Albert Wheeler Todd Explained

Albert Wheeler Todd (April 20, 1856 – December 30, 1924)^[1] was an architect in Charleston, South Carolina. He is known for his neoclassical architecture (colonial revival architecture), the design on his own home^[2] and of a home for Tristram Hyde. Todd was the senior partner at the firm of Todd & Benson which became Todd, Simons & Todd. Joseph F. Leitner worked with him. Todd also served in the legislature from 1910 until 1924 and was a State Senator.^[2]

Todd was born in Anderson, South Carolina. He practiced in Augusta, Georgia before relocating to Charleston in 1899.^[2]

Todd's firm Todd & Benson is credited with designing Academy of Our Lady of Mercy.^[3] He is credited with the remodel of a row of older buildings into the Commercial Club building (later converted into the Timrod Inn), and (with Albert Simmons) design of the Thompson Memorial Infirmary (later Riverside Hospital).

Todd died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 30, 1924. Todd had at least six grandchildren.

Works

• Grandstands for Charleston Athletic Association Park (velodrome) (1898), northwest corner of Meeting St. and Sheppard St., Charleston, SC.^[4]
• Charleston Consolidated Co. powerhouse (1899), upper Meeting Street, Charleston, SC.^[5]
• Charleston Commercial Club, 101 Meeting Street, Charleston (1902).^[6] The Commercial Club became the Timrod Inn (later known as the Hotel Timrod), but it closed in 1955 and was demolished in 1964 for the building of the O. T. Wallace County Office Building.
• 40 Rutledge Ave., Charleston (1903), the first frame stucco construction in Charleston, with wood features added from salvage of the Belvedere Plantation.^[7] It was operated as the Belvedere B&B.<ref>Web site: 1903 Classical Revival – Charleston, SC – $1,650,000 | Old House Dreams . 2013-09-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130928024502/http://www.oldhousedreams.com/2013/03/05/1903-classical-revival-charleston-sc/ . 2013-09-28 . dead .
• Charleston Port Society building, Charleston, SC (1904).^[8] Todd drew plans for a building to replace the existing facility at North Market St. and East Bay St., but the Society does not appear to have ever executed the plans.
• St. John Hotel, 115 Meeting St., Charleston, SC (1904). Todd designed the sunroom and three-story piazza added to the hotel during a 1904 renovation.^[9] The hotel was razed in the 1960s and replaced with a facsimile now known as the Mills House Hotel at 115 Meeting St., Charleston, South Carolina.^[10]
• Memminger School, domestic science building, 20 Beaufain St., Charleston, SC (1908).^[11] The addition was a two-story brick building designed by Todd & Benson.
• Albert W. Todd House (1909), 41 Church St., Charleston, SC^[2]
• Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, 0 North Hampstead Sq., Charleston, SC (1912). The firm of Todd & Benson designed the two-story brick church with white "facings" for the Hampton Square Methodist Episcopal Church. The first floor was used for a Sunday School accommodating 500 children, and the second floor was constructed as a place of worship.^[3]
• Bennett School (remodel), 61 George St., Charleston, SC (1910). The firm of Todd & Benson thoroughly remodeled the existing building at the Bennett School. The work included adding a stair hall and new roof, but otherwise the work was largely confined to the interior layout and mechanicals.^[12]
• Industrial Training School, 207 President St., Charleston, SC (1910). The school was a design by Todd & Benson.^[13]
• Waring House, 25 Lamboll St., Charleston, SC (1912). The firm of Todd & Benson designed the neoclassical home for Thomas R. Waring, editor of the Evening Post (Charleston).
• Medical University of South Carolina, 69 Barre St., Charleston, SC (1913), main building^[14]
• Tristram Hyde House (1914), 74 Murray Blvd., Charleston, SC. In 1915 Hyde was elected for the first of two terms as mayor of Charleston.^{[2] [15]}
• Various Citadel buildings^[2]
• Town Hall, Sullivan's Island^[2]
• 41 Meeting St., Charleston, SC^[16]
• Thompson Memorial Infirmary (later Riverside Hospital), with Albert Simmons

Notes and References

1. News: Senator Todd to be buried at Anderson . September 24, 2013 . Charleston News & Courier . December 31, 1924 . 10.
2. https://books.google.com/books?id=GHBfBOdwsCkC&dq=albert+w.+todd&pg=PA549 The Buildings of Charleston
3. News: To Open a Fine New Church . September 27, 2013 . Charleston News & Courier . August 4, 1912 . 21.
4. News: Building the Track . September 27, 2013 . Charleston News & Courier . August 7, 1898 . 8.
5. News: The New Power House . September 27, 2013 . Charleston News & Courier . September 9, 1899 . 8.
6. News: Home of the New Club . September 27, 2013 . Charleston News & Courier . September 28, 1902 . 8.
7. News: Tour Broad Street today . September 24, 2013 . Charleston Post & Courier . March 31, 1994 . 4D .
8. News: Charleston Port Society . September 27, 2013 . Charleston News & Courier . January 23, 1905 . 8.
9. News: Improving the St. John . September 27, 2013 . Charleston News & Courier . December 27, 1904 . 8.
10. News: Mills House To Be Finished In About 12 Months. November 10, 2013. Charleston News & Courier. April 19, 1969. 11-A.
11. News: Domestic Science Building . September 27, 2013 . Charleston News & Courier . August 11, 1908 . 10.
12. News: To Remodel Bennett School . September 27, 2013 . Charleston News & Courier . April 27, 1910 . 12.
13. News: New School Going Up Fast . September 27, 2013 . Charleston News & Courier . May 7, 1910 . 10.
14. News: Charleston Architects Named . September 27, 2013 . Charleston News & Courier . May 13, 1913 . 13 .
15. William Galloway Wren Ferrar Survey (includes photo) August 5, 2010 pages A29, A30 Murray Boulevard Lower Western Peninsula
16. News: Mrs. Albert W. Todd (obituary) . September 24, 2013 . Charleston News & Courier . October 22, 1946 . 2 .