James G. Hill (1841-1913), Architect
James G. Hill was born in Malden, Massachusetts on October 27, 1841 to Helen M. and Aaron G. Hill. His father was a painter. James was identified as a "draughtsman" in 1867 when he married Julia nee Powers in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Hills had a daughter, Helen Powers (nee Hill) Littlehales. James and Julia traveled to Europe in 1913, returning in August. He died in December 19, 1913 and is interred at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D. C.[1][2][8][9]
When Hill was appointed Supervising Architect of the Treasury in 1876, he was called "Dr. James G. Hill, of Boston, who has for a long time been an employee in the supervising architects' office, for several years as a draughtsman, and for the last two years as assistant supervising architect."[5][a] Whatever professional training Hill might have had before entering the Supervising Architect's office as a draftsman has not been documented. However, in his seven years as Supervising Architect his output included such massive structures in Washington, D.C. as the Bureau of Printing & Engraving (14th & Independence Ave, SW) and Government Printing Office (North Capitol Street between G & H, NW); and the Old Post Office in Albany, New York. His private practice after leaving the Supervising Architect's post also produced noteworthy work.[7][9]
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
Educational & Professional Associations
1864: clerk, "Q[arter]m[aster] General," Washington, D.C
1865-1873: clerk/draftsman, Treasury Department, Washington, D.C.[6]
1874-1876: Assistant to the Supervising Architect of the Treasury.[6]
1876-1883: Supervising Architect of United States Treasury.[6][7]
1884-1901: Architect in private practice, Washington, D.C.[7]
1901-1909: Architect in partnership with Frederick A. Kendall as Hill & Kendall, Washington, D.C.[7]
Nebraska Buildings & Projects
Completion of the U.S. Post Office & Court House (1874-1879), Lincoln, Nebraska.[b] (LC13:C09-001)
Granite fountain on Government Square (1880), Lincoln, Nebraska.[14][15][d]
Notes
a. In 1870, the Hills resided in Washington, D. C., in the household of Scottish-born architect James C. Rankin, who had been the Assistant Supervising Architect of the Treasury since 1868. In 1872 Rankin resigned to accept the position of superintendent of construction of the Chicago Post Office, custom house and courthouse.[4]
b. A. B. Mullett did the initial design for the Lincoln, Nebraska U. S. Post Office and Courthouse but resigned from the Treasury position not long after commencement of construction. W. A. Potter, who succeeded Mullett as Supervising Architect, detailed in his 1875 Annual Report that the excavation and masonry walls for the basement were completed, but "During the winter's suspension of the work, it was found that the plans prepared by the late Supervising Architect involved the necessity of an expenditure in excess of the amount to which the cost of the building was limited; and...I was directed to prepare new plans...[which] were prepared and approved..." Construction resumed under Appleton through 1876. In the 1877 Annual Report, Potter's successor James G. Hill noted "After considerable difficulty and delay, suitable building material was obtained for the superstructure of this building, and during the past year...the exterior and interior walls carried above the attic-floor joists." Hill supervised completion of construction by 1879.[10][11][12]
c. James G. Hill submitted his first Annual Report to the Treasury Secretary in October 1876.[13]
d. When Hill's granite fountain was originally installed on Lincoln's Government Square in 1880, it was the focal point on the north, park-like half of that city block (as shown in the postcard view). When the first portion of a new, larger U. S. Courthouse and Post Office was built in 1904-05 on the east side of the north half-block, the fountain was shifted westward, to the center of the remaining open space, as shown in John Johnson's black-and-white photograph of ca. 1910. The fountain was again relocated westward in 1914-15 to accommodate the next large addition to the Post Office, then was finally removed for the west wing of 1939. [EFZ]
References
1. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "James Green Hill," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
2. Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Marriage Records, 1840-1915, s.v. "James G. Hill," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
3. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census, s.v. "James G. Hill," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
4. "Washington...Secretary McCulloch to day appointed James C. Rankin as Assistant Supervisor and architect of the Treasury Department...," Evansville (Indiana) Daily Journal (October 27, 1868), 1.
5. "Mr. James C. Rankin has resigned the position of assistant supervising architect of the Treasury department...," (Washington, D.C.) Evening Star (August 28, 1872), 1.
6. "New Supervising Architect," National Republican (Washington, D.C.) (August 12, 1876), 1.
7. Tanya Beauchamp (architectural historian, National Capital Planning Commission), "Washington Branch, National Bank of Washington," nomination to National Register of Historic Places, 1974. Accessed on-line July 5, 2024 at https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/74002169_text
8. Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957, s.v. "Jas G Hill," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
9. "James G. Hill" (obituary), Times Herald (Washington, D.C.) (December 20, 1913), 15.
10. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
11. A. B. Mullett, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the Year 1875 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1875), 14-16; accessed on-line July 4, 2024 at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101067565786&seq=7
12. James G. Hill, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the Year 1876, (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1876).
13. James G. Hill, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the Year 1877 (Washington: Government Print Office, 1877).
14. "Our Fountain. It Will be Put in Position on the Government Square," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (February 14, 1880), 4.
15. "The supervising architect, Hon. Jas. G. Hill, has prepared plans and specifications for an elegant stone fountain for the Government Square, to coast between $2,500 and $3,000." (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (October 21, 1880), 4.
Page Citation
D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “James G. Hill (1841-1913), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, March 3, 2015, updated July 9, 2024. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 22, 2024.
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