John Rochester Thomas
Encyclopedia
John Rochester Thomas was an American architect
credited in his time with being the nation's most prolific designer of public and semi-public buildings.
His work was characterized by originality, moderation and dignity, according to The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography
of 1899: "Judged by the artistic quality of his work and by his achievements in accomplishing repeatedly what others have declared impossible, he well deserves the title of America's leading architect."
Among his works are college buildings, prisons, armories, dozens of churches, and New York's Surrogate's Courthouse
, his early 20th century Beaux Arts masterpiece based on his award-winning plan for a new City Hall that was never constructed.
on June 18, 1848, where he was educated in the city's schools until 1862, when his father's business failure obliged him to seek employment.
He decided to become an architect and entered the office of Merwin Austin of Rochester, subsequently pursuing a university course under the direction of Dr. Martin Brewer Anderson, president of the University of Rochester
. After spending some time studying the architecture of European countries, Thomas entered professional practice in Rochester in 1868.
In 1877 he married Julia Hortense. They had four daughters and one son.
.
In 1874 Gov. John A. Dix
appointed him architect and sole commissioner for the erection of the state reformatory at Elmira
, under a special law. This was the first instance in New York
where this method of fixing individual responsibility had been tried. He was retained in office by Gov. Samuel J. Tilden
, and saved the state about $1,000,000. The reformatory prison erected was considered a model the world over.
. In the combined armories of the 71st Regiment and 2d Battery (1893) he accomplished a feat never before attempted — the construction of two drill rooms, one above the other, free from all columns, 150 by 200 feet (46 x 61 m) in area.
In rebuilding the New York stock exchange
in 1886, Thomas successfully used an iron plate girder 102 feet long (31 m) in order to dispense with columns in the large board room, against the judgment of other experts. It was in this stock exchange work that the first iron caisson construction work was used in connection with building foundations.
In the Hays Building on Maiden Lane
he first used the cantilever girder construction for distributing the load on the foundations, a system thereafter very much in vogue.
at Seneca Lake, New York
, one of the largest in the country (1872); the New Jersey State Reformatory at Rahway (1899); and the Eastern New York Reformatory
, near Ellenville
(1899).
Probably his most popular work was the picturesque 1895 8th regiment and squadron "A" armory
, in red brick and red terra cotta, which was called one of the ornaments of New York. The building originally took up an entire city block but only the Madison Avenue facade still stands today.
on West 57th Street and the Reformed Low Dutch Church of Harlem (1887; now Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Church) on Lenox Avenue at 123rd Street in New York, are highly picturesque. He also designed the First Baptist Church
of Lynchburg, Virginia.
, William R. Ware of Columbia College, and Edward H. Kendall
. The state legislature subsequently forbade the city authorities to remove the old city hall
, thus preventing the erection of the contemplated building. This action led to a proposal for the erection of a new Hall of Records
on an adjoining site, budgeted at $5,000,000, intended in its construction and art details to be equal to the best that could be produced.
Thomas adapted his design and construction began in 1899, but was incomplete when Thomas died in 1901. The building was completed by Horgan & Slattery at a total cost in excess of $7,000,000. It opened in 1907. The building contains one of the city's finest Beaux Arts interiors.
; the Architectural League; the Sculpture Society
; the National Arts Club
; the Manhattan Club, and the executive committee of the New York Prison Association. He was also a member of the Kane Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons.
Although still a resident of New York City, he died at Westminster Park, New York, in the Thousand Islands
, on August 28, 1901.
This article incorporates public domain material from The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography
.
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...
credited in his time with being the nation's most prolific designer of public and semi-public buildings.
His work was characterized by originality, moderation and dignity, according to The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography
The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography
The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography is a multi-volume collection of biographical articles and portraits of Americans, published since the 1890s. The primary method of data collection was by sending questionnaires to subjects or their relatives. It has over 60,000 entries, in 63...
of 1899: "Judged by the artistic quality of his work and by his achievements in accomplishing repeatedly what others have declared impossible, he well deserves the title of America's leading architect."
Among his works are college buildings, prisons, armories, dozens of churches, and New York's Surrogate's Courthouse
Surrogate's Courthouse
The Surrogate's Courthouse, also known as the Hall of Records, is a Beaux Arts municipal building in lower Manhattan in New York City....
, his early 20th century Beaux Arts masterpiece based on his award-winning plan for a new City Hall that was never constructed.
Early life
Thomas was born in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
on June 18, 1848, where he was educated in the city's schools until 1862, when his father's business failure obliged him to seek employment.
He decided to become an architect and entered the office of Merwin Austin of Rochester, subsequently pursuing a university course under the direction of Dr. Martin Brewer Anderson, president of the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
. After spending some time studying the architecture of European countries, Thomas entered professional practice in Rochester in 1868.
In 1877 he married Julia Hortense. They had four daughters and one son.
Buildings
Notable buildings erected between 1870 and 1880 include Sibley Hall of Rochester University, the buildings of the Rochester Theological Seminary, and the natural history building of the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
In 1874 Gov. John A. Dix
John Adams Dix
John Adams Dix was an American politician from New York. He served as Secretary of the Treasury, U.S. Senator, and the 24th Governor of New York. He was also a Union major general during the Civil War.-Early life and career:...
appointed him architect and sole commissioner for the erection of the state reformatory at Elmira
Elmira Correctional Facility
Elmira Correctional Facility, known otherwise as "the Hill", is a maximum security prison located in New York in the USA. The prison is located in Chemung County, New York in the City of Elmira...
, under a special law. This was the first instance in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where this method of fixing individual responsibility had been tried. He was retained in office by Gov. Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel Jones Tilden was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency in the disputed election of 1876, one of the most controversial American elections of the 19th century. He was the 25th Governor of New York...
, and saved the state about $1,000,000. The reformatory prison erected was considered a model the world over.
Innovations
In 1882 Thomas moved to New York cityNew 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...
. In the combined armories of the 71st Regiment and 2d Battery (1893) he accomplished a feat never before attempted — the construction of two drill rooms, one above the other, free from all columns, 150 by 200 feet (46 x 61 m) in area.
In rebuilding the New York stock exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
in 1886, Thomas successfully used an iron plate girder 102 feet long (31 m) in order to dispense with columns in the large board room, against the judgment of other experts. It was in this stock exchange work that the first iron caisson construction work was used in connection with building foundations.
In the Hays Building on Maiden Lane
Maiden Lane (Manhattan)
Maiden Lane is an east-west street in the Financial District of the New York City borough of Manhattan. Its eastern terminus is at South Street, near the South Street Seaport...
he first used the cantilever girder construction for distributing the load on the foundations, a system thereafter very much in vogue.
Prisons and armories
In addition to the Elmira reformatory, Thomas was architect for the Willard AsylumWillard Asylum for the Chronic Insane
The Willard Asylum for the Chronic Insane is a building complex in Willard, New York, near Seneca Lake. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975....
at Seneca Lake, New York
Seneca Lake, New York
Seneca Lake is the largest of the glacial Finger Lakes of the U.S. state of New York, and the deepest lake entirely within the state. It is promoted as being the lake trout capital of the world, and is host of the National Lake Trout Derby. Because of its depth, Seneca Lake has been a testing site...
, one of the largest in the country (1872); the New Jersey State Reformatory at Rahway (1899); and the Eastern New York Reformatory
Eastern Correctional Facility
The Eastern Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison in New York in the USA. The prison is in Ulster County, New York. The prison was at one time called the "State Institution for Male Defective Delinquents". The Delaware and Hudson Canal, and later the New York, Ontario and Western...
, near Ellenville
Ellenville, New York
Ellenville is a village in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 4,135 at the 2010 census. The postal ZIP code is 12428. The telephone exchange is predominantly 647 and an overlaid 210 in the 845 area code.- Geography :...
(1899).
Probably his most popular work was the picturesque 1895 8th regiment and squadron "A" armory
Squadron A Armory
The Squadron A Armory is a former United States Army armory and the homebase of Squadron A. It took up the whole block between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue, between 94th and 95th Street. It was therefore also known as the Madison Avenue Armory...
, in red brick and red terra cotta, which was called one of the ornaments of New York. The building originally took up an entire city block but only the Madison Avenue facade still stands today.
Churches
More than 150 churches have been erected from his designs. Some of his city churches, such as the now-demolished Calvary Baptist ChurchCalvary Baptist Church (Manhattan)
Calvary Baptist Church is located at 123 West 57th Street between the Avenue of the Americas and Seventh Avenue, near Carnegie Hall in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is an independent, non-affiliated church. The senior pastor is Rev. David Paul Epstein, the brother of television personality...
on West 57th Street and the Reformed Low Dutch Church of Harlem (1887; now Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Church) on Lenox Avenue at 123rd Street in New York, are highly picturesque. He also designed the First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church (Lynchburg, Virginia)
The First Baptist Church, a historic Baptist church located at Lynchburg, Virginia. It is built of hard-pressed red brick on a rough granite foundation. The main facade of the church, facing Eleventh Street, and the two sides are centered...
of Lynchburg, Virginia.
Surrogate's Courthouse
In February 1896 the municipal building commission of New York city awarded first prize to Thomas, out of 133 designs submitted to them from all over the world for a new city hall, involving an outlay of $25,000,000. The prize included his employment as architect for the building. The terms of the competition were made purposely attractive in order to attract the best architectural talent, and were prepared by a body of experts composed of Richard M. HuntRichard Morris Hunt
Richard Morris Hunt was an American architect of the nineteenth century and a preeminent figure in the history of American architecture...
, William R. Ware of Columbia College, and Edward H. Kendall
Edward H. Kendall
Edward Hale Kendall was an American architect with a practice in New York City.Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Kendall was one of the first generation of Americans to study in Paris; he apprenticed in the office of the construction engineer Gridley James Fox Bryant, Boston...
. The state legislature subsequently forbade the city authorities to remove the old city hall
New York City Hall
New York City Hall is located at the center of City Hall Park in the Civic Center area of Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA, between Broadway, Park Row, and Chambers Street. The building is the oldest City Hall in the United States that still houses its original governmental functions, such as...
, thus preventing the erection of the contemplated building. This action led to a proposal for the erection of a new Hall of Records
Surrogate's Courthouse
The Surrogate's Courthouse, also known as the Hall of Records, is a Beaux Arts municipal building in lower Manhattan in New York City....
on an adjoining site, budgeted at $5,000,000, intended in its construction and art details to be equal to the best that could be produced.
Thomas adapted his design and construction began in 1899, but was incomplete when Thomas died in 1901. The building was completed by Horgan & Slattery at a total cost in excess of $7,000,000. It opened in 1907. The building contains one of the city's finest Beaux Arts interiors.
Publications
In November 1883 Thomas read a paper on "Church Architecture" before a conference of clergymen in Boston. This was followed in October 1891 by The History of Prison Architecture, read before the National Prison Association of the United States at their annual congress at Pittsburgh, which was universally adopted as the standard. An article on proposed legislation restricting the height of buildings in New York city was read before the New York Chamber of Commerce in 1896.Civic associations
Thomas was a member of the chamber of commerce; the New York Yacht ClubNew York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
; the Architectural League; the Sculpture Society
National Sculpture Society
Founded in 1893, the National Sculpture Society was the first organization of professional sculptors formed in the United States. The purpose of the organization was to promote the welfare of American sculptors, although its founding members included several renowned architects. The founding...
; the National Arts Club
National Arts Club
The National Arts Club is a private club in Gramercy Park, New York City, New York, USA. It was founded in 1898 to "stimulate, foster, and promote public interest in the arts and to educate the American people in the fine arts". Since 1906 the organization has occupied the Samuel J...
; the Manhattan Club, and the executive committee of the New York Prison Association. He was also a member of the Kane Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons.
Although still a resident of New York City, he died at Westminster Park, New York, in the Thousand Islands
Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands is the name of an archipelago of islands that straddle the Canada-U.S. border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for about downstream from Kingston, Ontario. The Canadian islands are in the province of Ontario, the...
, on August 28, 1901.
Footnotes
The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography
The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography is a multi-volume collection of biographical articles and portraits of Americans, published since the 1890s. The primary method of data collection was by sending questionnaires to subjects or their relatives. It has over 60,000 entries, in 63...
.