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William Appleton Potter

December 10, 2023

William Appleton Potter (December 10, 1842 – February 19, 1909) was an American architect who designed numerous buildings for Princeton University, as well as municipal offices and churches. He served as a Supervising Architect of the Treasury from 1874 to 1877.

Alexander Hall, Princeton University (1891-94)

Biography edit

Born in 1842 in Schenectady, New York, Potter grew up in Philadelphia, where he attended Episcopal Academy. He then returned to his birthplace to matriculate at Union College as a member of the Class of 1864.[1] Potter was the son of Bishop Alonzo Potter and had eight brothers, including:

He became an assistant professor at Columbia College, where he taught chemistry for a year, after which he spent another year touring France. His collegiate background distinguished him from most architects of the first half of the 19th century, who received their training through apprenticeship in the building trades and sometimes in the offices of practicing architects. The apprenticeship tradition was still strong, however, and Potter received his professional training first in the New York office of George B. Post, and then in his half-brother's office at Schenectady.[2]

Potter died February 19, 1909. Among his apprentices was the architect James Brown Lord.

Career edit

 
Chancellor Green Library, Princeton University (1871-73).
 
St Martin's Church, Harlem, New York City (1888).

Chancellor Green Library (1871–1873) for Princeton University was Potter's first major commission. In it, he took the High Victorian Gothic vocabulary and octagonal form used by his half-brother for the Nott Memorial at Union College, and elaborated it into a complex interplay of octagons of various sizes and shapes. For Princeton, retaining Potter represented a shift from dependence on Philadelphia architects to a New York practitioner. He would receive from the college an honorary Master of Arts degree in 1872, and go on to design several other buildings on campus.

From 1874 to 1877, Potter served as supervising architect of the United States Treasury. Under his supervision, designs were produced for customhouses, courthouses, and post offices in Kentucky, Indiana, Massachusetts, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Concurrent with his years at the U.S. Treasury, Potter formed a partnership with Robert Henderson Robertson. From 1875 to 1881, along with major public projects, the firm produced summer vacation cottages in Newport, Rhode Island, and the Jersey Shore, as well as the Adam-Derby House at Oyster Bay, New York.[3]

Commissions edit

Greenwich Point edit

Potter was the uncle of Mrs. J. Kennedy Tod (Maria Howard Potter) daughter of Howard Potter, and in 1887 Potter designed Innis Arden House and several other buildings for Mr. and Mrs. Tod's Greenwich, Connecticut estate, known as Innis Arden. Today the 147-acre (0.59 km2) estate is a public park in Greenwich, known as Greenwich Point. Several original buildings designed by Potter remain on the property, including the Old Barn (circa 1887), which is the oldest extant building at Greenwich Point and was fully restored by the Greenwich Point Conservancy 2016. In addition, the Innis Arden Cottage, which was designed by an associate of Potter, Katherine C. Budd, an early and prominent woman and architect, remains on the property as well. The 1903 Innis Arden Cottage was completely restored by the Greenwich Point Conservancy between 2005 - 2011. Both the Old Barn and the Innis Arden Cottage are open to the public.

Gallery edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Selden, William K. (2004). Alexander Hall, home of Richardson Auditorium : a chronicle of Alexander Hall's significance in the development of the Princeton University Campus. Princeton, NY: The Trustees of Princeton University. p. 21. OCLC 57147520.
  2. ^ (August 1989) Princeton History, Number 8 http://etcweb.princeton.edu/CampusWWW/Otherdocs/history.html
  3. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  4. ^ "SAH ARCHIPEDIA". sah-archipedia.org. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  5. ^ AIA Guide to New York City, MacMillan, 1967, page 452

References edit

  • Sarah Bradford Landau, Edward T. and William A. Potter: American Victorian Architects; Garland Publishing; New York and London 1979

December 10, 2023
william, appleton, potter, december, 1842, february, 1909, american, architect, designed, numerous, buildings, princeton, university, well, municipal, offices, churches, served, supervising, architect, treasury, from, 1874, 1877, alexander, hall, princeton, un. William Appleton Potter December 10 1842 February 19 1909 was an American architect who designed numerous buildings for Princeton University as well as municipal offices and churches He served as a Supervising Architect of the Treasury from 1874 to 1877 Alexander Hall Princeton University 1891 94 Contents 1 Biography 2 Career 3 Commissions 4 Greenwich Point 5 Gallery 6 Notes 7 ReferencesBiography editBorn in 1842 in Schenectady New York Potter grew up in Philadelphia where he attended Episcopal Academy He then returned to his birthplace to matriculate at Union College as a member of the Class of 1864 1 Potter was the son of Bishop Alonzo Potter and had eight brothers including Clarkson Nott Potter 1825 1882 Democratic member of the House of Representatives after the Civil War Howard Potter 1826 1897 Banker Senior Partner in Brown Shipley Robert Brown Potter 1829 1887 United States General in the Civil War Henry Codman Potter 1835 1908 succeeded Horatio Potter as Bishop of New York in 1887 Eliphalet Nott Potter 1836 1901 professor and president of Union College and Hobart College Potter s half brother Edward Tuckerman Potter 1831 1904 architect who designed the Nott Memorial at Union CollegeHe became an assistant professor at Columbia College where he taught chemistry for a year after which he spent another year touring France His collegiate background distinguished him from most architects of the first half of the 19th century who received their training through apprenticeship in the building trades and sometimes in the offices of practicing architects The apprenticeship tradition was still strong however and Potter received his professional training first in the New York office of George B Post and then in his half brother s office at Schenectady 2 Potter died February 19 1909 Among his apprentices was the architect James Brown Lord Career edit nbsp Chancellor Green Library Princeton University 1871 73 nbsp St Martin s Church Harlem New York City 1888 Chancellor Green Library 1871 1873 for Princeton University was Potter s first major commission In it he took the High Victorian Gothic vocabulary and octagonal form used by his half brother for the Nott Memorial at Union College and elaborated it into a complex interplay of octagons of various sizes and shapes For Princeton retaining Potter represented a shift from dependence on Philadelphia architects to a New York practitioner He would receive from the college an honorary Master of Arts degree in 1872 and go on to design several other buildings on campus From 1874 to 1877 Potter served as supervising architect of the United States Treasury Under his supervision designs were produced for customhouses courthouses and post offices in Kentucky Indiana Massachusetts Georgia and Tennessee Concurrent with his years at the U S Treasury Potter formed a partnership with Robert Henderson Robertson From 1875 to 1881 along with major public projects the firm produced summer vacation cottages in Newport Rhode Island and the Jersey Shore as well as the Adam Derby House at Oyster Bay New York 3 Commissions editSouth Congregational Church Springfield Massachusetts 1871 1875 Chancellor Green Library Princeton University 1871 1873 John C Green School of Science Princeton 1873 1875 razed Berkshire Athenaeum Pittsfield Massachusetts 1874 1876 Belleville Avenue Congregational Church Newark New Jersey 1874 Witherspoon Hall Princeton 1875 1877 Stuart Hall at Princeton Theological Seminary 1875 1877 The University Hotel Princeton 1875 1877 with partner Robert Henderson Robertson razed Charles H Baldwin House Newport Rhode Island 1877 78 with partner Robert Henderson Robertson St James Protestant Episcopal Chapel known as the Church of the Presidents Elberon New Jersey 1879 with partner Robert Henderson Robertson Trinity Episcopal Church Shelburne Vermont 1886 1898 4 Christ Church Poughkeepsie New York 1887 1889 St Martin s Church 230 Lenox Avenue 1888 5 NYCL St Mary s in Tuxedo Episcopal Church Tuxedo Park New York 1888 St Agnes Chapel New York City 1890 1892 razed 1944 Alexander Hall Princeton 1891 1894 Church of St Paul amp St Andrew 236 West 86th Street 1895 First Reformed Dutch church Somerville New Jersey 1896 1897 East Pyne Building Princeton 1896 1897 Church of the Divine Paternity Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York 160 Central Park West 1898 Advent Lutheran Church New York City 1900 Townhouse 33 East 67th Street New York New York 1903 St John s Episcopal Church 628 Main Street Stamford CT 1891Greenwich Point editPotter was the uncle of Mrs J Kennedy Tod Maria Howard Potter daughter of Howard Potter and in 1887 Potter designed Innis Arden House and several other buildings for Mr and Mrs Tod s Greenwich Connecticut estate known as Innis Arden Today the 147 acre 0 59 km2 estate is a public park in Greenwich known as Greenwich Point Several original buildings designed by Potter remain on the property including the Old Barn circa 1887 which is the oldest extant building at Greenwich Point and was fully restored by the Greenwich Point Conservancy 2016 In addition the Innis Arden Cottage which was designed by an associate of Potter Katherine C Budd an early and prominent woman and architect remains on the property as well The 1903 Innis Arden Cottage was completely restored by the Greenwich Point Conservancy between 2005 2011 Both the Old Barn and the Innis Arden Cottage are open to the public Gallery edit nbsp Berkshire Athenaeum Pittsfield Massachusetts 1874 76 nbsp Witherspoon Hall Princeton University 1875 77 nbsp Charles H Baldwin House Newport Rhode Island 1877 78 Potter amp Robertson nbsp Church of the Presidents Elberon New Jersey 1879 Potter amp Robertson nbsp St Mary s in Tuxedo Episcopal Church Tuxedo Park New York 1888 nbsp Alexander Hall auditorium Princeton University 1891 94 nbsp East Pyne Hall Princeton University 1896 97 nbsp Church of the Divine Paternity Fourth Universalist Society New York New York 1898 Notes edit Selden William K 2004 Alexander Hall home of Richardson Auditorium a chronicle of Alexander Hall s significance in the development of the Princeton University Campus Princeton NY The Trustees of Princeton University p 21 OCLC 57147520 August 1989 Princeton History Number 8 http etcweb princeton edu CampusWWW Otherdocs history html National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 SAH ARCHIPEDIA sah archipedia org Retrieved 2015 08 03 AIA Guide to New York City MacMillan 1967 page 452References editSarah Bradford Landau Edward T and William A Potter American Victorian Architects Garland Publishing New York and London 1979Preceded byAlfred B Mullett Office of the Supervising Architect1874 1877 Succeeded byJames G Hill Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Appleton Potter amp oldid 1169324316, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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