Arthur Bates Jennings

FAIA Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) is a postnominal title or membership, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Fellowship is bestowed by the institute on AIA-membe ...

(April 30, 1849 – March 30, 1927) was an American

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

in practice in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

from to 1919.

Life and career

Arthur Bates Jennings was born April 30, 1849, in

North Brookfield, Massachusetts North Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,735 at the 2020 census. The town includes the census-designated place of North Brookfield (CDP). History North Brookfield was first settled in ...

, to Joel Albert Jennings, a lawyer, and Susan Frances (Bates) Jennings. He earned an A.B. from the College of the City of New York in 1870 and received architectural training in the offices of

John Correja John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second Ep ...

George B. Post George Browne Post (December15, 1837November28, 1913) was an American architect trained in the Beaux-Arts tradition. Active from 1869 almost until his death, he was recognized as a master of several contemporary American architectural genres, an ...

and

Russell Sturgis Russell Sturgis (; October 16, 1836 – February 11, 1909) was an American architect and art critic of the 19th and early 20th centuries. He was one of the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1870. Sturgis was born in Baltimore Count ...

. He opened his own office , and initially worked on suburban developments in

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

for Stewart Hartshorn and others. He later became well-known as an architect of public buildings, including churches and college buildings."Guide to the Jennings Photograph Collection

858 __NOTOC__ Year 858 ( DCCCLVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – King Louis the German, summoned by the disaffected Frankish nobles, invades the West Frankish Kin ...

1957 PR 135" ''dlib.nyu.edu/''. New York Historical Society, 2011. Web."Jennings, Arthur Bates" in ''The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography'' 32 (New York: James T. White & Company, 1945): 106–107. Jennings's buildings followed popular styles, and frequently utilized multiple towers and bold ornament. They were constructed across the United States, from

Portland, Maine Portland is the List of municipalities in Maine, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine and the county seat, seat of Cumberland County, Maine, Cumberland County. Portland's population was 68,408 at the 2020 census. The Portland metropolit ...

, to

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

, and at least as far south as

Hot Springs, Arkansas Hot Springs is a resort city in the state of Arkansas and the county seat of Garland County, Arkansas, Garland County. The city is located in the Ouachita Mountains among the U.S. Interior Highlands, and is set among several natural hot springs ...

. He retired from practice in 1919. Jennings became a

Fellow of the American Institute of Architects Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) is a postnominal title or membership, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Fellowship is bestowed by the institute on AIA-memb ...

in 1890.

Personal life

Jennings was married in 1881 Caroline Jerusha Allen of

Meriden, Connecticut Meriden ( ) is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located halfway between the regional cities of New Haven, Connecticut, New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford. The city is part of the South Central Connecticut Planni ...

, and had three children: Edward Allen, Arthur Bates Jr. and Helen Bates. He died March 30, 1927, in

at the age of 79.

Legacy

At least five buildings designed by Jennings have been listed on the United States

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

, though one has been substantially demolished.

Works

In
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

* James V. S. Woolley houses, 115-121 E 91st St,

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

(1876–77) * Lucien C. Warner house, 2042 5th Ave,

(1883, demolished) * Charles L. Guillaume houses, 133-145 W 87th St,

(1884) * Stephen F. Sherman house, 410 Riverside Dr,

(1884, demolished 1906) - Better known as the residence of George Noakes.Lewis, Arnold. ''American Country Houses of the Gilded Age''. New York: Dover, 1982. Print. * Joseph J. Kittell house, 495 Riverside Dr,

(1885, demolished) * David S. Brown houses, 170-176 W 72nd St,

(1886) - Built by Brown and various family members. No. 174, the only survivor, was occupied by Albert S. Roe. No. 172 was occupied by Jacob A. Chamberlain. * E. August Neresheimer house, 176 Malcolm X Blvd,

(1886, demolished 1901) * John J. Gibbons house, 494 Riverside Dr,

(1887, demolished) * Christian Blinn house, 3 W 81st St,

(1888, demolished) * George Daiker houses, 718-730 St Nicholas Ave,

(1889–90) * J. C. Desuris house, 607 W 113th St,

(1889, demolished 1910) *

Webb Institute Webb Institute is a private college focused on engineering and located in Glen Cove, New York. Each graduate of Webb Institute earns a Bachelor of Science degree in naval architecture and marine engineering. The school is noted in the marine indu ...

, Fordham Hill Oval,

the Bronx The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...

(1890–93, demolished) * George E. Clay house, 21-49 45th Rd,

Queens Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

(1891) * Hanover Fire Insurance Company Building, 34 Pine St,

(1893–94, demolished) * Bay Ridge Reformed Church, 8101 Ridge Blvd,

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

(1896–97) * Bedford Presbyterian Church, 1200 Dean St,

(1897)

In the
New York metropolitan area The New York metropolitan area, also called the Tri-State area and sometimes referred to as Greater New York, is the List of cities by GDP, largest metropolitan economy in the world, with a List of U.S. metropolitan areas by GDP, gross metropo ...

* John P. Allen house, 66 New England Ave,

Summit, New Jersey Summit is the northernmost City (New Jersey), city of Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located within the New York metropolitan area. Situated on a ridge in north Jersey, northern–central Jersey, centra ...

(1881, demolished) * Joseph T. Low house, 76 Rumson Rd,

Rumson, New Jersey Rumson is a Borough (New Jersey), borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,343, a ...

(1885, demolished) * S. Bayard Dod house, 302 S Harrison St,

East Orange, New Jersey East Orange is a City (New Jersey), city in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 69,612, an increase of 5,342 (+8.3%) from the 2010 United States ...

(1885, demolished 1941) * Westminster Presbyterian Church, 449 Franklin St,

Bloomfield, New Jersey Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and an inner-ring suburb of Newark. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 53,105, an increase of 5,790 (+12.2%) from the 2010 census cou ...

(1890–92) - Now the Westminster Arts Center of

Bloomfield College Bloomfield College of Montclair State University is a public college in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Bloomfield, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is chartered by the State of New Jersey and Higher education accreditation in the United States, accre ...

. * Summit Library, 10 New England Ave,

(1891, NRHP 2009) * All Saints Memorial Episcopal Church, 201 W Main St,

(1892–93) * First Reformed Church, Clinton and Johnson Aves,

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, and a principal city of the New York metropolitan area. ...

(1898, demolished) * Second Congregational Church, 800 Main St,

Winsted, Connecticut Winsted is a census-designated place and an incorporated city in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of the town of Winchester, Connecticut, Winchester. The population of Winsted was 7,192 at the 2020 United States census, 2 ...

(1898–99) * First Congregational Church, 95 N Main St,

(1900–01) *

Salem Baptist Church Salem Baptist Church is located at 3131 Lake Street in North Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded in 1922, it has played important roles in the history of African Americans in Omaha, and in the city's religious community. Church leadership ...

, 438 Main St,

New Rochelle, New York New Rochelle ( ; in ) is a Political subdivisions of New York State#City, city in Westchester County, New York, Westchester County, New York (state), New York, United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately from Midtow ...

(1904, burned 2011)

Elsewhere

* Warner Hall,

Oberlin College Oberlin College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1833, it is the oldest Mixed-sex education, coeducational lib ...

Oberlin, Ohio Oberlin () is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. It is located about southwest of Cleveland within the Cleveland metropolitan area. The population was 8,555 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Oberlin is the home of Oberlin ...

(1884, demolished)Blodgett, Geoffrey. ''Oberlin Architecture: College and Town''. Oberlin: Oberlin College, 1985. *

Norumbega Castle Norumbega Castle is a historic house at 63 High Street in Camden, Maine. Built in 1886-87 for duplex telegraph inventor Joseph Barker Stearns, it is one of Mid Coast Maine's most elaborate 19th-century summer houses, exhibiting a sophisticated ...

, 63 High St,

Camden, Maine Camden is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,232 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. The population of the town more than triples during the summer months, due to tourists and summer residents. Camden is ...

(1886–87, NRHP 1974) * Norumbega Carriage House, High St,

(1886, NRHP 1982) * Denny Hotel, 3rd Ave and Virginia St,

(1888–93, demolished 1906) - Construction resumed and completed in 1903 as the Washington Hotel. Demolished when Denny Hill was leveled. * Burrage Library,

Olivet College The University of Olivet, formerly known as Olivet College, is a private Christian college in Olivet, Michigan, United States. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It was founded in 1844 by missionaries from Oberlin Coll ...

Olivet, Michigan Olivet is a city in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,517 at the 2020 census. University Of Olivet is located in the city. History From its founding in 1844 through the 1910 census,Spokane, Washington Spokane ( ) is the most populous city in eastern Washington and the county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It lies along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south o ...

(1890, demolished) *

Old Gym The Old Gym is a historic building at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. It currently houses a modern exercise facility featuring cardiovascular, resistance, and strength-training equipment. The building also features a ...

Washington & Jefferson College Washington & Jefferson College (W&J College or W&J) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, United States. The college traces its origin to three Presbyterian m ...

Washington, Pennsylvania Washington, also known as Little Washington to distinguish it from the District of Columbia, is a city in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. The population was 13,176 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 censu ...

(1892–93) * St. Timothy's Protestant Episcopal Church, 226 SE 3rd St,

Massillon, Ohio Massillon is a city in western Stark County, Ohio, United States, along the Tuscarawas River. The population was 32,146 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Massillon is a principal city of the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area, whic ...

(1892, NRHP 1979) * Cranston Street Baptist Church, 475 Cranston St,

Providence, Rhode Island Providence () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Rhode Island, most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The county seat of Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, it is o ...

(1893) * First Baptist Church, 202 Milton Ave,

Ballston Spa, New York Ballston Spa is a village and the county seat of Saratoga County, New York, United States, located southwest of Saratoga Springs. It is part of the Capital Region. The population of the village, named after Rev. Eliphalet Ball, a Congregational ...

(1896) * Penn Yan M. E. Church, 166 Main St,

Penn Yan, New York Penn Yan is an incorporated Village (New York), village and the county seat of Yates County, New York, Yates County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 5,159 at the 2010 census. It lies at the north end of the east bran ...

(1897–99) * St. Lawrence Congregational Church, 76 Congress St,

(1897, NRHP 1979, demolished 2008) - Parish house extant. * Grace Street Baptist Church, Grace and Foushee Sts,

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

(1898, burned) * New England Congregational Church, 125 Circular St,

Saratoga Springs, New York Saratoga Springs is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the United States Census 2020, 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the ...

(1900) * First Baptist Church, 301 S Pittsburgh St,

Connellsville, Pennsylvania Connellsville is a City (Pennsylvania), city in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States, southeast of Pittsburgh and away via the Youghiogheny River, a tributary of the Monongahela River. It is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Th ...

(1901–03) * First Reformed Church, 23 Kinderhook St,

Chatham, New York Chatham is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Columbia County, New York, Columbia County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 4,104 at the 2020 census, down from the 2010 census.US Census Bureau, 2020 ...

(1901) * First Baptist Church, E Jefferson St and 2nd St NE,

Charlottesville, Virginia Charlottesville, colloquially known as C'ville, is an independent city (United States), independent city in Virginia, United States. It is the county seat, seat of government of Albemarle County, Virginia, Albemarle County, which surrounds the ...

(1904, burned) * Central M. E. Church, Central Ave and Chapel St,

(1908, burned) * First Baptist Church, 229 N King St,

Hampton, Virginia Hampton is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 137,148 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, seve ...

(1909, burned 1914)''Manufacturers' Record'' 1 July 1909: 70. * First Baptist Church, Westover and Moran Aves,

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, third-most populous city ...

(1909–10, burned) * Rice Memorial Hall,

(1909–10, altered) * First M. E. Church, 17 E 6th St,

Dunkirk, New York Dunkirk is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, city in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. It was settled around 1805 and incorporated in 1880. The population was 12,743 as of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Dunkirk ...

(1916)

References

External links

The Jennings Photograph Collection
at the New-York Historical Society
Church designs : also residence and college buildings
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jennings, Arthur Bates 1849 births 1927 deaths City College of New York alumni Architects from Massachusetts Architects from New York City Fellows of the American Institute of Architects People from North Brookfield, Massachusetts