Appleton P. Clark Jr.

Appleton Prentiss Clark Jr. (November 13, 1865 – March 25, 1955) was an American architect from Washington, D.C. During his 60-year career, Clark was responsible for designing hundreds of buildings in the Washington area, including homes, hotels, churches, apartments and commercial properties. He is considered one of the city's most prominent and influential architects from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of his designs are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Appleton P. Clark Jr.
BornNovember 13, 1865
Washington, D.C.
DiedMarch 25, 1955
St. Petersburg, Florida
NationalityAmerican
OccupationArchitect

Early life

During the Civil War, Clark's family moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., shortly before his birth on November 13, 1865. His father was a lawyer and prominent local Republican who was a strong advocate of voting rights for African Americans.[1][2] After graduating from Central High School in 1883, Clark apprenticed with prominent architect Alfred B. Mullett until 1885. He then traveled to Europe to observe and study the continent's famous buildings, and returned to Washington in 1886 where he opened his own practice. In 1891, he married Vermont native Florence Perry with whom he had two children, Waldo and Marguerite.[3]

Career

Clark originally designed buildings in the Romanesque Revival style, influenced by his time working with Mullett. Examples include Eastern Presbyterian Church (now Imani Temple) at 609 Maryland Avenue NE (built 1891) and the Washington Post Building at 1337 E Street NW (built 1893, razed 1954). Like other architects, his design preferences changed throughout his career. His works include buildings designed in the Colonial Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Renaissance Revival, Shingle and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. Many of his house designs used the Georgian Revival style, including the Thomas Gales House (now the Embassy of Myanmar) at 2300 S Street NW, and the J. Philip Herrmann House (now the Embassy of Syria) at 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW.[1] One of his house designs, built in 1900 for The Washington Post editor Beriah Wilkins, was a 35-room French Colonial mansion at 1711 Massachusetts Avenue NW (demolished) that was one of the largest residences in the city at the time of its construction.[4]

Owl's Nest, designed by Clark in 1897.

Clark's residential designs were not limited to houses. He designed 27 apartment buildings in Washington, D.C., including The Presidential at 1026 16th Street NW, The Rockingham at 1317 Rhode Island Ave NW and The Roosevelt at 2101 16th Street NW.[3][5] Clark also specialized in designing commercial and public properties, including fifteen banks and five schools.[1][6] The only known federal property designed by Clark is the U.S. Civil Service Commission Building.[2]

Clark was active with several professional and business organizations.[3] He was "very active in civic affairs and viewed architecture as a vehicle for civic betterment."[7] He was a member of the Washington Board of Trade and American Institute of Architects (AIA), serving as president of the AIA's local chapter. He also served on the board of directors of the Equitable Life Insurance Company, the Terminal Refrigerating and Warehousing Company, the Washington Hotel Company and the Washington Sanitary Housing Company. Clark was also an author, writing the "History of Architecture in Washington" for Volume II of John Clagett Proctor's Washington: Past and Present, and Institutional Homes for Children, a book advocating for improved residential facilities for orphans. He was a strong advocate for these improved facilities and designed three children's homes in the Washington area.[3]

Later years and legacy

Clark retired around 1945 and maintained two homes, one at 1717 Lanier Place NW in Lanier Heights, and a winter home in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was hospitalized in 1955 for a broken hip while in St. Petersburg and died on March 25.[3] In his obituary, The Washington Post referred to him as the "Dean of Architects."[8] He left an estate of approximately $700,000 to his family members.[9] Clark is now considered one of "Washington's most influential architects" and one of the "most prominent and prolific early twentieth century architects."[2][6]

Several of Clark's designs, including buildings he designed expansions or alterations, are now listed on the NRHP, including: 1644-1666 Park Road NW, 1833 Park Road NW, the Christian Heurich Mansion, Engine Company 21, the John Mercer Langston School, the National Saving And Trust Company, Riggs National Bank, Second Baptist Church, Second National Bank and the U.S. Civil Service Commission Building. Many of his buildings are also designated contributing properties to historic districts throughout the city. In addition, his buildings listed on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites include the Denrike Building, Homer Building, Owl's Nest, Saint Phillips Baptist Church and the Victor Building.[5][6]

Selected works

Bibliography
  • Institutional Homes for Children, W. Helburn, Incorporated, New York, 1945, OCLC 1157353

References
  1. Maloney, David (September 20, 1994). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form - Second National Bank". National Park Service. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  2. Young, Emma (June 2013). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form - U.S. Civil Service Commission Building" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 31, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  3. Williams, Paul Kelsey (2002). "Historic Survey of Shaw East Washington, D.C." Scribd. Archived from the original on January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  4. Hansen, Stephen A. (2014). A History of Dupont Circle: Center of High Society in the Capital. Charleston: The History Press. ISBN 9781625850843.
  5. "District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites" (PDF). District of Columbia Office of Planning - Historic Preservation Office. September 30, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  6. Williams, Kim Prothro (September 2009). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form - Denrike Building" (PDF). District of Columbia Office of Planning - Historic Preservation Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  7. Fletcher, Patsy; Sefton, D.P. (July 2012). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form - John Mercer Langston School" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  8. "Appleton Clark, 89, Dean of Architects". The Washington Post. March 27, 1955.
  9. "$700,000 Left To Family in Clark's Will". The Washington Post. March 31, 1955.
  10. EHT Traceries, Inc. (June 2005). "Intensive-Level Survey of the Washington Heights Area of Washington, D.C." (PDF). Kalorama Citizens Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  11. Hansen, Stephen A. (2011). Kalorama Triangle: The History of a Capital Neighborhood. Charleston: The History Press. p. 63. ISBN 9781609494216.
  12. Eig, Emily Hotaling; Mueller, Julie (July 1989). "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District" (PDF). dc.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  13. "Possible Landmarks". Tenleytown Historical Society. Archived from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  14. National Trust for Historic Preservation pamphlet, Kalorama House and Embassy Tour

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