William R. Walker & Son
# William R. Walker & Son

William R. Walker & Son was an American architectural firm in Providence, Rhode Island, active during the years 1881 to 1936. It included partners William Russell Walker (1830–1905), William Howard Walker (1856–1922) and later William Russell Walker II (1884–1936).

## Firm history

William R. Walker began his architectural practice in 1864. Between 1876 and 1881 he partnered with Thomas J. Gould in Walker & Gould. In 1881, the two parted ways to start independent firms. Walker took his son W. Howard Walker into partnership to form the firm of William R. Walker & Son. William R. Walker died in 1905. W. Howard Walker died in 1922, at which point his son William R. Walker II took charge until his own death in 1936.

After the death of the last Walker, the firm was briefly succeeded by Rice & Arnold, the partnership of George H. Rice (1881-1945) and Roy F. Arnold (1884-1972), both draftsmen in the Walker office. Arnold continued to practice architecture in Providence and Pawtucket into the 1950s.

Throughout the firm's history, it was known for its educational buildings. All of the Walkers had important political connections, enabling them to obtain the commissions for these and other civic structures. The part of the Walker legacy that is most commonly passed over is their residential and commercial commissions. Prominent commercial commissions include Providence's Lederer Building (1897), Attleboro's Bronson Building (1903), and the Washington Building (1921) in Providence.

## Partner biographies

### William Russell Walker

William R. Walker was born April 14, 1830, in Seekonk, Massachusetts. He established his architecture practice in 1864, and in 1876 formed the firm of Walker & Gould with Thomas J. Gould. In 1881 Walker formed a partnership with his son, W. Howard Walker, who remained his partner for the rest of his career.

Walker died March 11, 1905, in Pawtucket.

### William Howard Walker

W. Howard Walker was born January 19, 1856, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He attended the public schools and joined his father's office as a draftsman in 1874, becoming his partner in 1881. After his father's death in 1905, he was sole proprietor in the firm until the return of his son from Europe. Like his father, he was an officer in the Rhode Island militia. He joined the American Institute of Architects in 1921.

In 1881 he was married to Hattie B. Hewell of Providence. He died October 19, 1922, in Seekonk, Massachusetts.

### William Russell Walker II

William R. Walker II was born January 28, 1884, in Pawtucket. He attended the Pawtucket schools and Brown University before transferring to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he graduated in 1910. He then studied for a year abroad, travelling in Paris and Rome. In 1911 he returned to Providence, joining his father's firm. Upon his father's death in 1922, he became head of the firm. Like his father and grandfather, he continued the firm's focus on institutional work. In 1932 he was chosen by United States Commissioner of Education William John Cooper to be an advisory architect for school construction. He joined the American Institute of Architects alongside his father in 1921. Unlike his father and grandfather, he apparently had no affiliation with the state militia.

In 1914 he was married to Jessie Philpott of Providence, and they had three daughters. He died September 26, 1936, in Providence.

## Architectural works

### In Providence, Rhode Island

* 1881 - John E. Troup House, 477 Broadway, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1882 - Elmwood Grammar School (former), 15 Vineyard St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1882 - George E. Boyden House, 20 Bainbridge Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1883 - Frank M. Mathewson House, 224 Bowen St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1883 - St. Theresa's R. C. Church, 265 Manton Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* Masonic Temple, 18841884 - Masonic Temple, 127 Dorrance St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Burned in 1896 and replaced by a building designed by Fred. E. Field.
* 1885 - Benjamin F. Vaughan House, 148 Power St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1885 - John McAuslan House, 544 Elmwood Ave., Providence, Rhode Island
   * One of Providence's most fanciful dwellings. Demolished.
* 1885 - Smith Street Primary School, 400 Smith St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1886 - Atwells Avenue Fire Station, 318 Atwells Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1886 - Covell Street Primary School, 231 Amherst St, Providence, Rhode Island
* Christ Episcopal Church, 18871887 - Christ Episcopal Church, 909 Eddy St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Demolished in 2006.
* 1888 - Manton Avenue Grammar School, 917 Manton Ave, Manton, Rhode Island
   * Demolished in 2002.
* 1889 - Boston Store Annex, 140 Union St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1889 - Nicholas and Cyrus M. van Slyck Duplex, 4–6 Young Orchard Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Purchased by Bryant, and variously known as Gardner and Allan Halls. Demolished.
* 1892 - Boston Store (Remodeling), 239 Westminster St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * New facade and the addition of two stories.
* 1893 - James E. Sullivan House, 254 Wayland Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1895 - St. Joseph's R. C. Hospital, 21 Peace St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1896 - Lederer Building, 137 Mathewson St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1897 - Hotel Savoy, 135 Snow St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Demolished in 1994.
* 1900 - Estelle R. Jackson Duplex, 121-123 Benevolent St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1900 - George W. Robertson House, 242 Adelaide Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1903 - Caesar Misch Building, 400 Westminster St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1903 - Cranston Street Armory, 125 Dexter St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1911 - Hanley Building, 56 Pine St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1913 - Armory of Mounted Commands, 1051 N Main St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * The headhouse was built in 1923–1925 from plans by William G. Richards.
* 1914 - Emery Theatre, 79 Mathewson St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Later the Carlton. Demolished in 1954.
* 1914 - Gaiety Theatre, 220 Weybosset St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1915 - Everett Apartments, 111 Everett Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
* Avon Cinema, 1915.1915 - Avon Cinema, 260 Thayer St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1916 - Emery's Majestic Theatre, 201 Washington St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Now home to the Trinity Repertory Company.
* 1916 - Esek Hopkins School, 480 Charles St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1916 - Lederer Mausoleum, Congregation Sons of Israel and David Cemetery, 401 Reservoir Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
   * A Doric temple built of Westerly granite.
* 1916 - Modern Theatre, 440 Westminster St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Demolished in 1966.
* 1916 - Hotel Dreyfus (Remodeling), 95 Mathewson St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1916 - Medical Building, 234 Thayer St, Providence, Rhode Island
* 1917 - Vinton Building, 354 Westminster St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1919 - Rialto Theatre (Remodeling), 121 Mathewson St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Added the Mathewson facade. The auditorium was demolished in 1936.
* 1919 - Watkins Building, 274 Pine St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Built for the D. W. Watkins Company.
* 1921 - Hotel Berkshire Annex, 133 Mathewson St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Now part of the Hotel Providence.
* 1921 - Washington Building, 93 Washington St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1923 - Jewish Orphanage of Rhode Island, 164 Summit Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Remodeled in the 1950s to become Miriam Hospital. Barker & Turoff, architects of the remodeling.
* 1924 - Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences, 235 Benefit St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Now a RISD building.
* 1926 - Henry Barnard School, Rhode Island College of Education, 199 Promenade St, Providence, Rhode Island
   * Now the site of Providence Place.
* 1934 - Gymnasium and Training School, 86 Mount Hope Ave, Rhode Island School for the Deaf, Providence, Rhode Island

### Elsewhere in Providence County, Rhode Island

* 1881 - Ernest W. Tinkham House, 194 East Ave, Harrisville, Rhode Island
* 1882 - John F. Clarke House, 91 Broad St, Valley Falls, Rhode Island
* 1883 - Corliss Safe Manufacturing Works, 72 Fenner St, Cranston, Rhode Island
   * Altered.
* 1884 - First Freewill Baptist Church, 130 Broadway, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
* 1884 - Park Place Congregational Church, 12 Park Pl, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
   * Burned in 1934.
* 1885 - Mauran Avenue School, 186 Mauran Ave, East Providence, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1885 - Middle Street School, 260 Middle St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1886 - 1st Ward Wardroom, 171 Fountain St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
* 5th Ward Wardroom, 18861886 - 5th Ward Wardroom, 47 Mulberry St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
* 1888 - East Providence Town Hall, 145 Taunton Ave, East Providence, Rhode Island
   * Burned in 1976.
* 1888 - United Congregational Church, 75 N Broadway, East Providence, Rhode Island
   * Altered in 1931 by Benjamin W. Wright.
* 1888 - Williams Avenue School, 115 Williams Ave, East Providence, Rhode Island
   * Heavily altered.
* 1889 - Church Hill Grammar School, 81 Park Pl, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
* 1889 - Edgewood School, 185 Norwood Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1889 - Lincoln High School (former), 580 Broad St, Central Falls, Rhode Island
   * Built when Central Falls was a part of Lincoln. Now the City Hall.
* Grove Street School, Pawtucket, 1890.1890 - Grove Street School, 16-26 Grove St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1892 - Charles C. Newall House, 234 Norwood Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
* Town Hall, Valley Falls, 1894.1894 - Cumberland Town Hall, 45 Broad St, Valley Falls, Rhode Island
* 1894 - Pawtucket Armory, 172 Exchange St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
* 1894 - Payne Building, 7 Goff Ave, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1895 - Pawtucket High School (former), 300 Broadway, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
* 1896 - St. Charles Borromeo R. C. School, 62 Daniels St, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1896 - Woonsocket District Courthouse, 24 Front St, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
* 1897 - Masonic Building, 55 High St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1900 - St. Joseph's R. C. Convent, 194 Walcott St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1901 - Social Street School, 706 Social St, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
* 1902 - Harrisville School, 201 Callahan School St, Harrisville, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1904 - Clark Street School, 20 Clark St, Valley Falls, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1904 - South Woodlawn School, 54 Warren Ave, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1908 - Prospect Street School, 329 Prospect St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1913 - Woonsocket Armory, 350 S Main St, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
* 1914 - Central Falls Police Station and Courthouse (former), 507 Broad St, Central Falls, Rhode Island
* 1919 - Clubhouse, Metacomet Country Club, 500 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, East Providence, Rhode Island
* 1919 - Thornton School, 4 School St, Thornton, Rhode Island
* 1920 - Fire Station No. 3, 1384 Cranston St, Cranston, Rhode Island
* 1921 - North Smithfield Memorial Town Building, 1 Main St, Slatersville, Rhode Island
   * Altered.
* 1922 - Arthur E. Platt School, 80 Burnside Ave, Riverside, Rhode Island
* 1924 - Park Theatre, 848 Park Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
* 1927 - Central Falls High School, 24 Summer St, Central Falls, Rhode Island
* 1927 - Cranston High School, 899 Park Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
* 1927 - Fire Station No. 1, 131 Park Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
* 1927 - Masonic Temple, 2121 Smith St, Centerdale, Rhode Island
* 1928 - Chester W. Barrows School, 9 Beachmont Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
* 1929 - East Providence Junior High School (former), 20 Whelden Ave, East Providence, Rhode Island
   * Now known as the Taunton Plaza apartments.
* 1929 - Frank C. Angell Memorial Town Hall, 2000 Smith St, Centerdale, Rhode Island
* 1930 - Edward S. Rhodes School, 164 Shaw Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
* 1935 - Building for Disturbed Men, 16 Wilma Schesler Ln, Rhode Island Hospital for Mental Diseases, Howard, Rhode Island
* 1935 - Building for Disturbed Women, 18 Wilma Schesler Ln, Rhode Island Hospital for Mental Diseases, Howard, Rhode Island

### In Kent County, Rhode Island

* 1886 - District 4 School, 1515 W Shore Rd, Warwick, Rhode Island
* City Hall, Apponaug, 1893.1893 - Warwick Town (City) Hall, 3275 Post Rd, Apponaug, Rhode Island
* 1907 - Pontiac School, Greenwich Ave, Pontiac, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1908 - Kent County Courthouse (Remodeling), 125 Main St, East Greenwich, Rhode Island
   * Presently the East Greenwich Town Hall.
* 1912 - Kentish Artillery Armory, 3259 Post Rd, Apponaug, Rhode Island
* 1915 - Phenix Trust Building, 704 Main St, Phenix, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1916 - Buttonwoods School (former), 3027 W Shore Rd, Buttonwoods, Rhode Island
* 1916 - Cowesett School, 33 Division St, Cowesett, Rhode Island
   * Near East Greenwich. Demolished.
* 1916 - Spring Green School (former), 65 Shippen Ave, Spring Green, Rhode Island
* 1920 - Apponaug School, 20 Centerville Rd, Apponaug, Rhode Island
* 1921 - Miriam A. Duffy School, 10 Harris Ave, Arctic, Rhode Island
* 1924 - Quidnick School, 191 MacArthur Blvd, Quidnick, Rhode Island
* 1926 - West Warwick Junior High School (former), 124 Providence St, River Point, Rhode Island
   * Now an elementary school.
* 1931 - Oakland Beach School, 383 Oakland Beach Ave, Oakland Beach, Rhode Island
   * A WPA project.
* 1932 - Nelson W. Aldrich High School, 789 Post Rd, Warwick, Rhode Island
   * A WPA project. Now a junior high school.

### In Bristol County, Rhode Island

* 1882 - St. Mary's R. C. Church, 645 Main St, Warren, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1888 - George Hail Free Library, 530 Main St, Warren, Rhode Island
* George Hail Free Library (R) and Warren Town Hall (L), Warren, 1888 and 1890.1890 - Warren Town Hall, 514 Main St, Warren, Rhode Island
   * Tower shortened after 1938.
* 1891 - St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 5 Chapel Rd, West Barrington, Rhode Island
* 1896 - Walley School, 260 High St, Bristol, Rhode Island
* 1900 - Oliver School, 151 State St, Bristol, Rhode Island
* 1903 - Drownville School, Lincoln Ave & Walnut Rd, Drownville, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1919 - Maple Avenue School, 310 Maple Ave, Barrington, Rhode Island

### In Washington County, Rhode Island

* 1901 - Westerly Armory, 8 Dixon St, Westerly, Rhode Island
* 1904 - Ashaway School, 12 Hillside Ave, Ashaway, Rhode Island
   * Altered.
* 1907 - North Kingstown High School (former), 99 Phillips St, Wickford, Rhode Island
* 1912 - Westerly Town Hall and Courthouse, 45 Broad St, Westerly, Rhode Island
* 1925 - Doyle House, Exeter School, Exeter, Rhode Island
   * Demolished.
* 1927 - Higgins House, Exeter School, Exeter, Rhode Island
   * Demolished in 2013.

### In Massachusetts

* 1882 - First Universalist Church, 43 N Washington St, North Attleborough, Massachusetts
   * Demolished.
* Goff Memorial Building, Rehoboth, 1915.1884 - Goff Memorial Building, 124 Bay State Rd, Rehoboth, Massachusetts
   * Burned in 1911.
* 1885 - Centenary M. E. Church, 39 N Main St, Attleboro, Massachusetts
   * Heavily altered.
* 1885 - William H. Smith House, 185 S Main St, Attleboro, Massachusetts
* City Hall, Fall River, 1886.1886 - Fall River City Hall (rebuilding), 40 S Main St, Fall River, Massachusetts
   * The building had been gutted by fire. Demolished in the 1960s.
* 1888 - Mellen House, N Main & Franklin Sts, Fall River, Massachusetts
   * Burned in 1943.
* 1889 - Byron W. Anthony House, 527 Rock St, Fall River, Massachusetts
* 1890 - Fall River National Bank Building, 59 N Main St, Fall River, Massachusetts
* 1904 - Bronson Building, 8 N Main St, Attleboro, Massachusetts
* 1910 - Attleboro Armory, 91 Pine St, Attleboro, Massachusetts
* 1915 - Goff Memorial Building, 124 Bay State Rd, Rehoboth, Massachusetts
* 1918 - Empire Theatre, 166 S Main St, Fall River, Massachusetts
   * Demolished.
* 1918 - Sanford Building, 1 Park St, Attleboro, Massachusetts
* 1925 - First National Bank Building, 19 Park St, Attleboro, Massachusetts
* 1932 - Smart Memorial Library (former), 536 Fall River Ave, Luther's Corner, Massachusetts
* 1936 - Hiram Lake Chapel, Rehoboth Village Cemetery, Bay State Rd, Rehoboth, Massachusetts

### In Connecticut

* 1883 - Ponemah Mill No. 2, 555 Norwich Ave, Taftville, Connecticut

### In Maine

* 1905 - Narragansett Hotel, 149 Beach Ave, Kennebunk, Maine

## Associated architects

Several architects were educated in the office of William R. Walker & Son, including:

* Albert H. Humes, Central Falls (1881–1887)
* Franklin R. Hindle, Providence (1892-1895)
* Thomas J. Hill Pierce, Providence (1912–1913)

## Gallery

* Church Hill School, Pawtucket, 1889.
* Pawtucket Armory, Pawtucket, 1894.
* District Courthouse, Woonsocket, 1896.
* St. Matthew's Church, West Barrington, 1891.
* Cranston Street Armory, 1903.
* Emery's Majestic Theatre, 1916.
