James C. Bucklin Explained

James Champlin Bucklin
Nationality:American
Birth Date:26 July 1801
Birth Place:Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Death Date:September 1890
Death Place:Providence, Rhode Island

James C. Bucklin (1801-1890) was an American architect working in Providence, Rhode Island.

Life and career

Bucklin was born on 26 July 1801, in a part of Rehoboth that is now part of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to James and Lorania (Pearce) Bucklin. His father died 6 December 1802, and his widow moved to Providence with her son. Bucklin attended the town's public schools. At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to early architect-builder John Holden Greene, working there for seven years. In 1822, at the age of 21, he established a partnership with William Tallman (d.1862). The firm of Tallman & Bucklin was a design-build firm, similar to Greene's business.[1] in 1846, 20-year-old Thomas A. Tefft began working for Tallman & Bucklin. Before long, Tefft was doing most of the firm's design work. This continued until 1851, when Tefft finished his studies at Brown University and established his own office.[2] Also at this time, Tallman & Bucklin's partnership was dissolved. Bucklin worked alone for many years. By 1880 he had taken his son, James A. Bucklin (1840-1901),[3] as a partner in J. C. Bucklin & Son. Although son James largely took over the practice, he remained active until his death in September 1890.[1] The office was succeeded by J. A. Bucklin & Company.[4]

In 1829 Bucklin married Lucy Dailey of Providence. They had five surviving children, including son James. Lucy Bucklin died in November, 1888.[1]

Bucklin was a member of the Squantum Association and the Providence Athenaeum, and was considered "a great reader of good books".[1] He was a member of the Providence common council from the fifth ward for the years 1839-41 and 1842-43.[5] He was a member of the First Light Infantry.

Legacy

Despite having fallen into relative obscurity, Bucklin was a very prominent designer in Providence from the 1840s to the 1870s. He designed at least half a dozen Westminster Street office buildings, as well as several more in other parts of downtown. From 1839 to 1844 Tallman & Bucklin had charge of the city's first major period of school-building, designing 12 buildings citywide.[6] Bucklin also was the designer of several other municipal structures.

Works

For buildings built 1830-31, see Russell Warren.

For buildings built 1846-51, see Thomas A. Tefft.

Notes and References

  1. Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island. 1908.
  2. Stone, Edwin Martin. The Architect and Monetarian: A Brief Memoir of Thomas Alexander Tefft. 1869.
  3. Web site: James Albert Bucklin (1840 - 1901) - Find A Grave Memorial. findagrave.com. 1 March 2015.
  4. List of Architects and Classified Directory of First Hands in the Building Trade. 1890.
  5. Providence City Documents for the Year 1904 (Providence: City of Providence, 1904)
  6. Report to the City Council of Providence, by Their Committee to Superintend the Construction of Schoolhouses. 1846.
  7. Woodward, William McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986.
  8. Renshaw, Clifford M. Market House NRHP Nomination. 1971.
  9. Guild, Reuben Aldridge. History of Brown University. 1867.
  10. Marter, Joan. The Grove Encyclopedia of American Art. 2011.
  11. Custom House Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1975.
  12. Downtown Providence Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1984.
  13. Providence Directory. 1867.
  14. American Architect and Building News 24 April 1880: 182.
  15. Scientific American May 1887: 100.

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