C. C. Kemble
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Charles C. Kemble (1831–1899) was an American architect, active during the mid-to-late 19th century.


Biography

Charles C. Kemble was born in New York around 1831, but little is known about his early life. He entered Bucknell University in 1856, but did not graduate. By 1868, he was working for Joseph W. Kerr in Pittsburgh, PA, Pittsburgh. In 1870, when he completed his first West Virginia building, he was practicing in Philadelphia."Dedication of Fourth St. Methodist Church, 1870"
. ''http://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/''. n.d. Web.
But, by the time of that year's census, he was living in Wheeling, West Virginia, Wheeling with his wife and two children In 1879, he became supervising architect of the new state capitol at Charleston, with Andrew Peebles of Pittsburgh as primary architect. In 1883, Kemble was appointed supervising architect for the new U. S. Post Office in Charleston, WV, Charleston, where he then moved. The building was built in 1884. Kemble was relieved of his duties at the state capitol that same year, and retired to Pittsburgh. He was in Chicago in 1885, and Harrisburg, PA, Harrisburg by 1896.


Attributions

Buildings in several states have been attributed to Kemble, including: * 1870 - Fourth Street M. E. Church, 4th St., Wheeling, West Virginia. Demolished. * 1872 - Steubenville High School, 420 N. 4th St., Steubenville, Ohio. Demolished. * 1874 - Woodburn Circle#Woodburn Hall, Woodburn Hall, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia.Chambers, S. Allen. ''Buildings of West Virginia''. 2004. * 1875 - Centre Market Square Historic District, St. Alphonsus R. C. School, 2100 Market St., Wheeling, West Virginia. * 1875 - Marshall County Courthouse, 600 7th St., Moundsville, West Virginia. Altered. * 1876 - West Virginia Building, Centennial Exposition, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Demolished * 1877 - Grand Theatre (Washington Hall), 1144 Market St., Wheeling, West Virginia. Heavily altered. * 1880 - West Virginia State Capitol, Capitol, Lee, & Washington Sts., Charleston, West Virginia. Burned 1921.''Engineering News'' 6 Dec. 1879: 1. * 1881 - Sutton Downtown Historic District, Braxton County Courthouse, 300 Main St., Sutton, West Virginia. Additionally, it is likely Kemble designed other buildings which have not yet been attributed to him. Kemble's buildings were designed in a variety of styles, from sedate to elaborately fanciful. The most common architectural style he used was Second Empire (architecture), Second Empire, but overall his buildings were eclectic. Woodburn Hall is the centerpiece of West Virginia University's downtown campus, and is probably Kemble's most memorable structure. It is a stunning example of the Second Empire (architecture), Second Empire style.


References


External links


Braxton County Courthouse


{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemble, Charles C. 1831 births Year of death missing Architects from Charleston, West Virginia Architects from Wheeling, West Virginia