William J. Wilkins (architect)
William J. Wilkins was an American architect in Florence, South Carolina and in partnership with Joseph F. Leitner in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Wilkins began his architectural career as a contractor and builder. He was inspector of buildings in Florence in 1900 and was the contractor for several major buildings in the area and in the Pee Dee region including:
- Florence City Hall and Opera House (1900) on Evans Street[1]
- Frank P. Milburn[2]
- Building contractor Bennettsville (1902),[3] designed by Denver architect John J. Huddart.
Wilkins had his first building commission as an architect with the Poynor School in Florence (1904–06). The school was listed in the National Register of Historic Places 19 May 1983.[3]
Wilkins designed a small rail depot in
Wilkins partnered with
Wilkins worked on several for schools including one in Cheraw (1914 and 1923), Lake City (1923), and Marion (1923); and for the Park School (1915), the "Colored" School (1916), and
Frank V. Hopkins joined Wilkins in 1924, forming Wilkins and Hopkins. They worked together until Wilkins died in 1932. Their work included schools in Hartsville (1925), Florence (1927), Myrtle Beach (1927), Conway (1928), and Cheraw (1928). The Florence Masonic Temple (1932) was one of the firm's last designs.[3]
Wilkins is credited as the architect on National Register of Historic Places buildings:
- Marion, SC(Wilkins, W.J. & Co.)
- Florence, SC(Wilkins, W.J.)
References
- ^ Florence City Hall Georgetown County Digital Library
- ^ Mary Anne Hamblin Darlington County page 11
- ^ a b c d e Florence Public Library National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (based on information from John E. Wells and Robert E. Dalton, The South Carolina Architects, 1885-1935: A Biographical Dictionary (Richmond: New South Architectural Press, 1992), pp. 206-08
- ^ Boney, Leslie N., Sr. (1880-1964) North Carolina Architects and Builders