James Addison Johnson (October 7, 1865 – April 5, 1939) was an American architect known for his design of various architectural landmarks in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

, and his use of decorative work that many consider a foreshadowing of

art deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...

design.

Early life

John Addison Johnson was born October 7, 1865, in

Brewerton, New York Brewerton is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Cicero in Onondaga County and the town of Hastings in Oswego County in the U.S. state of New York and a northern suburb of the city of Syracuse. It lies at the west end of Oneida Lake at ...

, near

Syracuse, New York Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States. With a population of 148,620 and a Syracuse metropolitan area, metropolitan area of 662,057, it is the fifth-most populated city and 13 ...

, the son of Garrison Barrett Johnson and Katherine Eliza (

née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...

Beckwith) Johnson.

Career

Johnson apprenticed and partnered with prominent

Western New York Western New York (WNY) is the westernmost region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. The eastern boundary of the region is not consistently defined by state agencies or those who call themselves "Western New Yorkers". Almost all so ...

architect

Edward Austin Kent Edward Austin Kent (February 19, 1854 – April 15, 1912) was a prominent architect in Buffalo, New York. He died in the sinking of the RMS ''Titanic'' and was seen helping women and children into the lifeboats. Biography Edward Austin Kent wa ...

and later with

Central New York The central region of New York state includes: * Auburn in Cayuga County * Cortland in Cortland County * Oneida in Madison County * Syracuse, the largest city of Central New York, in Onondaga County * Fulton and Oswego in Oswego County ...

architect Silsbee & Marling. He also worked for

Richard Morris Hunt Richard Morris Hunt (October 31, 1827 – July 31, 1895) was an American architect of the nineteenth century and an eminent figure in the history of architecture of the United States. He helped shape New York City with his designs for the 1902 ...

firm and in 1890, he joined the firm of

McKim, Mead and White McKim, Mead & White was an American architectural firm based in New York City. The firm came to define architectural practice, urbanism, and the ideals of the American Renaissance in ''fin de siècle'' New York. The firm's founding partners, Cha ...

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 ...

as an assistant. In 1892, Johnson came to Buffalo and continue his architectural practice. Significant projects from this period include the Alexander Main Curtiss House designed with partner James Marling. Johnson partnered with James Marling after Marling's previous partner, Herbert C Burdett died. After Marling's death, Johnson, at the age of 32, formed a partnership with the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

born and trained architect August Esenwein. From its inception in 1897,

Esenwein & Johnson Esenwein & Johnnson was an architectural firm of Buffalo, New York. Firm history It was a partnership of German-born August Esenwein (1856-1926) and James A. Johnson (1865-1939). The partnership was started in 1898; the firm designed "many of Bu ...

was one of the most successful architectural firms of the time and is credited with the design of many buildings that have become

landmarks. These include the

Niagara Mohawk Building The Niagara Mohawk Building is an art deco classic building in Syracuse, New York. The building was built in 1932 and was headquarters for the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, what was "then the nation's largest electric utility company". The ...

, the

United Office Building United Office Building, now known as The Giacomo, is a historic Mayan Revival, a subset of art deco, skyscraper in Niagara Falls, New York, US. Description The United Office Building was designed by architect James A. Johnson of Esenwein & Jo ...

in Niagara Falls, New York, the

Ellicott Square Building The Ellicott Square Building is a historic office complex, completed in 1896, located in Buffalo, New York. It is found within the Joseph Ellicott Historic District. History The Ellicott Square Building was designed by Charles Atwood of D. H. ...

and various buildings for the

Pan-American Exposition The Pan-American Exposition was a world's fair held in Buffalo, New York, United States, from May 1 through November 2, 1901. The fair occupied of land on the western edge of what is now Delaware Park–Front Park System, Delaware Park, extending ...

notably the

Temple of Music The Temple of Music was a concert hall and auditorium built for the Pan-American Exposition which was held in Buffalo, New York, Buffalo, New York (state), New York in 1901. President of the United States, United States President William McKinle ...

(infamous as the site where President

William McKinley William McKinley (January 29, 1843September 14, 1901) was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until Assassination of William McKinley, his assassination in 1901. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Repub ...

was assassinated).

designed many buildings for the United Hotels Company, which was the largest hotel chain in the country at the time.

's work was known for its diverse styles through a sixty-year history of designs, executing projects in

Georgian Revival Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1714 and 1830. It is named after the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover, George I, George II, Ge ...

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau ( ; ; ), Jugendstil and Sezessionstil in German, is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and ...

Mayan Revival Mayan Revival is a modern architectural style popular in the Americas during the 1920s and 1930s that drew inspiration from the architecture and iconography of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures. History Origins Though the name of the s ...

, and

Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...

styles. Of special note is the decorative features of Johnson's design for the 1912

which foreshadowed

ornamentation. After the death of Esenwein in 1926, Johnson, in retirement, became advisory architect to the restoration of Old Fort Niagara.

Personal life

Johnson later married Mary Edith Carter (who was born in Vermont in 1869) and together they were the parents of two daughters, both of whom were born in Buffalo: * Katherine Carter Johnson (b. 1900), who married Barclay. * Mary Edith Johnson (b. 1905), who married Judson Weldon Welch. Johnson died in 1939 in

, at

Buffalo General Hospital John R. Oishei Children's Hospital (viewed from Ellicott Street in 2017) Kaleida Health, founded in 1998, is a not-for-profit healthcare network that manages five hospitals in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. Prior to the merger ...

at the age of 73; funeral services were held in his home at 731 West Delavan and he was buried in

Oswego, New York Oswego () is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 16,921 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Oswego is situated at the mouth of the Oswego River (New York), Osw ...

Significance

A number of Johnson's

, buildings are listed on the

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 ...

including The Calumet,

Hotel Lafayette Hotel Lafayette, also known as the Lafayette Hotel, is a historic hotel building located in Buffalo, New York, Buffalo in Erie County, New York. History and features It is a seven-story steel frame and concrete building designed in the French Re ...

, M. Wile and Company Factory Building,

Fosdick-Masten Park High School Fosdick-Masten Park High School, now known as City Honors School, is a historic public high school building located at Buffalo in Erie County, New York. The school is located on a site. It was designed by architects Esenwein & Johnson and is a - ...

and Lafayette High School.

Gallery

Image:Temple_of_Music_CD_Arnold_1901.jpg, Nighttime photo of electrified

. Image:Unitedofficebldg-niagarafallsny1.jpg,

, Niagara Falls, NY. Although abandoned in this photo, it has since been renovated and re-opened. Image:20080305 Ellicott Square Building interior court (3).JPG, Inlaid floor of

, Buffalo, NY File:The Niagara Jun 09.JPG, The Niagara, Niagara Falls, New York File:Calumet Bldg Buffalo NY Oct 10.jpg, The Calumet, October 2010

Selected works

Johnson & Marling

* 1894 - Harlow C. Curtiss Residence (with Marling) - Buffalo, NY * 1985 - Alexander Main Curtiss House / (

Ronald McDonald House Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is an independent American nonprofit organization whose stated mission is to create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. RMHC has a global network of ...

) - 780 West Ferry Street - Buffalo, NY * 1896 - Colonial Apartments - Buffalo, NY * 1899 - Mayer & Weill Building - Demolished in 1977 - Buffalo, NY * 1898 - Curtiss House / International Institute - 864 Delaware Avenue - Buffalo, NY

Esenwein & Johnson

* 1899 - Clarence L. Bryant House - 591 Delaware Avenue - Damaged by Arson - Buffalo, NY * 1901 -

Lafayette High School (Buffalo) Lafayette High School was a public high school in Buffalo, New York. It was the oldest public school in Buffalo that remained in its original building, a stone, brick and terra-cotta structure in the French Renaissance Revival style by architects ...

- 370 Lafayette Avenue - Buffalo, NY * 1901 - Pan-American Exposition

- Demolished - Buffalo, NY * 1901 - Pan-American Exposition Administration Building - Demolished - Buffalo, NY * 1901 - Pan-American Exposition Alt Nurnberg - Demolished - Buffalo, NY * 1901 - Pan-American Exposition Brick Art Gallery - Demolished - Buffalo, NY * 1901 - Public School No. 43 Building - 161 Benzinger Street - Buffalo, NY * 1903 - Myron G. Farmer Residence - 46 Summit Avenue - Buffalo, NY * 1905 - Ethel Mann Curtiss House - 100 Lincoln Parkway, Buffalo, NY * 1905 - Ansonia Building - 712-726 Main Street - Buffalo, NY * 1905 - Charles Mosier Residence - 96 Bidwell Parkway - Buffalo, NY * 1906 - Calumet Building - 46-58 West Chippewa Street - Buffalo NY * 1907 - Asa Silverthorne House - 877 Delaware Avenue - Buffalo, NY * 1907 - Louis Kurtzman Residence - 24 Lincoln Parkway - Buffalo, NY * 1908 - Barker Square Condominiums - 172 Linwood Avenue - Buffalo, NY * 1908 - Emily H. Swift House - 21 Colonial Circle - Buffalo, NY * 1908 - Buffalo Hotel (The first

Statler Hotel The Statler Hotel company was one of the United States' early chains of hotels catering to traveling businessmen and tourists. It was founded by Ellsworth Milton (E. M.) Statler in Buffalo, New York. Early ventures In 1901, Buffalo hosted the ...

) - Washington & Swan Streets - Buffalo, NY * 1910 - William H. and Essie Barr Statler House - 177 Bidwell Parkway, Buffalo, NY * 1911 - J. N. Adam & Company Building - 371 Washington Street - Buffalo, NY * 1911 - Automobile Club of Buffalo - 10405 Main Street - Clarence, NY * 1911 - John Sinclair House - 94 Jewett Parkway - Buffalo, NY * 1912 - AM&A's Department Store (Corner of Washington and Eagle Street - Buffalo, NY * 1912 -

Niagara Mohawk Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation was a New York State utility company, which was acquired in 2000 by National Grid plc. The Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation designation was retired, using variations of NationalGridUS (such as National Grid Buffa ...

Building / The

Electric Tower __NOTOC__ Electric Tower (or General Electric Tower) is a historic office building and skyscraper located at the corner of Washington and Genesee Streets in Buffalo. It is the seventh tallest building in Buffalo. It stands and 14 stories tal ...

- Buffalo, NY * 1912 - Root Building - 70-86 West Chippewa Street - Buffalo, NY * 1912 - Schoellkopf-Vom Berge Manor - 121 Chapin Parkway - Buffalo, NY * 1913 -

Ellsworth Milton Statler Ellsworth Milton (E. M.) Statler (October 26, 1863 – April 16, 1928) was an Americans, American hotel businessman, founder of the Statler Hotels chain, born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Biography Statler built his first permanent hotel in ...

Residence - 154 Soldier's Circle - Demolished in 1938 - Buffalo, NY * 1914 -

- Buffalo, NY * 1919 - Dickinson Jewelry Store - 620 Main Street - Buffalo, NY * 1922 - Prince Edward Hotel - Ouellette and Park Streets - Demolished in 1976 - Windsor, Ontario * 1923 - The Niagara (Fallsview Travelodge Hotel) - Niagara Falls, NY * 1924 - Curtiss Building / Pleu Building - 357-363 Delaware Avenue - Buffalo, NY * 1924 - M. Wile Factory - 77 Goodell Street - Buffalo, NY ''See also:'' * 1926 - Frank A. Dudley Residence - 551 Mountain View Drive - Lewiston, NY * 1926 - Niagara Share Building - 70 Niagara Street - Buffalo, NY * 1927 - Thomas J. McKinney House - 35 Lincoln Parkway - Buffalo, NY

After Esenwein's death

* 1929 -

Buffalo Museum of Science The Buffalo Museum of Science is a science museum located at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Buffalo, New York, United States, northeast of the downtown district, near the Kensington Expressway. The historic building was designed by August E ...

- 1020 Humboldt Parkway - Buffalo, NY * 1929 - Inlaid marble floors of

- Buffalo, NY * 1929 -

- Niagara Falls, NY ''See also:''

References

External links

James A. Johnson biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, James A. 1865 births 1939 deaths Architects from Buffalo, New York Architects from New York (state) Art Nouveau architects