Richard A. Waite
Encyclopedia
Richard A. Waite was a British
-born American
architect in the late 19th century.
Richard Waite's father arrived in America
in 1856 with his wife and children and settled in Buffalo, New York
to work in a printing company. His son Richard, like many early architects, learned building design as an apprentice. He studied mechanical engineering under John Ericsson
, the inventor of the Civil War
ironclad USS Monitor
.
He continued his studies in New York
after 1871 and returned to Buffalo in 1874 as a fully trained architect. In 1876, he made architectural history by hiring Louise Blanchard Bethune
as a draftsman. She went on to become the first professional woman architect in the United States.
Although Waite built many homes in the Buffalo
area, some of his best-known commissions were in Canada
and Scotland
.
A list of some of Waite's accomplishments:
Mr. Waite also helped design the Oliver Opera House in South Bend, Indiana. This opera house was built by James and Joseph Doty Oliver, both founders of the Oliver Chilled Plow Works located in South Bend, Indiana. James Oliver was the inventor of the Chilled Plow.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
architect in the late 19th century.
Richard Waite's father arrived in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1856 with his wife and children and settled 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...
to work in a printing company. His son Richard, like many early architects, learned building design as an apprentice. He studied mechanical engineering under John Ericsson
John Ericsson
John Ericsson was a Swedish-American inventor and mechanical engineer, as was his brother Nils Ericson. He was born at Långbanshyttan in Värmland, Sweden, but primarily came to be active in England and the United States...
, the inventor of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
ironclad USS Monitor
USS Monitor
USS Monitor was the first ironclad warship commissioned by the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She is most famous for her participation in the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862, the first-ever battle fought between two ironclads...
.
He continued his studies 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...
after 1871 and returned to Buffalo in 1874 as a fully trained architect. In 1876, he made architectural history by hiring Louise Blanchard Bethune
Louise Blanchard Bethune
Louise Bethune , born Jennie Louise Blanchard in Waterloo, New York, was the first American woman known to have worked as a professional architect. The Blanchard family moved to Buffalo, New York when Louise was a child. She graduated from the Buffalo High School in 1874 and was planning on going...
as a draftsman. She went on to become the first professional woman architect in the United States.
Although Waite built many homes in the Buffalo
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...
area, some of his best-known commissions were in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
A list of some of Waite's accomplishments:
- Pierce's Palace Hotel, Buffalo, New York, 1878-1881
- Walden-Myer Mausoleum, Forest Lawn CemeteryForest Lawn Cemetery, BuffaloForest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York was founded in 1849 by Charles E. Clark. It covers over 250 acres and over 152,000 are buried there. Notable graves include U.S. President Millard Fillmore, singer Rick James, and inventor Lawrence Dale Bell...
, Buffalo, New York - Buffalo German Insurance Company, Buffalo, New York, 1875 [demolished ca. 1957]
- Birk's Building Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, OntarioHamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
- Canada Life Assurance Company, Montreal, Quebec 1898
- Grand Trunk Railway Company Limited, MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
1906 - Ontario Legislative Buildings, TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
1892 - Canada Life Building, MontrealCanada Life Building, MontrealThe Canada Life Building in Montreal, Quebec, Canada was completed in 1895 by Buffalo, New York architect Richard Waite and is an example of a first-generation skyscraper....
Mr. Waite also helped design the Oliver Opera House in South Bend, Indiana. This opera house was built by James and Joseph Doty Oliver, both founders of the Oliver Chilled Plow Works located in South Bend, Indiana. James Oliver was the inventor of the Chilled Plow.