Paul Amos Batholomew (1883–1973)[1] was an architect in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. From the beginning of his practice, he received a variety of high-profile commissions for both residential and non-residential structures, mainly in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His buildings typically had historicist facades, with neoclassical or Italianate ornamentation covering a modern framework. It was only in the 1950s, toward the end of his career, that he created buildings that were purely modern in design. During the Great Depression, a particularly trying time for architects, he received the commission to design Norvelt, which was a new town created as part of President Roosevelt'sNew Deal policies.
Paul Batholomew was born in Cleveland, Ohio on June 25, 1883.[2] His parents were the Rev. Amos H. Bartholomew, a Lutheran minister, and Rachael (Kuhns) Bartholomew.[2] Most of Paul Bartholomew's childhood was spent in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.[2] He graduated from Gettysburg College in 1905, and then studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he received a second degree in 1908.[1][3] After graduation, he worked under architects in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
He eventually settled in Greensburg where he began his practice. Sources differ on the date he began his Greensburg practice; one source claims 1910[2] although his entry in an architects' directory states he began his practice in 1912.[4] Throughout most of his career, his office was in the Coulter Building at 231 South Main Street in Greensburg. However, two 1929 publications list an office in the Keenan Building, Pittsburgh.[5][6]
Paul Bartholomew married Dorothy W. Lyon, a Greensburg resident, on November 1, 1916.[2] Paul Bartholomew died on December 8, 1973, at the age of 90.[1]
Partnership with Smithedit
Bartholomew formed a partnership with Brandon Smith (1889–1962), although sources differ on the year the partnership began. One source claims the partnership commenced in 1915,[3] while Bartholomew's entry in an architects' directory states it began in 1920.[4] In any event, the firm of Bartholomew & Smith was dissolved in 1928 when Smith left to form his own firm, Smith & Reif.[3]
Among Bartholomew's commissions were the following:
Houses in Academy Hill, Greensburg: The Academy Hill Historic District was created by the National Park Service, in part, to recognize the houses Bartholomew designed in this traditionally elite neighborhood.[7] (Year of construction is in parentheses.) On North Main Street, he designed numbers 419 (1935), 431 (1920), 445 (1913), and 450 (1920).[7] On North Maple Avenue, he designed numbers 528 (1913) and 552 (1922).[7] On Walnut Avenue, he designed number 334 (1936).[7] On Kenneth Street, he designed numbers 208 (1920) & 214 (1937). On Woodland Avenue he designed number 44 (1946). he designed 208 Was his residence from 1920 until his death in 1973.
The remaining items are in chronological order:
Greensburg YMCA (1912): Located at 101 South Maple Avenue (corner of East Pittsburgh Street), in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, this 1912 structure is a four-story red brick building with Classical elements.[4] This was Bartholomew's first major non-residential commission. The third and fourth floors consisted of rooms that could be rented, and that part of the building became a residence for elderly men of limited means. The second floor had meeting rooms, and the main floor had a lobby, gym, and residents' lounge. The basement had a swimming pool, weight room, and locker rooms. There was a sub-basement for mechanical equipment. Over the years, the building has undergone major renovations. Nonetheless, the exterior has hardly changed, except for a 1969 addition on the south side of the building to house a new pool.
Troutman's Department Store (1923): Located in Greensburg, this is a six-story Italianate structure with a limestone and terracotta facade built in 1923.[4][8] The building still stands at 202-226 South Main Street. Although the interior has been gutted and converted into offices and seniors' housing, the exterior remains unchanged and in excellent condition.
Lynch Hall (1923): This Tudor-style mansion was built in 1923 for Charles McKenna Lynch (1884–1963), an executive of the H.C. Frick Coke Company. The house's original name was Starboard Light, in reference to Lynch's earlier career as a naval officer.[9] Its current street address is 150 Finoli Drive, Greensburg, Pennsylvania (actually located in Hempfield Township), where it serves as the administrative building for University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.
First Commonwealth Bank (1924): Originally known as First National Bank and later as Southwest Bank, this seven-story red brick building is in a Classical Revival style, built in 1924 at 111 South Main Street, Greensburg.[8] The firm of Bartholomew & Smith were the architects.[10]
Citizens National Bank of Latrobe (1926): This is in nearby Latrobe, where it is the tallest building of that city. It is located at 816 Ligonier Street (corner of Main Street) in Latrobe. This six story, Classical Revival structure has a bank on the ground floor and offices on upper floors. It was later known as the Mellon Bank Building. The architects were the firm of Bartholomew & Smith, and the building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[3]
Fort Jackson Hotel (1926): This three-story, red brick structure at 19 South Washington Street in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania was designed by the firm of Bartholomew & Smith. It was originally a hotel and was later converted into offices.[11]
Community of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, originally Westmoreland Homesteads (1934–1937): This planned community in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, was built by the federal government during the Great Depression as one of 92 "subsistence homesteads" intended to address rural poverty.[12] Paul Bartholomew received the commission to lay out the plan of streets, which he did in a nontraditional pattern of circles and semicircles. The layout was quite spacious with large lots, and it was intended that laid-off mine workers would be able to raise their own food. He also designed over 200 Cape Cod style houses for the community, as well as its public buildings.[12] Land acquisition began in 1934, and the formal dedication, attended by Eleanor Roosevelt, was held on May 21, 1937. The community's name was changed from Westmoreland Homesteads to Norvelt in her honor. Although the individual buildings have been remodeled over the intervening years, a visitor can still gain a good sense of what the community was like when it opened.
Zions Lutheran Church (Renovations) (1937 and 1951): This church is located at 146 South Pennsylvania Avenue (at West Second Street), Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The current structure dates from 1877, although Paul Bartholomew was responsible for renovations in 1937 and 1951.[4] His father had once been pastor of this church.
Laufe House (1953): This was built at 949 Summit Drive in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, for Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Laufe. Paul Bartholomew was listed as the architect and Herbert Walfish, later a partner of Bartholomew, was listed as "designer."[13] This is a very rare example of modern architecture of Paul Bartholomew, who almost always preferred facades with a historical flavor. This two-bedroom house is one story with basement, and has large windows across the back.[13] The exterior consists of redwood and brick, and many interior walls consist of brick and polished wood.
Excela Westmoreland Hospital Addition (1953): Originally Westmoreland Hospital, the street address is 532 West Pittsburgh Street, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. This complex is a hodgepodge of various additions; Paul Bartholomew was responsible for the 1953 component of this building, with James H. Ritchie and Associates of Boston as associate architects.[4]
See alsoedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paul Bartholomew.
Citizens National Bank (1926) Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Detail of Citizens National Bank (1926) Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Referencesedit
^ abcVan Atta, Robert B. (1999). A Centennial History of the City of Greensburg. Greensburg, Pennsylvania: Chas. M. Henry Printing Company. p. 243.
^ abcdeBoucher, John Newton (1918). Old and New Westmoreland, Volume 4. New York, New York: The American Historical Society. p. 654.
^ abcd"National Register of Historical Places - Citizens National Bank (Latrobe, Pennsylvania)" (PDF). ARCH: Pennsylvania's Historic Architecture & Archeology. Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
^ abcdefgKoyl, George S. (1962). American Architects Directory (2nd ed.). New York, New York: American Institute of Architects / R. R. Bowker Company. p. 37.
^"Architects' Building Bulletin". The Charette. 9 (1): 12. Jan 1929. ISSN 0009-1693. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
^"Architects' Building Bulletin". The Charette. 9 (5): 9. May 1929. ISSN 0009-1693. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
^ abcd"National Register of Historical Places - Academy Hill Historic District" (PDF). ARCH: Pennsylvania's Historic Architecture & Archeology. Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
^ ab"National Register of Historical Places - Downtown Greensburg Historic District" (PDF). ARCH: Pennsylvania's Historic Architecture & Archeology. Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
^Smith, Helene; Swetnam, George (1991) [First published 1976]. A Guidebook to Historic Western Pennsylvania (Revised and enlarged ed.). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: University of Pittsburgh Press. p. 338. ISBN0-8229-5424-9.
^MacQueen, James M. (Dec 1925). "Promoting Pittsburgh Professionally". The Charette. 5 (12): 1–3. ISSN 0009-1693. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
^"Architects' Building Bulletin". The Charette. 6 (4): 16. April 1926. ISSN 0009-1693. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
^ abUngar, Anne Jean (November 1953). "House with a Future" (jpg). The Charette. 33 (11): 13–15. ISSN 0009-1693. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
December 14, 2023
paul, bartholomew, paul, amos, batholomew, 1883, 1973, architect, greensburg, pennsylvania, from, beginning, practice, received, variety, high, profile, commissions, both, residential, residential, structures, mainly, westmoreland, county, pennsylvania, buildi. Paul Amos Batholomew 1883 1973 1 was an architect in Greensburg Pennsylvania From the beginning of his practice he received a variety of high profile commissions for both residential and non residential structures mainly in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania His buildings typically had historicist facades with neoclassical or Italianate ornamentation covering a modern framework It was only in the 1950s toward the end of his career that he created buildings that were purely modern in design During the Great Depression a particularly trying time for architects he received the commission to design Norvelt which was a new town created as part of President Roosevelt s New Deal policies Paul Amos BartholomewBorn 1883 06 25 June 25 1883Cleveland OhioDiedDecember 8 1973 1973 12 08 aged 90 Greensburg PennsylvaniaOccupationArchitectPracticeSolo practitioner also Bartholomew amp Smith later Bartholomew Roach Moyer amp Walfish later Bartholomew Roach amp Walfish BuildingsYMCA Troutman s Department Store and First National Bank all in Greensburg Pennsylvania Citizens National Bank Latrobe Pennsylvania ProjectsDesign of Norvelt PennsylvaniaOne of his commissions the Citizens National Bank of Latrobe of Latrobe Pennsylvania designed with partner Brandon Smith is listed on the National Register of Historic Places Many of Bartholomew s works are contributing properties to the Greensburg Downtown Historic District and the Academy Hill Historic District Contents 1 Biography 2 Partnership with Smith 3 Notable commissions 4 See also 5 Gallery 6 ReferencesBiography editPaul Batholomew was born in Cleveland Ohio on June 25 1883 2 His parents were the Rev Amos H Bartholomew a Lutheran minister and Rachael Kuhns Bartholomew 2 Most of Paul Bartholomew s childhood was spent in Ligonier Pennsylvania 2 He graduated from Gettysburg College in 1905 and then studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania from which he received a second degree in 1908 1 3 After graduation he worked under architects in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh He eventually settled in Greensburg where he began his practice Sources differ on the date he began his Greensburg practice one source claims 1910 2 although his entry in an architects directory states he began his practice in 1912 4 Throughout most of his career his office was in the Coulter Building at 231 South Main Street in Greensburg However two 1929 publications list an office in the Keenan Building Pittsburgh 5 6 Paul Bartholomew married Dorothy W Lyon a Greensburg resident on November 1 1916 2 Paul Bartholomew died on December 8 1973 at the age of 90 1 Partnership with Smith editBartholomew formed a partnership with Brandon Smith 1889 1962 although sources differ on the year the partnership began One source claims the partnership commenced in 1915 3 while Bartholomew s entry in an architects directory states it began in 1920 4 In any event the firm of Bartholomew amp Smith was dissolved in 1928 when Smith left to form his own firm Smith amp Reif 3 Notable commissions edit nbsp Lynch Hall 1923 1965 at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg nbsp Troutman s Department Store 1923 nbsp Greensburg YMCA 1912 Among Bartholomew s commissions were the following Houses in Academy Hill Greensburg The Academy Hill Historic District was created by the National Park Service in part to recognize the houses Bartholomew designed in this traditionally elite neighborhood 7 Year of construction is in parentheses On North Main Street he designed numbers 419 1935 431 1920 445 1913 and 450 1920 7 On North Maple Avenue he designed numbers 528 1913 and 552 1922 7 On Walnut Avenue he designed number 334 1936 7 On Kenneth Street he designed numbers 208 1920 amp 214 1937 On Woodland Avenue he designed number 44 1946 he designed 208 Was his residence from 1920 until his death in 1973 The remaining items are in chronological order Greensburg YMCA 1912 Located at 101 South Maple Avenue corner of East Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg Pennsylvania this 1912 structure is a four story red brick building with Classical elements 4 This was Bartholomew s first major non residential commission The third and fourth floors consisted of rooms that could be rented and that part of the building became a residence for elderly men of limited means The second floor had meeting rooms and the main floor had a lobby gym and residents lounge The basement had a swimming pool weight room and locker rooms There was a sub basement for mechanical equipment Over the years the building has undergone major renovations Nonetheless the exterior has hardly changed except for a 1969 addition on the south side of the building to house a new pool Troutman s Department Store 1923 Located in Greensburg this is a six story Italianate structure with a limestone and terracotta facade built in 1923 4 8 The building still stands at 202 226 South Main Street Although the interior has been gutted and converted into offices and seniors housing the exterior remains unchanged and in excellent condition Lynch Hall 1923 This Tudor style mansion was built in 1923 for Charles McKenna Lynch 1884 1963 an executive of the H C Frick Coke Company The house s original name was Starboard Light in reference to Lynch s earlier career as a naval officer 9 Its current street address is 150 Finoli Drive Greensburg Pennsylvania actually located in Hempfield Township where it serves as the administrative building for University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg First Commonwealth Bank 1924 Originally known as First National Bank and later as Southwest Bank this seven story red brick building is in a Classical Revival style built in 1924 at 111 South Main Street Greensburg 8 The firm of Bartholomew amp Smith were the architects 10 Citizens National Bank of Latrobe 1926 This is in nearby Latrobe where it is the tallest building of that city It is located at 816 Ligonier Street corner of Main Street in Latrobe This six story Classical Revival structure has a bank on the ground floor and offices on upper floors It was later known as the Mellon Bank Building The architects were the firm of Bartholomew amp Smith and the building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places 3 Fort Jackson Hotel 1926 This three story red brick structure at 19 South Washington Street in Waynesburg Pennsylvania was designed by the firm of Bartholomew amp Smith It was originally a hotel and was later converted into offices 11 Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House 1929 This 1929 building is still in use as a fraternity house at 220 North Burrowes Street State College Pennsylvania 4 Community of Norvelt Pennsylvania originally Westmoreland Homesteads 1934 1937 This planned community in Mount Pleasant Township Westmoreland County Pennsylvania was built by the federal government during the Great Depression as one of 92 subsistence homesteads intended to address rural poverty 12 Paul Bartholomew received the commission to lay out the plan of streets which he did in a nontraditional pattern of circles and semicircles The layout was quite spacious with large lots and it was intended that laid off mine workers would be able to raise their own food He also designed over 200 Cape Cod style houses for the community as well as its public buildings 12 Land acquisition began in 1934 and the formal dedication attended by Eleanor Roosevelt was held on May 21 1937 The community s name was changed from Westmoreland Homesteads to Norvelt in her honor Although the individual buildings have been remodeled over the intervening years a visitor can still gain a good sense of what the community was like when it opened Zions Lutheran Church Renovations 1937 and 1951 This church is located at 146 South Pennsylvania Avenue at West Second Street Greensburg Pennsylvania The current structure dates from 1877 although Paul Bartholomew was responsible for renovations in 1937 and 1951 4 His father had once been pastor of this church Laufe House 1953 This was built at 949 Summit Drive in Greensburg Pennsylvania for Mr and Mrs Joseph H Laufe Paul Bartholomew was listed as the architect and Herbert Walfish later a partner of Bartholomew was listed as designer 13 This is a very rare example of modern architecture of Paul Bartholomew who almost always preferred facades with a historical flavor This two bedroom house is one story with basement and has large windows across the back 13 The exterior consists of redwood and brick and many interior walls consist of brick and polished wood Excela Westmoreland Hospital Addition 1953 Originally Westmoreland Hospital the street address is 532 West Pittsburgh Street Greensburg Pennsylvania This complex is a hodgepodge of various additions Paul Bartholomew was responsible for the 1953 component of this building with James H Ritchie and Associates of Boston as associate architects 4 See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paul Bartholomew Academy Hill Historic District Greensburg Downtown Historic District Greensburg Pennsylvania Norvelt PennsylvaniaGallery edit nbsp 334 Walnut Avenue 1936 nbsp 431 North Main Street 1920 nbsp 445 North Main Street 1913 nbsp 450 North Main Street 1920 nbsp First Commonwealth Bank 1924 nbsp Laufe House 1953 949 Summit Drive nbsp Citizens National Bank 1926 Latrobe Pennsylvania nbsp Detail of Citizens National Bank 1926 Latrobe PennsylvaniaReferences edit a b c Van Atta Robert B 1999 A Centennial History of the City of Greensburg Greensburg Pennsylvania Chas M Henry Printing Company p 243 a b c d e Boucher John Newton 1918 Old and New Westmoreland Volume 4 New York New York The American Historical Society p 654 a b c d National Register of Historical Places Citizens National Bank Latrobe Pennsylvania PDF ARCH Pennsylvania s Historic Architecture amp Archeology Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission Retrieved 2008 09 15 a b c d e f g Koyl George S 1962 American Architects Directory 2nd ed New York New York American Institute of Architects R R Bowker Company p 37 Architects Building Bulletin The Charette 9 1 12 Jan 1929 ISSN 0009 1693 Retrieved 2008 09 07 Architects Building Bulletin The Charette 9 5 9 May 1929 ISSN 0009 1693 Retrieved 2008 09 07 a b c d National Register of Historical Places Academy Hill Historic District PDF ARCH Pennsylvania s Historic Architecture amp Archeology Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission Retrieved 2008 09 06 a b National Register of Historical Places Downtown Greensburg Historic District PDF ARCH Pennsylvania s Historic Architecture amp Archeology Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission Retrieved 2008 09 06 Smith Helene Swetnam George 1991 First published 1976 A Guidebook to Historic Western Pennsylvania Revised and enlarged ed Pittsburgh Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh Press p 338 ISBN 0 8229 5424 9 MacQueen James M Dec 1925 Promoting Pittsburgh Professionally The Charette 5 12 1 3 ISSN 0009 1693 Retrieved 2008 09 07 Architects Building Bulletin The Charette 6 4 16 April 1926 ISSN 0009 1693 Retrieved 2008 09 15 a b Norvelt ExplorePAhistory com WITF Inc Harrisburg Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Retrieved 2008 04 30 a b Ungar Anne Jean November 1953 House with a Future jpg The Charette 33 11 13 15 ISSN 0009 1693 Retrieved 2008 09 17 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Bartholomew amp oldid 1052874895, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
