Joseph Miller Huston (February 23, 1866 – 1940) was an architect notable for designing the third (and current) Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg. Construction started in 1902 of his Beaux-Arts design. He was one of five people convicted of graft in 1910 after a state investigation of cost overruns in association with construction and furnishing the capitol.
Joseph Miller Huston was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1866. When he was seventeen, Joseph joined the firm of Frank Furness and Sons, where he worked during his college years. He graduated from Princeton University in 1892, re-joining Furness' firm full-time.[1]
Careeredit
In 1895, Huston founded his own firm, and began designing buildings in Philadelphia, such as the Witherspoon Building, (1895).[2] In 1898–99, Huston toured Europe and Asia, along with his older brother, Samuel, experiencing historic styles which greatly influenced his later designs.[3]
Pennsylvania State Capitol . In 1901, at the age of 36, Joseph Huston won the design competition for the commission for the new Pennsylvania State Capitol over eight other competitors. His design was overwhelmingly heralded as a success. At its dedication on October 4, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt described the building as, " ... the handsomest State Capitol I ever saw!" [3] The total cost of the project was nearly triple what the legislature had appropriated, in part because of inflated costs for construction and furnishings due to the state's purchasing mechanism. Huston, and four other officials were convicted of graft in 1910 and sentenced to up to two years in prison for their parts in the overruns. Although he appealed, Huston lost his case and went to the Eastern State Penitentiary in 1911.[4]
Huston's home, known as Oaks Cloister (c.1904) is located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia and has been described as one of the finest residences in the city. The Huston family sold the property in 1955 and it fell into disrepair over time and ultimately was abandoned. This venerable landmark was saved from demolition in 2002 by Dr. Russell Harris and Mr. John Casavecchia, who spent the following decade restoring the mansion to its original glory.[5][6]
^ ab"Joseph Miller Huston (1866-1940)". cpc.state.pa.us. 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
^"Huston goes to prison" (PDF). The New York Times. May 24, 1911. p. 1. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
^"Oaks Cloister". www.myphiladelphia.weebly.com. 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
^LARMA, RIKARD (October 22, 2013). "Northwest Philadelphia home tour reveals the inside of historic and restored spaces". www.newsworks.org. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
^. CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on 2007-07-21. Retrieved 2012-05-26. Note: This includes Tom Hylton (June 1985). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Old Pottstown Historic District" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-05-24.
January 01, 1970
joseph, miller, huston, february, 1866, 1940, architect, notable, designing, third, current, pennsylvania, state, capitol, harrisburg, construction, started, 1902, beaux, arts, design, five, people, convicted, graft, 1910, after, state, investigation, cost, ov. Joseph Miller Huston February 23 1866 1940 was an architect notable for designing the third and current Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg Construction started in 1902 of his Beaux Arts design He was one of five people convicted of graft in 1910 after a state investigation of cost overruns in association with construction and furnishing the capitol Joseph Miller HustonBornPhiladelphia PennsylvaniaDied1940 aged 74 Philadelphia PennsylvaniaAlma materPrinceton University 1892 SpouseMatilde Lewis MacGregorChildrenJudelle CraigEarly life and education editJoseph Miller Huston was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1866 When he was seventeen Joseph joined the firm of Frank Furness and Sons where he worked during his college years He graduated from Princeton University in 1892 re joining Furness firm full time 1 Career editIn 1895 Huston founded his own firm and began designing buildings in Philadelphia such as the Witherspoon Building 1895 2 In 1898 99 Huston toured Europe and Asia along with his older brother Samuel experiencing historic styles which greatly influenced his later designs 3 nbsp Pennsylvania State Capitol In 1901 at the age of 36 Joseph Huston won the design competition for the commission for the new Pennsylvania State Capitol over eight other competitors His design was overwhelmingly heralded as a success At its dedication on October 4 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt described the building as the handsomest State Capitol I ever saw 3 The total cost of the project was nearly triple what the legislature had appropriated in part because of inflated costs for construction and furnishings due to the state s purchasing mechanism Huston and four other officials were convicted of graft in 1910 and sentenced to up to two years in prison for their parts in the overruns Although he appealed Huston lost his case and went to the Eastern State Penitentiary in 1911 4 nbsp Oaks Cloister Huston s home known as Oaks Cloister c 1904 is located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia and has been described as one of the finest residences in the city The Huston family sold the property in 1955 and it fell into disrepair over time and ultimately was abandoned This venerable landmark was saved from demolition in 2002 by Dr Russell Harris and Mr John Casavecchia who spent the following decade restoring the mansion to its original glory 5 6 In 1911 Huston designed the Searles Memorial Methodist Church now located in the Old Pottstown Historic District 7 References edit General Catalogue of Princeton University 1746 1906 Princeton NJ Princeton University Press 1908 p 297 National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 a b Joseph Miller Huston 1866 1940 cpc state pa us 2016 Retrieved October 27 2016 Huston goes to prison PDF The New York Times May 24 1911 p 1 Retrieved November 18 2009 Oaks Cloister www myphiladelphia weebly com 2016 Retrieved July 5 2016 LARMA RIKARD October 22 2013 Northwest Philadelphia home tour reveals the inside of historic and restored spaces www newsworks org Retrieved July 11 2016 National Historic Landmarks amp National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania CRGIS Cultural Resources Geographic Information System Archived from the original Searchable database on 2007 07 21 Retrieved 2012 05 26 Note This includes Tom Hylton June 1985 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Old Pottstown Historic District PDF Retrieved 2012 05 24 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph Miller Huston amp oldid 1148022063, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
