William J. Brinkmann
Encyclopedia
William J. Brinkman was an architect
most well known for his work designing Chicago
area churches. A son of German
immigrants, he received his architectural training at the firm of Burnham and Root
., where he eventually supervised the construction of Chicago
's Masonic Temple
, a skyscraper
that was the world's tallest building at the time of its completion in 1892. After a tour of Europe
to further his architectural knowledge, Brinkman settled in California
where he designed homes for political and industrial notables such as Ulysses S. Grant Jr.. His contemporaries described him as a "staunch Catholic." After his return to Chicago
he made a name for himself designing churches, among which are St. Josaphat's
, St. Michael's
in the South Chicago neighborhood of Chicago
near the Indiana border, St. Mary's in Buffalo Grove, and, most notably, the Mausoleum
Chapel
for the Archbishops of Chicago
in Mount Carmel cemetery
, as well as being one of the three architects involved in the design of Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica
. He also designed exhibits for the World's Columbian Exposition
in 1893 as well as some of the earliest large steel frame
buildings in Atlanta, San Francisco and Chicago
.
Brinkman's mangled, decapitated body was found on train tracks near 73rd street in February 1911. The intrigue surrounding his death fed front page newspaper accounts for several days, positing theories that Brinkman had perhaps committed suicide after several years of illness. His funeral was held at St. Leo's church on 78th street, a church he had himself designed in 1905.
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...
most well known for his work designing Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area churches. A son of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
immigrants, he received his architectural training at the firm of Burnham and Root
Burnham and Root
Burnham and Root was the name of the company that John Wellborn Root and Daniel Hudson Burnham established as one of Chicago's most famous architectural companies of the nineteenth century....
., where he eventually supervised the construction of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Masonic Temple
Masonic Temple
Masonic Temple is a term commonly used in Freemasonry with multiple but related meanings. It is used to describe an abstract spiritual goal, the conceptual ritualistic space formed when a Masonic Lodge meets, and the physical rooms and structures in which a Lodge meets...
, a skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
that was the world's tallest building at the time of its completion in 1892. After a tour of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to further his architectural knowledge, Brinkman settled in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where he designed homes for political and industrial notables such as Ulysses S. Grant Jr.. His contemporaries described him as a "staunch Catholic." After his return to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
he made a name for himself designing churches, among which are St. Josaphat's
St. Josaphat's in Chicago
St. Josaphat is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located at 2311 North Southport Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style' of church in both its opulence and grand scale. St...
, St. Michael's
St. Michael's in Chicago
St. Michael - historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located at E. 83rd Street and S. South Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois....
in the South Chicago neighborhood of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
near the Indiana border, St. Mary's in Buffalo Grove, and, most notably, the Mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
Chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
for the Archbishops of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in Mount Carmel cemetery
Mount Carmel Cemetery (Hillside)
Mount Carmel Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery located in the Chicago suburb of Hillside, Illinois. Mount Carmel is an active cemetery, located within the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. The cemetery is located near the Eisenhower Expressway at Wolf and Roosevelt...
, as well as being one of the three architects involved in the design of Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica
Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica
Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica is a Roman Catholic basilica on the west side of Chicago, Illinois. Located at 3121 West Jackson Boulevard, it is, along with St...
. He also designed exhibits for the World's Columbian Exposition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
in 1893 as well as some of the earliest large steel frame
Steel frame
Steel frame usually refers to a building technique with a "skeleton frame" of vertical steel columns and horizontal -beams, constructed in a rectangular grid to support the floors, roof and walls of a building which are all attached to the frame...
buildings in Atlanta, San Francisco and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Brinkman's mangled, decapitated body was found on train tracks near 73rd street in February 1911. The intrigue surrounding his death fed front page newspaper accounts for several days, positing theories that Brinkman had perhaps committed suicide after several years of illness. His funeral was held at St. Leo's church on 78th street, a church he had himself designed in 1905.