James H. Windrim

James Hamilton Windrim (January 4, 1840 – April 26, 1919) was a Philadelphia architect who specialized in public buildings.

Biography
Bust of James H. Windrim (1898-1901) by Samuel Murray.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he apprenticed under John Notman, and opened his own office in 1867. That same year, at age 27, he won the design competition for the Philadelphia Masonic Temple, the building for which he is best remembered.

In 1871, he was named architect for the Stephen Girard Estate, designing several buildings at Girard College and a complex of stores on Market Street that became Snellenburg's Department Store. As Supervising Architect for the U.S. Treasury Department, 1889–91, he was responsible for all federal construction. He designed at least sixteen federal buildings across the country that consolidated post offices, federal offices and federal courts. He returned to his native city, and served as Director of Public Works for the City of Philadelphia, 1891-95.

He served as president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, 1879-86. His son, John T. Windrim, joined his architectural firm in 1882 (James H. Windrim & Son), and took over after the father's retirement. Windrim died in Philadelphia at age 79.

Windrim designed the Smith Memorial Arch in West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, which features a bronze bust of him by sculptor Samuel Murray.

Selected works

Philadelphia buildings
Philadelphia Masonic Temple, Philadelphia, PA (1868-73).

Demolished Philadelphia buildings
  • Philadelphia Trust, Safe Deposit and Insurance Company, 415 Chestnut Street (1873–74, demolished 1959).[8]
  • Agricultural Hall, Centennial Exposition, West Fairmount Park (1875–76, demolished).
  • Snellenberg's Department Store, 1100-42 Market Street (1886–87, remodeled and upper floors demolished 1960s, remainder demolished 2015).[9] Built by the Stephen Girard Estate.
  • Western Saving Fund Society, 1000-08 Walnut Street (ca. 1887, demolished 1967).[10]
  • Bank of North America, 305-07 Chestnut Street (1893–95, demolished 1972), with John T. Windrim.[11]

Buildings elsewhere
  • National Saving And Trust Company, New York Avenue & Fifteenth Street NW, Washington, D.C. (1888).
  • U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (now Paul Laxalt State Building), 401 Carson Street, Carson City, Nevada (1888–91), designed by Mifflin E. Bell, completed by Windrim.[12]
  • Altoona Masonic Temple, 1111-19 Eleventh Street, Altoona, Pennsylvania (1889–90).[13]
  • U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (now Abingdon Police Department), 425 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia (1889–90), with Will A. Freret.[14]
  • U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (now Lancaster Municipal Building), 120 North Duke Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania (1889–92).[15]
  • U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (now Mississippi River Commission Building), 1400 Walnut Street, Vicksburg, Mississippi (1890–92).
  • U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, Scranton, Pennsylvania (1890–94, demolished 1930).
  • U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (Detroit Federal Building), Shelby & Fort Streets, Detroit, Michigan (1890–97, demolished 1931).[16]
  • U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (now Springfield City Hall), 830 Boonville Avenue, Springfield, Missouri (1891–94), with Willoughby J. Edbrooke.[17]
  • U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, Sacramento, California (1891–94, demolished 1966).[18]

References
  1. Philadelphia Masonic Temple from HABS.
  2. Kemble-Bergdoll Mansion from Flickr.
  3. Falls Bridge from HABS.
  4. Smith Memorial Playground
  5. Smith Memorial Arch from HABS.
  6. Commonwealth Title Building from Flickr.
  7. Lafayette Building with proposed glass tower from "Changing Skyline," Philadelphia Inquirer.
  8. Philadelphia Trust from HABS.
  9. Snellenberg's from Bryn Mawr College.
  10. Western Saving Fund from HABS.
  11. Bank of North America from HABS.
  12. Carson City Post Office and Courthouse from HABS.
  13. Altoona Masonic Temple from HABS.
  14. Abingdon Post Office and Courthouse from Federal Judicial Center.
  15. Lancaster Post Office and Courthouse from HABS.
  16. Detroit Federal Building Archived 2010-02-27 at the Wayback Machine from Buildings of Detroit.
  17. Springfield City Hall from Flickr.
  18. Sacramento Post Office and Courthouse from Western Legal History.
Preceded by
William A. Freret		 Office of the Supervising Architect
1889–1891		 Succeeded by
Willoughby J. Edbrooke
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