Berkeley, California. It was founded in 1962 by Seymour and Rebecca Fromer and named for Jewish activist Rabbi Judah L. Magnes, a native of Oakland...
, a museum of Jewish history in the American west.