William Leslie Welton: Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
mNo edit summary
 
(34 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''William Leslie Welton''' (born in Nebraska) was an architect active in [[Birmingham]] during its boom years at the beginning of the 20th century. Welton came to Birmingham in [[1907]] from the New York firm of McKim, Meade & White. Prior to that he had trained at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under Constant-Désiré Despradelles, and in Europe as the [[1900]] recipient of the Rotch Travelling Scholarship to the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He also received special training at the Boston Society of Architects and Boston Architectural Club.
[[Image:William Leslie Welton 1927.jpg|right|thumb|250px|William Leslie Welton]]
'''William Leslie Welton''' (born [[1874]] in Nebraska; died [[1934]]) was an architect active in [[Birmingham]] during its boom years at the beginning of the 20th century.


He started his practice here in partnership with native Alabamian and fellow McKim, Meade & White alumnus [[William T. Warren]]. They practiced together as [[Warren and Welton]], with notable commissions including the [[Empire Building]] ([[1909]]), [[Boy's Industrial School]], and [[Chamber of Commerce Building]]. It has been speculated the the Empire Building was the design of J. E. R. Carpenter of the New York firm of Carpenter and Blair, with the two young architects coordinating construction on site.<sup>''1.''</sup>
Welton graduated from high school on [[June 26]], [[1891]] in Lynn, Massachusetts and began his apprenticeship in architecture there the following year. From there he enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studying under Constant-Désiré Despradelles. In [[1899]] he joined the firm of Parker, Thomas and Rice in Boston and continued to study classical design and drawing in ateliers of the Boston Society of Architects and Boston Architectural Club. He received a Rotch Travelling Scholarship to the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in [[1900]]. When he returned, he joined the prominent New York City firm of McKim, Meade & White, where he met [[William Warren]] and formed a partnership with him.


After leaving his partnership with Warren in [[1910]], Welton established his own offices in the Empire Building. Early on he developed a specialty in interior decoration. Notable examples of his early solo work include the store and café for [[J. R. Brown]] in the Empire Building, the [[Stanford Store]], and the residences of Mrs [[David Roberts]] and [[J. C. Maben]].
Before moving to [[Birmingham]] in [[1907]], [[Warren & Welton]] had already solicited for work in the rapidly-growing city. They published an unbuilt proposal for [[Southside Baptist Church]] in [[1908]]. Their physical move south was probably made possible by the commission for the 16-story [[Empire Building]], a design originally conceived by  J. E. R. Carpenter of the New York firm of Carpenter and Blair, but carried out with the younger architects on-site. They opened their own office in the building after it was completed in [[1909]] and began receiving other commissions, such as the [[Boy's Industrial School]] and [[Lincoln Life Building|Chamber of Commerce Building]], along with several residences and interiors.


His later projects grew in stature. He collaborated with New York's [[Mowbray & Uffinger]] on the completion of the [[John A. Hand Building]] and designed the circular Roman-temple styled [[Vestavia estate]] of former mayor [[George Ward]], which became a signature landmark of the Birmingham area.
The partnership split in [[1910]], with Warren finding Welton's aggressiveness in marketing his services to be unpalatable. Welton established his own offices in the Empire Building. He was soon employed by the [[Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company]] to develop prototype housing designs for its planned industrial city of [[Fairfield|Corey]] (now [[Fairfield]]). Other examples of his early solo work include the store and café for [[J. R. Brown]] in the Empire Building and the [[Stanford Store]]. He also designed residences for [[David Roberts]]'s widow on [[Altamont Road]] and for [[G. J. Robertson]] on [[41st Street South]].


==Works==
[[Image:William Leslie Welton.jpg|left|thumb|125px|Welton c. 1911]]
* House prototypes for [[Fairfield|Corey]] ([[1910]])
Soon Welton was employed in a series of high-profile collaborations on landmark downtown buildings. He worked with the New York firm of Mowbray & Uffinger on the design of the [[John A. Hand Building|American Trust and Savings Bank Building]], completed in [[1912]], with William Stoddard on the [[Tutwiler Hotel (1914)|Tutwiler Hotel]], and with J. E. R. Carpenter on the [[Ridgely Apartments]], both of which opened in [[1914]]. He also designed the [[Rialto Theatre]], which opened in [[1915]].
* [[John A. Hand Building]] ([[1912]])
 
* [[Tutwiler Hotel (1914)|Tutwiler Hotel]] ([[1914]])
By then, Welton was leading his own atelier, entitled the [[Society of Beaux-Arts Architects]] at his new offices in the American Trust and Savings Bank Building. Other than the newly-started program in architecture at the [[Auburn University|Alabama Polytechnic Institute]] in [[Auburn]], his was the only formal architectural education available to students in Alabama.
* [[Massey Building]]
 
* [[Jackson Building]]
[[Image:W L Welton bookplate.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Welton's book plate]]
* [[Rialto Theatre]] ([[1915]])
Later in his career, Welton designed the masterfully-composed [[Bankers Bond Building]] of [[1920]] and an addition to the [[Robinson Elementary School|Robinson School]] in [[1921]]. His career reached another peak  in that decade with nearly simultaneous commissions for the [[Jackson Building]], the [[Massey Building]], an educational wing for [[South Highland Presbyterian Church]], and the circular Roman-temple styled [[Vestavia estate]] for former mayor [[George Ward]], all completed in [[1925]]. The next year he completed the more modest [[BEBCO Building]], followed by the [[Kenilworth Arms]] apartments in [[1927]] and [[Roger's Trading Company Building|Maring Ford Dealership]] in [[1928]].
* [[Vestavia estate]] ([[1925]])
 
* [[BEBCO Building]] ([[1926]])
Welton contributed an essay on the proper relationship between architects and ambitious draftsmen in their employ to the journal ''Pencil Points'' in [[1927]]. He recommended that draftsmen seek employment with architects of high ideals, and in medium-sized settings where quality work was balanced with opportunities for leisure. He urged architects to support the careers of their assistants, even after they moved out of the office and became potential competitors while railing against the practice of draftsmen moonlighting on individual projects.
 
Welton committed suicide in [[1934]]. His widow donated his collection of 1,500 mounted photographs of architectural subjects to the [[Birmingham Public Library]] in [[1937]].
 
==Notable buildings==
* [[Wimberly-Thomas Warehouse]], 1906 (with Weston)
* [[Robert Jemison Jr residence]], [[Glen Iris Park]], 1908
* [[Fairfield]] housing, 1910
* [[Stanford Store]], 1910
* [[Mrs David Roberts residence]], 4301 [[Altamont Road]], 1910
* [[Mrs G. J. Robertson residence]], [[41st Street South]], 1910
* [[John A. Hand Building|American Trust and Savings Bank Building]] ([[John A. Hand Building]]), 1912 (with Mowbray & Uffinger of New York)
* [[VonBeyer-Friedman residence]], 22 Pinehurst Drive, [[Tuscaloosa]], 1912, demolished 1970s
* [[Tutwiler Hotel]], 1914
* [[Ridgely Apartments]], 1914
* [[Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house (Tuscaloosa)|Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house]], 2301 [[University Boulevard (Tuscaloosa)|University Boulevard]], [[Tuscaloosa]], 1914, demolished
* [[Rialto Theatre]], 1915
* [[Leonard Beecher residence]], 1916
* [[Walker Memorial United Methodist Church]], 1918
* [[Bankers Bond Building]], 1920
* [[Robinson Elementary School]], 1921
* [[City National Bank (Tuscaloosa)|City National Bank]], 2301 [[University Boulevard (Tuscaloosa)|University Boulevard]], [[Tuscaloosa]], 1922
* [[Lane residence]], 17 Pinehurst Drive, [[Tuscaloosa]], 1922
* [[Alston Maxwell residence]], 1509 [[University Boulevard (Tuscaloosa)|University Boulevard]], [[Tuscaloosa]], 1924
* [[Cochrane & Clabaugh building]], 6th Street and 25th Avenue, [[Tuscaloosa]], 1925
* [[Jackson Building]], 1925
* [[East Lake Orphanage]], 1925
* [[East Thomas School]], 1925
* [[Massey Building|Bankers Mortgage-Bond Building]] ([[Massey Building]]), 1925
* [[South Highland Presbyterian Church]] education building, 1925
* [[Vestavia estate]], [[Sibyl Temple]], 1925
* [[C. A. Odum residence]], [[Bush Hills]], 1925
* [[W. D. Colby residence]], [[Highland Avenue]], 1920s
* [[BEBCO Building]], 1926, expanded 1930
* [[Ruhama Baptist Church]], 1926
* [[Simpson Methodist Church]], 1926
* [[Kenilworth Arms]] apartments, [[Highland Avenue]], 1927
* [[William Welton residence]], 4041 [[Cliff Road]], 1927
* [[South Highlands Presbyterian Church]] Sunday School building, 1927
* [[Ellison Bingham residence]], 18 Pinehurst Drive, [[Tuscaloosa]], c. 1928
* [[McD.-Fowler residence]], [[Tuscaloosa]], 1928
* [[E. H. Bingham residence]], [[Tuscaloosa]], 1928
* [[Langston McCalley residence]], [[Redmont Park]] 1928
* [[Roger's Trading Company Building|Crawford's Auto Shop]], 1928
* [[Bettis-Nelson residence]], 1710 [[University Boulevard (Tuscaloosa)|University Boulevard]], [[Tuscaloosa]], c. 1929
* [[Annie Keller residence]], [[Tuscaloosa]], 1929
* [[Prescott Kelly residence]], [[Mountain Brook Estates]], 1929
* [[Edward Rosenfield residence]], [[Tuscaloosa]], 1930
* [[Forrest General Hospital]], [[Gadsden]], 1930
* [[Tucker Motor Co.|Tucker Motor Co. showroom]], 22nd Avenue, [[Tuscaloosa]], 1930
* [[Kizziah residence]], 1100 Myrtlewood Drive, [[Tuscaloosa]], 1933


==References==
==References==
# Alexander, James Rodger. (1986) ''Terra Cotta Facades of Birmingham Architecture''. Exhibition catalog. Birmingham: UAB Visual Arts Gallery.
* American Illustrating Company (c. 1911) ''Pen and Sunlight Sketches of Greater Birmingham''. Birmingham. p. 156
* American Illustrating Company (c. 1911) ''Pen and Sunlight Sketches of Greater Birmingham''. Birmingham. p. 156
* Satterfield, Carolyn Green. (1976) H''istoric Sites of Jefferson County, Alabama.'' Prepared for the Jefferson County Historical Commission. Birmingham: Gray Printing Co.
* Levy, Florence N., editor (1917) ''American Art Annual''. Vol. 14. Washington D. C.: American Federation of Arts. p. 284
* Welton, William Leslie (March 1927) "The Relationship Between the Architect and the Draughtsman". ''Pencil Points''. Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 133-4
* Satterfield, Carolyn Green. (1976) ''Historic Sites of Jefferson County, Alabama.'' Prepared for the Jefferson County Historical Commission. Birmingham: Gray Printing Co.
* Alexander, James Rodger. (1986) ''Terra Cotta Facades of Birmingham Architecture''. Exhibition catalog. Birmingham: UAB Visual Arts Gallery.
* {{Schnorrenberg-2000}}
* {{Fazio-2010}}
 
==External links==
* [https://www.cobpl.org/resources/archives/Architecture/Welton.aspx William Leslie Welton] at the Birmingham Architecture & Design Collection, Birmingham Public Library Archives


[[Category:Architects|Welton, William L.]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Welton, William L.}}
[[Category:1874 births]]
[[Category:1934 deaths]]
[[Category:Architects]]
[[Category:Suicides]]
[[Category:William Welton buildings|*]]
[[Category:William Welton buildings|*]]

Latest revision as of 16:51, 11 December 2023

William Leslie Welton

William Leslie Welton (born 1874 in Nebraska; died 1934) was an architect active in Birmingham during its boom years at the beginning of the 20th century.

Welton graduated from high school on June 26, 1891 in Lynn, Massachusetts and began his apprenticeship in architecture there the following year. From there he enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studying under Constant-Désiré Despradelles. In 1899 he joined the firm of Parker, Thomas and Rice in Boston and continued to study classical design and drawing in ateliers of the Boston Society of Architects and Boston Architectural Club. He received a Rotch Travelling Scholarship to the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1900. When he returned, he joined the prominent New York City firm of McKim, Meade & White, where he met William Warren and formed a partnership with him.

Before moving to Birmingham in 1907, Warren & Welton had already solicited for work in the rapidly-growing city. They published an unbuilt proposal for Southside Baptist Church in 1908. Their physical move south was probably made possible by the commission for the 16-story Empire Building, a design originally conceived by J. E. R. Carpenter of the New York firm of Carpenter and Blair, but carried out with the younger architects on-site. They opened their own office in the building after it was completed in 1909 and began receiving other commissions, such as the Boy's Industrial School and Chamber of Commerce Building, along with several residences and interiors.

The partnership split in 1910, with Warren finding Welton's aggressiveness in marketing his services to be unpalatable. Welton established his own offices in the Empire Building. He was soon employed by the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company to develop prototype housing designs for its planned industrial city of Corey (now Fairfield). Other examples of his early solo work include the store and café for J. R. Brown in the Empire Building and the Stanford Store. He also designed residences for David Roberts's widow on Altamont Road and for G. J. Robertson on 41st Street South.

Welton c. 1911

Soon Welton was employed in a series of high-profile collaborations on landmark downtown buildings. He worked with the New York firm of Mowbray & Uffinger on the design of the American Trust and Savings Bank Building, completed in 1912, with William Stoddard on the Tutwiler Hotel, and with J. E. R. Carpenter on the Ridgely Apartments, both of which opened in 1914. He also designed the Rialto Theatre, which opened in 1915.

By then, Welton was leading his own atelier, entitled the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects at his new offices in the American Trust and Savings Bank Building. Other than the newly-started program in architecture at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute in Auburn, his was the only formal architectural education available to students in Alabama.

Welton's book plate

Later in his career, Welton designed the masterfully-composed Bankers Bond Building of 1920 and an addition to the Robinson School in 1921. His career reached another peak in that decade with nearly simultaneous commissions for the Jackson Building, the Massey Building, an educational wing for South Highland Presbyterian Church, and the circular Roman-temple styled Vestavia estate for former mayor George Ward, all completed in 1925. The next year he completed the more modest BEBCO Building, followed by the Kenilworth Arms apartments in 1927 and Maring Ford Dealership in 1928.

Welton contributed an essay on the proper relationship between architects and ambitious draftsmen in their employ to the journal Pencil Points in 1927. He recommended that draftsmen seek employment with architects of high ideals, and in medium-sized settings where quality work was balanced with opportunities for leisure. He urged architects to support the careers of their assistants, even after they moved out of the office and became potential competitors while railing against the practice of draftsmen moonlighting on individual projects.

Welton committed suicide in 1934. His widow donated his collection of 1,500 mounted photographs of architectural subjects to the Birmingham Public Library in 1937.

Notable buildings

References

  • American Illustrating Company (c. 1911) Pen and Sunlight Sketches of Greater Birmingham. Birmingham. p. 156
  • Levy, Florence N., editor (1917) American Art Annual. Vol. 14. Washington D. C.: American Federation of Arts. p. 284
  • Welton, William Leslie (March 1927) "The Relationship Between the Architect and the Draughtsman". Pencil Points. Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 133-4
  • Satterfield, Carolyn Green. (1976) Historic Sites of Jefferson County, Alabama. Prepared for the Jefferson County Historical Commission. Birmingham: Gray Printing Co.
  • Alexander, James Rodger. (1986) Terra Cotta Facades of Birmingham Architecture. Exhibition catalog. Birmingham: UAB Visual Arts Gallery.
  • Schnorrenberg, John M. (2000) Aspiration: Birmingham's Historic House of Worship. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society ISBN 0943994268
  • Fazio, Michael W. (2010) Landscape of Transformations: Architecture and Birmingham, Alabama. Knoxville, Tennessee: University of Tennessee Press ISBN 9781572336872

External links

  • William Leslie Welton at the Birmingham Architecture & Design Collection, Birmingham Public Library Archives
Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=William_Leslie_Welton&oldid=209516"