Albert Sutton (June 6, 1867 – November 18, 1923) was a noted architect in the Pacific Northwest, especially in the cities of Tacoma, Washington; San Francisco, California; Portland, Oregon; and their vicinities. Apart from his first 8 years in San Francisco (1895–1903), he thrived working with his architectural partners: James Pickles for 7 years in Tacoma (1888–1892), Charles P. Weeks for 7 years in San Francisco (1903–1910), and Harrison A. Whitney for 11 years in Portland (1912–1923), prior to his sudden untimely death.
Albert Sutton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 6, 1867 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | November 18, 1923 (aged 56) Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of California |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) | Ethel F. Meek, 1894–1908; Marie L. Hewitt, 1909–1923 |
| Children | Alberta, Anna, Rocena, John Hewitt |
| Practice | James Pickles, 1888–1892; Charles Peter Weeks, 1903–1910; Harrison Allen Whitney, 1912–1923 |
Life and career
editEarly life
editAlbert Sutton was born 1867 in Victoria, British Columbia, the eighth of nine children to John and Anna Sutton. His father led a seafaring life as chief engineer in the Pacific Squadron of the U.S. Navy during the 1860s and was on the George S. Wright Steamer when it tragically disappeared in January 1873 off Sitka, Alaska on its way back to Portland, Oregon.[1]
Sutton grew up in Portland, Oregon, where his family moved to when he was a young boy, and attended public schools there. He relocated to Berkeley, California for two years of study at the University of California. He then became a draftsman for the Southern Pacific Railroad, working on railroad bridges and buildings for three years.[2]
Pickles & Sutton, Tacoma
editSutton moved in 1888 to Tacoma, Washington, during its railroad boomtown period, when it served as the western terminus of the newly completed northern transcontinental railroad. Sutton, in his early twenties, fortunately was able to became a junior partner with architect James Pickles, who was thirty. Together, Pickles & Sutton designed many of the historic commercial buildings in Tacoma in the early boom years, using design elements from the Romanesque Revival style which was in vogue at the time. Their portfolio included the Sprague Block (1888); the Sprague Building (1889); the U.S. Post Office (1889); the Abbot Building (1889); the Uhlman Block (1889); the Baker Building (1889); the Wolf Building (1889); the Dougan Block (1890); the Holmes & Ball Furniture Co. (1890); the Joy Block (1892); and the Berlin Building (1892).[2]
Sutton (age 27) got married in 1894 to Ethel F. Meek of San Lorenzo, California[3] and moved the following year to the big city, San Francisco, where they had two daughters, Alberta and Anna.
Sutton & Weeks, San Francisco
edit
In San Francisco, Sutton entered a 1895 design competition for new buildings to house the affiliated colleges of the University of California, including the College of Medicine, the College of Dentistry & Pharmacy, and the College of Law. Although he did not win the award, he garnered among five finalists the largest support of the Board of Regents on their first two ballots and established his presence as an architect.[4] In 1896 he designed a new building for the Good Samaritan Mission near 2nd and Folsom streets in San Francisco.[5] The following year he was selected by the board of trustees to design a new $125,000 homeopathic hospital on Lake street between 14th and 15th avenues of San Francisco, with support from philanthropist Phoebe Hearst for a children's ward.[6] In 1900 he designed the St. Peter's Chapel, Mare Island, which was dedicated in 1901. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest extant U.S. Navy chapel.[7]
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Around 1903 Sutton formed the firm of Sutton & Weeks with junior partner Charles Peter Weeks (1870–1928), which increased his reach in California. Their portfolio ranged from the Pacific Hardware and Steel Company Building (San Francisco, 1904), which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, to the Citizens' National Bank of San Francisco (1905), and the Zeta Psi House in Berkeley (1910).[8] Other works designed were, according to historian Carey, "the Farmers & Merchants Bank at Oakland, the John A. Roebling's Sons Company building at San Francisco, said to be one of the best examples of fireproof construction in the country... ".[9] Moreover, Sutton & Weeks bested the State competition in 1906 to obtain the premium controlling contract to remodel the California State Capitol in Sacramento. As the senior partner, Sutton spent much time working with the State Capitol commission, which consisted of Governor Pardee, Secretary of State Curry, and State Treasurer Reeves; this resulted in State appropriations of almost $700,000 for the remodeling project completed in 1908.[10][11]
After a public contested divorce and child custody battle in the courts, Sutton received custody of the two daughters, remarried in 1909 to Marie L. Hewitt of Tacoma, and retired to a ranch in Hood River, Oregon the following year -- only in his early forties. His second marriage added two children, Rocena and John Hewitt.
Sutton & Whitney, Portland
editSutton resumed his practice of architecture in 1912, when he returned to his childhood city of Portland, and joined forces with junior partner Harrison Allen Whitney (1877–1962). The two formed a prosperous alliance for more than a decade.[9]
This success of the Portland office enabled him to open in 1918 a branch office in Tacoma, back where he got his first break in architectural practice 30 years ago. Dividing his time between the two offices, Sutton supervised their many activities, which included (circa 1922) the construction of the Multnomah County Hospital at a cost over one million dollars,[12] the Meier & Frank Warehouse, costing one million dollars, and the Scottish Rite Cathedrals in Portland and Tacoma.[9]
Death
editIn November 1923, Sutton suddenly died at the home of his mother-in-law in Tacoma of congestive heart failure at age 56.[13][14] At the time of his death, he was supervising several projects in Tacoma, including the Annie Wright seminary and the new College of Puget Sound campus. According to the Pacific Builder and Engineer, Sutton "was, with one exception, the oldest practicing architect on the [West] Coast."[15]
References
edit- ^ "1873 Jan 27 steamer George S. Wright hits rocks?". usdeadlyevents.com. 27 January 1873. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
Crewmembers lost with the George S Wright were captain Thomas J Ainsley, purser B F Weidler, chief engineer John Sutton, ...
- ^ a b "Albert Sutton, 1867 - 1923". dahp.wa.gov. Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation of the State of Washington. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "MARRIED: Sutton - Meek". cdnc.ucr.edu. San Francisco Call, Volume 76, Number 93, 1 September 1894. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "JULIUS KRAFFT WINS THE PRIZE. ... Albert Sutton Had Supporters". cdnc.ucr.edu. San Francisco Call, Volume 79, Number 83, 21 February 1896. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
The first ballot resulted: Sutton 8, Pelton 6, Krafft 1. The second ballot stood: Sutton 8, Pelton 7. On the third ballot Sutton received 1, Pelton 4 and Krafft 10.
- ^ "NEW HOME FOR A GREAT MISSION. Wonderful Work Among the Sick and Destitute to Be Consummated Easter". cdnc.ucr.edu. San Francisco Call, Volume 80, Number 146, 24 October 1896.
Albert Sutton is the architect.
- ^ "HOMEOPATHS' MAGNIFICENT HOSPITAL. A $125,000 Institution to Be Built in the Western Addition". cdnc.ucr.edu. San Francisco Call, Volume 82, Number 160, 7 November 1897. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
Architect Albert Sutton was selectetd...
- ^ Lemmon, Sue; Wichels, E. D. (1979). St. Peter's Chapel: A Dream, a Memorial, and a Christian Beacon Serving the Navy at Mare Island, Vallejo, California. Mare Island Historical Record. pp. 68 pages.
- ^ "ZETA PSI TO OPEN FRATERNITY HOUSE". cdnc.ucr.edu. San Francisco Call, Volume 109, Number 122, 1 April 1911. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
Architects Charles Peter Weeks and Albert Sutton drew the plans.
- ^ a b c Carey, Charles Henry (1922). History of Oregon, Volume 2: Albert Sutton. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. pp. 254–257. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "WANT $338,000 MORE FOR CAPITAL REPAIRS. Commission Will Ask the Legislature for Large Additional Appropriations". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 112, Number 120, 22 December 1906. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
The next legislature will be asked by the state capitol commission to appropriate $338,000 for repairs to the capitol building, in addition to the $352,925 given to that purpose at the last regular session.
- ^ CHARLES F. CURRY, Secretary of State. ( Ex-officio Member of State Capitol Commission). "THE STATE CAPITOL OF CALIFORNIA". cdnc.ucr.edu. Campbell Press, Volume 15, Number 35, 11 March 1910. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
Messrs. Sutton & Weeks were the architects of the remodeling work now completed [1908], their plans having been selected [1906] by the Board of Capitol Commissioners from five competitive sets submitted.
- ^ Smith, Courtney M. (30 March 1933). "The History of the Origin and Growth of the Multnomah County Hospital". digitalcollections.ohsu.edu. University of Oregon. Medical School. History Club. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ "Albert Sutton is Dead in Tacoma". The Hood River Glacier. November 22, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ "Death of Mr. Albert Sutton". Architect and Engineer of California. 74–75: 114. December 1923. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
The death of Mr. Albert Sutton, formerly senior member of the architectural firm of Sutton & Weeks, San Francisco, occurred suddenly at the home of his mother-in-law in Tacoma, November 24th. [sic]
- ^ "Death of Albert Sutton, Architect". Pacific Builder and Engineer. 29 (48): 6. December 1, 1923. Retrieved 19 September 2024.