J. William Schickel
Encyclopedia
J. William Schickel, FAIA, (1850–1907) known professionally as William Schickel, was a German-American architect
and founder of the New York architectural firm of Schickel & Ditmars
.
in New York City
, and the next day started his New York architectural career in the offices of the renowned Richard Morris Hunt
. He became a member and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
in 1894. In 1885 he formed William Schickel & Company in association with Isaac E. Ditmars
(1850–1934) and Hugo Kafka
(1843–1913). He died June 14, 1907 in New York City. Following his death, Ditmars continued the firm.
Schickel's first commission in New York.
Schickel was hired in 1879 to design and built a replacing for the original 1867 chapel of the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer (New York City). Along with this commission came one to build a priory that would serve as the provincial
headquarters for the Dominicans in New York. The priory's intricate use of materials and its overall polychromy, characteristics of the High Victorian Gothic style popular in the late 19th century, reflect Schickel's training in Bavaria
and the strong influence there of Friedrich von Gärtner
. It was the first of many buildings Schickel would design for the New York diocese. The church was known as the "Gothic Barn" and was demolished in 1914. The priory still stands.
Among Schickel's most celebrated works were the impressive German-Baroque edifice of St. Ignatius of Loyola (1898), now on the National Register of Historic Places
, and the Neo-Gothic St. Louis's Church (1889) in Buffalo, New York
, with elements of French and German Gothic design including a pierced spire influenced by Cologne Cathedral
. His firm had long-standing ties to leading German-American families and the Roman Catholic Church
, principally building churches and ecclesiastical complexes in German-American neighborhoods. Among many other church structures in the United States, Schickel was the architect of the Most Holy Trinity Church, 138 Montrose Ave., Brooklyn, New York. The cornerstone of Most Holy Trinity was placed in 1882 and after three years of construction the church was opened in 1885.
Schickel also designed the massive St. Joseph Seminary
, Dunwoodie, NY, begun 1893 and taking five years to complete.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and founder of the New York architectural firm of Schickel & Ditmars
Schickel & Ditmars
Schickel & Ditmars was an architectural firm in New York City, active from 1885 until the early 1900s during the city's gilded age. It was responsible for many fine churches, residences, and business buildings. J. William Schickel formed the firm in 1885 as William Schickel & Company, in...
.
Life and practice
Schickel was born January 29, 1850 in Wiesbaden, Hochbein, Germany. He was a student of Wilhelm Bozler. In 1870, at the age of twenty, he emigrated to the United States, passing through Castle GardenCastle Clinton
Castle Clinton or Fort Clinton, once known as Castle Garden, is a circular sandstone fort now located in Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, New York City, in the United States. It is perhaps best remembered as America's first immigration station , where more than 8 million...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and the next day started his New York architectural career in the offices of the renowned Richard Morris Hunt
Richard Morris Hunt
Richard Morris Hunt was an American architect of the nineteenth century and a preeminent figure in the history of American architecture...
. He became a member and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
in 1894. In 1885 he formed William Schickel & Company in association with Isaac E. Ditmars
Isaac E. Ditmars
Isaac E. Ditmars, FAIA, was an Canadian-American architect and founding associate of William Schickel & Company, and directed that company as Schickel & Ditmars from 1907 into the 1920s...
(1850–1934) and Hugo Kafka
Hugo Kafka
Hugo Kafka, AIA, was an Czech-American architect and founding associate of the predecessor firm of Alfred B. Mullett & Sons, as well as William Scheckel & Company; he ran his own firm, Hugo Kafka in the early twentieth century, later renamed Hugo Kafka & Sons.-Life:Kafka was born in 1843 in...
(1843–1913). He died June 14, 1907 in New York City. Following his death, Ditmars continued the firm.
Works
The John Crimmins House at 40 East 68th Street was the German-bornGerman American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
Schickel's first commission in New York.
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
headquarters for the Dominicans in New York. The priory's intricate use of materials and its overall polychromy, characteristics of the High Victorian Gothic style popular in the late 19th century, reflect Schickel's training in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
and the strong influence there of Friedrich von Gärtner
Friedrich von Gärtner
Friedrich von Gärtner was a German architect.Gärtner and Leo von Klenze are the most well known architects of Bavaria during the reign of Ludwig I. His architecture was generally in the Romanesque style and much to the king's taste...
. It was the first of many buildings Schickel would design for the New York diocese. The church was known as the "Gothic Barn" and was demolished in 1914. The priory still stands.
Among Schickel's most celebrated works were the impressive German-Baroque edifice of St. Ignatius of Loyola (1898), now on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, and the Neo-Gothic St. Louis's Church (1889) in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, with elements of French and German Gothic design including a pierced spire influenced by Cologne Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site...
. His firm had long-standing ties to leading German-American families and the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, principally building churches and ecclesiastical complexes in German-American neighborhoods. Among many other church structures in the United States, Schickel was the architect of the Most Holy Trinity Church, 138 Montrose Ave., Brooklyn, New York. The cornerstone of Most Holy Trinity was placed in 1882 and after three years of construction the church was opened in 1885.
Schickel also designed the massive St. Joseph Seminary
St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie
St. Joseph's Seminary and College, sometimes referred to as Dunwoodie, after the Yonkers, New York neighborhood it is located in, is the major seminary of the Archdiocese of New York. Its primary mission is to form men for the priesthood in the Catholic Church...
, Dunwoodie, NY, begun 1893 and taking five years to complete.