John Henry Willis Hawkins (1855-1923), Architect
DBA: J. H. W. Hawkins
Born in Glen Falls, New York, in 1855, John H. W. Hawkins was educated at Cornell University, graduating in 1877. Upon graduation, he opened an office in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where “he drew plans for many prominent buildings, including Hotel Sterling.” Hawkins came to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1885, and relocated to Omaha in about 1890. He died in Denver, Colorado on February 17, 1923.[10]]
Not found in federal census in Nebraska in 1880 or 1900.
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1886-1890
Omaha, Nebraska, 1886-1887, 1890-1894
Educational & Professional Associations
1877: architecture degree, Cornell University.
____-1885: architect, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.[11]
1885-ca. 1890: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[16]
ca. 1890-ca. 1894: architect, surveyor, and superintendent, Omaha, Nebraska.
ca. 1894-1902: architect, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.[12]
1902-1922: architect, Jacksonville, Florida.[13][14][18]
1923: died, Denver, Colorado.[10]]
Buildings & Projects
Dated
After having made his mark as an architect in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Hawkins removed to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1886, and to Omaha around 1890.
George Warren Smith Building (1880), 1213-15 Harney, Omaha, Nebraska.[7][8] (DO09:0123-026)
Imhoff house (1880s), Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]
J. D. McFarland house (1880s), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][5][16][17]
Receiving Vault (1886), Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska.[3]
Albert Watkins House (1887), 920 D St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[7] (LC13:C07-791)
Judge W. H. Morris house (1887-1888), 1039 Forest, Crete, Nebraska.[1][7] (SA01-006)
Old Nebraska Hall (1887-1888), 11th & T, University of Nebraska City Campus, Lincoln, Nebraska.[4] Demolished, 1961.
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (1888), 1200 J St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9][16] Demolished. (LC13:C08-320)
Brownell Hall Chapel - Dietz United Methodist Church (1888), 1423 S 10th St, Omaha, Nebraska.[6]
St Matthias Episcopal Church (1888-1889), 1423 S 10th, Omaha, Nebraska.[3][7][8][16][17] (DO09:0115-003) National Register narrative
Palace Livery Stable (ca. 1889), 1121 M St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][2]
R. O. Phillips house (1889-1890), 1845 D St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[7][16] (LC13:D07-0042)
George Smith house (1890), west side 12th between I & F Streets, Geneva, Nebraska. (FM05-031)
Brown-Scott House (ca. 1891), 219-221 S 27th, Lincoln, Nebraska.[7] (LC13:D08-490)
Callahan Block - Mid-City Music (1892), 321 N 16th, Omaha, Nebraska.[8] (DO09:0125-005)
Guy C. Barton house (ca. 1892), 38th & Cuming, Omaha, Nebraska.[16]
Herman Kountze house (ca. 1892), South 10th, Omaha, Nebraska.[16]
W. R. Matthews House (ca. 1892), 802 Worthington St., Omaha, Nebraska (DO09:0064-002) (Attribution questioned in NeHBS)
Due to the difficult financial situation of the times, Hawkins left Omaha ca. 1894 and returned to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Max Roth Center (1895), 215 S Franklin, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.[12]
Hotel Sterling (1897), 47-65 West Market, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.[12]
In 1902, following a major fire that destroyed much of Jacksonville, Florida, Hawkins moved to Jacksonville and opened an office there, where he finished his career.
Snyder Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church (1902-1903), 226 North Laura St, Jacksonville, Florida.[15]
Undated
Industrial College (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[16]
Trinity College, (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[16]
J. H. W. Hawkins house (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][17]
Montgomery & Billingsby Building (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][17]
Country Residence (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[17]
Notes
References
1. Pen & Sunlight Sketches of Omaha and Environs. (Chicago: Phoenix Publishing Company, 1892), 87. 978.238 P37
2. Pen & Sunlight Sketches of Lincoln: Its Growth, Resources, Commerce, Manufactures. (Chicago: Phoenix Publishing Company, [1893?]) 978.265 P37
3. Minutes of the Board of Trustees, Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska, October 2, 1886; copy in Nebraska State Historical Society, historic preservation division, architects file.
4. Kay Logan-Peters, “Nebraska Hall (Old),” An Architectural Tour of Historic UNL (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, UNL Libraries, 2005). Accessed January 15, 2015. http://historicbuildings.unl.edu/building.php?b=8
5. “Architects in Nebraska to be Covered in Our Survey,” WPA Writers Project, Nebraska State Historical Society Collections, RG515, subject 611.
6. Landmarks, Inc. An Inventory of Historic Omaha Buildings (Omaha: City of Omaha and Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, 1980), 44.
7. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
8. City of Omaha Planning Department, Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, Database, Query on Architects, May 20, 2002; courtesy of Lynn Meyer, Preservation Planner.
9. Historic American Buildings Survey, HABS NE-35-6. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, accessed April 9, 2013, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/item/ne0028/
10. [Obituary], Pittston (Pennsylvania) Gazette (March 9, 1923): 12. Accessed May 7, 2016. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1403667/obituary_for_j_h_w_hawkins/
11. “J. H. W. Hawkins, Architect,” (Adv) The Wilkes-Barre Record (September 11, 1884): 2. (This is a list of buildings by Hawkins in and around Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.) Accessed May 7, 2016. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1403397/buildings_in_and_around_wilkesbarre_by/
12. “Walk Wilkes-Barre, Celebrating Wilkes-Barre’s Bicentennial: 1806-2006. A Self-guided tour of the historic center of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.” [ca. 2006]. Accessed May 7, 2016. http://wbdcp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Walk-WB-2007-website.pdf
13. “Signed Note 1902 J.H.W. Hawkins Letterhead Architect Jacksonville Florida RARE.” WorthPoint Website. (Hawkins is described as newly-arrived from New York.) Accessed May 7, 2016. http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/signed-note-1902-h-hawkins-letterhead-536732601
14. “A Century of Fellowship – AIA Florida History,” AIA Florida, 2016. (Hawkins was in attendance at the state convention to establish the Florida Association of Architects, held in Jacksonville, December 14, 1912.) Accessed May 7, 2016. http://www.aiafla.org/About-the-AIA_History.cfm
15. “Snyder Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church – Jacksonville, FL,” Wikipedia Entries on Waymarking.com. Accessed May 7, 2016. http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMJJ7E_Snyder_Memorial_Methodist_Episcopal_Church_Jacksonville_FL
16. Historical and Descriptive Review of Omaha (Omaha: John Letham, [1892?]): 108.
17. Examples of Architecture by J. H. W. Hawkins, Architect. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania [brochure, n. d.]. Photo copies of pages with Nebraska buildings courtesy of Michael J. Lewis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1988; original at Wyoming Historical and Geological Society [New York].
18. Mrs. (H. V. S) E. H. Smith to Mr. K.K. Hoyt. Paonia, Colorado. December 26, 1923. From photocopy of a letter provided by Wyoming Historical and Genealogical Society.
Page Citation
D. Murphy, “John Henry Willis Hawkins (1855-1923), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, May 7, 2016. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 22, 2024.
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