Thomas Somerville Stewart was born to a Scottish family living in Ireland (Scots Irish), he immigrated to Philadelphia in 1818 to apprentice to his uncle, a carpenter. Late in life, he married Clara Eleanor Saurmein. They are buried together at Woodlands Cemetery, Philadelphia in Section L, Lot # 63.[1] They had two sons, Thomas Somerville Stewart, Jr., M. D. and Ralph Chambers Stewart. Stewart was an Episcopalian and attended St. Luke's Church in Philadelphia until his death. He is memorialized there with a stained glass window on the north wall of the nave. A scholarship for students of architecture in Stewart's name was founded in 1901 by his wife and sons at the University of Pennsylvania.[2]
In 1836, he ran for a position on the City Common Council and received 3,251 votes; an insufficient number to be qualified to hold office.[3] Stewart was a member of the Board of Directors of Girard College for the term from 1856 to 1869.[4] Additionally, he was a Director of the Fire Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania.[5]
Professional lifeedit
Stewart apprenticed as a carpenter under his uncle Thomas Stewart until his uncle's death in 1822. He continued his apprenticeship with John Guilder until 1827, staying in his employment as a journeyman until 1829.[6] Stewart began his career building houses, taking advantage of the building boom occurring in Philadelphia at that time. He was able to buy up properties thanks to the inheritance he received from his uncle's estate. He began entering architectural competitions in the early 1830s, notably Girard College Founder's Hall and the Preston Retreat - he was bested in both instances by Thomas Ustick Walter. Stewart's first completed architectural commission was Pennsylvania Hall. An auspicious beginning to his career, it only stood three days before being burned to the ground by an anti-abolitionist mob.
Stewart's first prominent commission was St. Luke's Episcopal Church on 13th Street in Philadelphia. The competition came with a $100 prize for the winning entry. He won the competition with a corinthian design in the manner of the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates. The original design provided for a 200 foot high steeple in the manner of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, although the lack of available funds precluded its construction. Upon the church's completion, the Philadelphia Public Ledger reported: "The interior is exceedingly beautiful and chaste. Without pretending to give a detailed description, we state that above the floor every thing, even to the glass of the windows, is of a pure white, and in every section of the church is introduced the richest and most elaborate carving and molding in wood and plaster. Even the organ is of this color and in this style. It is praised as a superb instrument. The pews are represented as of oak and the damask covering them is of a corresponding color. The effect is remarkably fine." Several years later, the building committee from St. Paul's Church in Richmond was impressed enough with this church that they asked Stewart to design for them a church along the same lines. His work at St. Paul's led to his final large commission for the Egyptian Revival hall for the Medical College of Richmond.
By the mid-1850s, Stewart was listed in city directories as an architect and civil engineer. Stewart was employed by the County of Philadelphia to design a bridge over the Schuyllkill River at Chestnut Street, resulting in the publication of two volumes, "Report on the designs for a malleable iron viaduct across the Schuylkill at Chestnut Street (1854)" and "Report on the tubular arch viaduct to be constructed of malleable iron, across the Schuylkill at Chestnut Street (1855)."[7] The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Highways recommended the adoption of his design, yet it was never executed.[8] Other references to municipal work include an appointment by the Count Commissioners to inspect a municipal prison hospital in 1854[9] and surveying work in Passyunk after Philadelphia's consolidation[10]
He likely received his initial training at the Franklin Institute (joining as a life member in 1831) although rosters of the drawing class no longer survive for that period.[11] As a member of the Franklin Institute, he served on the Committee on the Cabinet of Models[12] and later on the Committees of the Library and Exhibitions.[13] He was also a manager of the Institute.[14][15] In 1868, he was a member of a committee of the Franklin Institute which evaluated the recent patent for a fireproof floor assembly which would now be considered "composite decking."[16]
1854-55 - Bridge over the Schuylkill River at Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA (Unbuilt)
1861 - St. Luke's Church, Chapel addition, Philadelphia, PA (Unbuilt)
Photographsedit
Obelisk headstone for Thomas and Clara Stewart at Woodlands Cemetery
External linksedit
^"Distinguished Persons List". Retrieved 1 Nov 2012.
^University of Pennsylvania Annual Report of the Provost to the Board of Trustees from September 1, 1900 to September 1, 1901. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania. 1901. p. 242.
^Journal of the Select Council Beginning Friday October 14, 1836,- Ending Thursday October 5, 1837. Philadelphia: Charles Alexander. 1837. p. 2.
^Tatman, Sandra (1898). Semi-centennial of Girard College. : Biographical sketch of Stephen Girard, his will, and other papers relating to the college and its development and government. Account of the exercises on the occasion of the celebration of the opening of the college, January 3, 1898. Philadelphia: Girard College. p. 163.
^The United States Insurance Gazette and Magazine. New York: G. E. Currie. 1859. p. 471.
^Biographical Dictionary of Philadelphia Architects. Philadelphia: The Athenaeum of Philadelphia. 1985. pp. 763, 764.
^Tatman, Sandra; Moss, Rodger (1985). Biographical Dictionary of Philadelphia Architects. Philadelphia: The Athenaeum of Philadelphia. p. 764.
^Journal of the Consolidated Council of the City of Philadelphia Beginning May 7, 1855, ending November 1, 1855 Vol. III. Philadelphia: William H. Sickles. 1855. p. 210.
^Journal of the Common Council Beginning June 12, ending December 12, 1854. Philadelphia: William H. Sickles. 1854. p. 341.
^Journal of the Consolidated Council of the City of Philadelphia Beginning May 7, 1855, ending November 1, 1855 Vol. III. Philadelphia: William H. Sickles. 1855. p. 341.
^Cohen, Jeffrey A. (1994). "Building a Discipline: Early Institutional Settings for Architectural Education in Philadelphia, 1804-1890". Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians. University of California Press. 53 (2): 149. doi:10.2307/990890. JSTOR 990890.
^Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, Vol. XXIII. Philadelphia: The Franklin Institute. 1839. p. 95.
^Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, Vol. LXVII. Philadelphia: The Franklin Institute. 1859. p. 215.
^M'Elroy's Philadelphia City Directory, Vol. 18. Philadelphia: Biddle. 1855. p. 91.
^Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, Vol. LXV. Philadelphia: The Franklin Institute. 1858. p. 140.
^Sloane, Samuel (1869). The Architectural and American Builder's Journal Vol. I. Philadelphia: Claxton, Remsen, Haffelfinger. p. 66.
thomas, somerville, stewart, 1806, 1889, philadelphia, architect, engineer, real, estate, developer, contents, personal, life, professional, life, building, list, photographs, external, linkspersonal, life, edit, born, scottish, family, living, ireland, scots,. Thomas Somerville Stewart 1806 May 3 1889 was a Philadelphia architect engineer and real estate developer Contents 1 Personal life 2 Professional life 3 Building list 4 Photographs 5 External linksPersonal life editThomas Somerville Stewart was born to a Scottish family living in Ireland Scots Irish he immigrated to Philadelphia in 1818 to apprentice to his uncle a carpenter Late in life he married Clara Eleanor Saurmein They are buried together at Woodlands Cemetery Philadelphia in Section L Lot 63 1 They had two sons Thomas Somerville Stewart Jr M D and Ralph Chambers Stewart Stewart was an Episcopalian and attended St Luke s Church in Philadelphia until his death He is memorialized there with a stained glass window on the north wall of the nave A scholarship for students of architecture in Stewart s name was founded in 1901 by his wife and sons at the University of Pennsylvania 2 In 1836 he ran for a position on the City Common Council and received 3 251 votes an insufficient number to be qualified to hold office 3 Stewart was a member of the Board of Directors of Girard College for the term from 1856 to 1869 4 Additionally he was a Director of the Fire Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania 5 Professional life editStewart apprenticed as a carpenter under his uncle Thomas Stewart until his uncle s death in 1822 He continued his apprenticeship with John Guilder until 1827 staying in his employment as a journeyman until 1829 6 Stewart began his career building houses taking advantage of the building boom occurring in Philadelphia at that time He was able to buy up properties thanks to the inheritance he received from his uncle s estate He began entering architectural competitions in the early 1830s notably Girard College Founder s Hall and the Preston Retreat he was bested in both instances by Thomas Ustick Walter Stewart s first completed architectural commission was Pennsylvania Hall An auspicious beginning to his career it only stood three days before being burned to the ground by an anti abolitionist mob Stewart s first prominent commission was St Luke s Episcopal Church on 13th Street in Philadelphia The competition came with a 100 prize for the winning entry He won the competition with a corinthian design in the manner of the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates The original design provided for a 200 foot high steeple in the manner of St Martin in the Fields although the lack of available funds precluded its construction Upon the church s completion the Philadelphia Public Ledger reported The interior is exceedingly beautiful and chaste Without pretending to give a detailed description we state that above the floor every thing even to the glass of the windows is of a pure white and in every section of the church is introduced the richest and most elaborate carving and molding in wood and plaster Even the organ is of this color and in this style It is praised as a superb instrument The pews are represented as of oak and the damask covering them is of a corresponding color The effect is remarkably fine Several years later the building committee from St Paul s Church in Richmond was impressed enough with this church that they asked Stewart to design for them a church along the same lines His work at St Paul s led to his final large commission for the Egyptian Revival hall for the Medical College of Richmond By the mid 1850s Stewart was listed in city directories as an architect and civil engineer Stewart was employed by the County of Philadelphia to design a bridge over the Schuyllkill River at Chestnut Street resulting in the publication of two volumes Report on the designs for a malleable iron viaduct across the Schuylkill at Chestnut Street 1854 and Report on the tubular arch viaduct to be constructed of malleable iron across the Schuylkill at Chestnut Street 1855 7 The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Highways recommended the adoption of his design yet it was never executed 8 Other references to municipal work include an appointment by the Count Commissioners to inspect a municipal prison hospital in 1854 9 and surveying work in Passyunk after Philadelphia s consolidation 10 He likely received his initial training at the Franklin Institute joining as a life member in 1831 although rosters of the drawing class no longer survive for that period 11 As a member of the Franklin Institute he served on the Committee on the Cabinet of Models 12 and later on the Committees of the Library and Exhibitions 13 He was also a manager of the Institute 14 15 In 1868 he was a member of a committee of the Franklin Institute which evaluated the recent patent for a fireproof floor assembly which would now be considered composite decking 16 Stewart was admitted to membership in the Athenaeum of Philadelphia in 1874 Building list edit1833 Girard College Founder s Hall Philadelphia PA Unsuccessful competitor 1834 Joint Library Philadelphia PA Unsuccessful competitor Unbuilt 1837 Preston Retreat Philadelphia PA Unsuccessful competitor 1838 Pennsylvania Hall Philadelphia PA destroyed by arson 1840 St Luke s Church Philadelphia PA 1845 Virginia Commonwealth University s Egyptian Building Richmond VA 1845 St Paul s Church Richmond VA 1853 St Luke s Church Chancel renovation Philadelphia PA 1854 55 Bridge over the Schuylkill River at Chestnut Street Philadelphia PA Unbuilt 1861 St Luke s Church Chapel addition Philadelphia PA Unbuilt Photographs edit nbsp Obelisk headstone for Thomas and Clara Stewart at Woodlands CemeteryExternal links edit Distinguished Persons List Retrieved 1 Nov 2012 University of Pennsylvania Annual Report of the Provost to the Board of Trustees from September 1 1900 to September 1 1901 Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania 1901 p 242 Journal of the Select Council Beginning Friday October 14 1836 Ending Thursday October 5 1837 Philadelphia Charles Alexander 1837 p 2 Tatman Sandra 1898 Semi centennial of Girard College Biographical sketch of Stephen Girard his will and other papers relating to the college and its development and government Account of the exercises on the occasion of the celebration of the opening of the college January 3 1898 Philadelphia Girard College p 163 The United States Insurance Gazette and Magazine New York G E Currie 1859 p 471 Biographical Dictionary of Philadelphia Architects Philadelphia The Athenaeum of Philadelphia 1985 pp 763 764 Tatman Sandra Moss Rodger 1985 Biographical Dictionary of Philadelphia Architects Philadelphia The Athenaeum of Philadelphia p 764 Journal of the Consolidated Council of the City of Philadelphia Beginning May 7 1855 ending November 1 1855 Vol III Philadelphia William H Sickles 1855 p 210 Journal of the Common Council Beginning June 12 ending December 12 1854 Philadelphia William H Sickles 1854 p 341 Journal of the Consolidated Council of the City of Philadelphia Beginning May 7 1855 ending November 1 1855 Vol III Philadelphia William H Sickles 1855 p 341 Cohen Jeffrey A 1994 Building a Discipline Early Institutional Settings for Architectural Education in Philadelphia 1804 1890 Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians University of California Press 53 2 149 doi 10 2307 990890 JSTOR 990890 Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts Vol XXIII Philadelphia The Franklin Institute 1839 p 95 Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts Vol LXVII Philadelphia The Franklin Institute 1859 p 215 M Elroy s Philadelphia City Directory Vol 18 Philadelphia Biddle 1855 p 91 Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts Vol LXV Philadelphia The Franklin Institute 1858 p 140 Sloane Samuel 1869 The Architectural and American Builder s Journal Vol I Philadelphia Claxton Remsen Haffelfinger p 66 1 Short biography of Thomas Somerville Stewart Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Somerville Stewart amp oldid 1186227954, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
