J. William Schickel

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
J. William Schickel
New York, New York
BornJanuary 29, 1850
Died1907
NationalityAmerican, German
Known forArchitect

J. William Schickel, FAIA, (1850–1907) known professionally as William Schickel, was a German-American architect and founder of the New York architectural firm of Schickel & Ditmars.

Life and practice

Schickel was born January 29, 1850, in Wiesbaden, Hochbein, Germany. He was a student of Wilhelm Bozler. In 1870, at the age of twenty, he emigrated to the United States, passing through Castle Garden in New York City, and the next day started his New York architectural career in the offices of the renowned Richard Morris Hunt.[1] He became a member and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1894.[2] In 1885 he formed William Schickel & Company in association with Isaac E. Ditmars (1850–1934) and Hugo Kafka (1843–1913). He died June 14, 1907, in New York City.[3] Following his death, Ditmars continued the firm.

Works

St. Vincent Ferrer Priory on south side

The John Crimmins House at 40 East 68th Street was the

German-born
Schickel's first commission in New York.

Schickel was hired in 1879 to design and build a replacement for the original 1867 chapel of the

polychromy, characteristics of the High Victorian Gothic style popular in the late 19th century, reflect Schickel's training in Bavaria and the strong influence there of Friedrich von Gärtner. It was the first of many buildings Schickel would design for the New York diocese.[4]
The priory still stands.

A drawing of a church with high, sloping roof and a narrow tower with open belfry off to the right of the roof ridge
The first Church of St. Vincent Ferrer, known as the "Gothic barn"

Among Schickel's most celebrated works were the impressive German-Baroque edifice of

Brooklyn, New York. The cornerstone of Most Holy Trinity was placed in 1882 and after three years of construction the church was opened in 1885.[8]
Schickel also designed the massive
St. Joseph Seminary, Dunwoodie, NY, begun 1893 and taking five years to complete.[9]

Partial list of solo works

Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Boston

For work done with William Schickel & Company (1885) and Schickel & Ditmars (1885-1907), see Schickel & Ditmars

  • The
    New York Municipal Building
    )
  • Our Lady of Sorrows School, 219 Stanton Street, New York City, New York (1874)
  • St. Francis Church, Monastery, and School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1877), National Register of Historic Places[citation needed]
  • Edward Welby Pugin
    ) National Register of Historic Places
  • The John D. Crimmins, Esq., Residence, 40 East 68th Street, New York City, New York (1878-9)[1]
  • Old
    Church of St. Vincent Ferrer (New York City)
    and Priory, New York City, New York (1879, demolished 1914, priory extant)
  • Century Building (17th Street, Manhattan)
    , 33 East 17th Street, New York City, New York (1880-1), National Register of Historic Places, New York City Landmark
  • Dry Goods Building for Richard Arnold, 27-33 West 23rd Street, New York City, New York (1880-1)
  • William Schickel House, 52 E 83rd Street, New York City, New York (1881-2), National Register of Historic Places
  • Robert L. Stuart House, 871 Fifth Avenue, NE Corner of 68th Street and Fifth Avenue, New York City, New York (1882-3), demolished 1942
  • Convent of the Sisters of Bon Secours of Troyes, France, 1197 Lexington Avenue, New York City, New York (1882), demolished c. 1985
  • Most Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, 138 Montrose Avenue, Brooklyn, New York (1882-1890)
  • The
    Constable Building Annex
    , 9-13 East 18th Street, New York City, New York (1883-4)
  • Stables for Adolph Kutroff Residence, 153 East 69th Street (1883-4)
  • August Richard House, 12 East 69th Street, New York City, New York (1883-4), new facade in 1913 by W.W. Bosworth, gut renovation in 2006.
  • The German Library and Dispensary 135-137 Second Avenue, New York City, New York (1883-4), National Register of Historic Places, New York City Landmark
  • Alumni Hall, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey (1884)[10]
  • Isaac & Virginia Stern House, 835 Madison Avenue, New York City, New York (1884-1885)[8]

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b c J. William Schickel at archINFORM
  2. ^ "The AIA Historical Directory of American Architects". Archived from the original on 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  3. ^ Henry F. Withey, A.I.A., and Elsie Rathburn Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased) (Los Angeles: New Age Publishing Company, 1956. Facsimile edition, Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1970)
  4. ^ O'Brien, Austin (March 1981). "National Register of Historic Places nomination, St. Vincent Ferrer Church and Priory". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  5. ^ "Church History - Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, NYC". Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  6. ^ Schickel and Ditmars
  7. ^ mhtbrooklyn.org
  8. ^ a b "Brooklyn Daily Eagle Online". Archived from the original on 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
  9. ^ The Archdiocese of New York the Bicentennial History, Rev. Thomas J. Sheiley page 401
  10. ^ Regan, Brian. Gothic Pride: The Story of Building a Great Cathedral in Newark.

External links

Media related to William Schickel at Wikimedia Commons