David O. Whilldin
David Oliver Whilldin (born April 8, 1881 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - died January 18, 1970 in Birmingham) was an architect active in Birmingham from 1904 until his retirement in 1961. He is best known for his numerous school commissions.
Whilldin was born to an ivory importer in Philadelphia, who died when he son was only two years old. He earned a bachelor of science from the Drexel Polytechnic Institute in 1901 and completed a special course in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania the next June.
In 1904 Whilldin, now in Birmingham, became partner of Harry Breeding in the firm of Breeding & Whilldin, working on buildings throughout the state. Their most important commission was the new Birmingham High School, completed in 1906. By that time, Whilldin had married the former Cornelia Pierce English of Philadelphia. Their first child, Virginia Lucy, was born in 1906 and a son, David Jr, was born three years later.
Apparently recognized as the principal designer of the new high school, Whilldin formed his own practice in the Title Guaranty Building which took on numerous projects for Birmingham's rapidly-expanding school system as well as several notable projects in Gadsden as well as in Tuscaloosa, where his presence was strongly felt in numerous important commissions.
By 1923 Whilldin had established a second office on Tuscaloosa's Broad Street. He continued to work until his retirement in 1961 and died at the age of 89.
Notable works
- Birmingham High School, 1906
- Elyton Elementary School, 1908
- Ensley High School, 1908
- Reich Hotel, Gadsden
- Pitman Theatre, Gadsden
- Remodeling of Merchants Bank and Trust, Tuscaloosa, 1917
- Holt High School, Tuscaloosa, 1921
- Psychopathic Hospital at Bryce, 1922
- Windham Springs School, Tuscaloosa, 1922
- Cedar Tree School, Tuscaloosa, 1922
- Coker School, Tuscaloosa, 1922
- Duncanville School, Tuscaloosa, 1922
- Piney Grove School, Tuscaloosa, 1922
- Vance School, Tuscaloosa, 1922
- Echola School, Tuscaloosa, 1922
- Tuscaloosa Fire Station No. 1, 1922
- Belvedere Theatre, 1923
- Druid City Hospital, 1923
- Tuscaloosa Country Club, 1923
- Bama Theatre (later Druid Theatre), Tuscaloosa, 1924
- Tuscaloosa High School, 1925
- Verner Elementary School, Tuscaloosa, 1925
- West End Masonic Temple, 1026
- Florentine Building, 1927
- Thomas Jefferson Hotel, 1927
- F. W. Woolworth store, Tuscaloosa, 1932
- Tuscaloosa City Hall, 1938
- Bama Theatre, 1938
- D. O. Whilldin building, Tuscaloosa, 1939
- Merrimac Arms Apartments, Tuscaloosa, 1954
References
- Shelby, Thomas Mark (April 2007) "D. O. Whilldin". Heritage Week 2007. Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society.