Holman K. Wheeler was a prolific

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

. Wheeler (working alone or with partners) is responsible for designing more than 400 structures in the city of Lynn alone, including the iconic High Rock Tower which is featured prominently on the Lynn city seal. While practicing in

Lynn Lynn may refer to: People and fictional characters * Lynn (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Lynn (surname) * The Lynns, a 1990s American country music duo consisting of twin sisters Peggy and Patsy Lynn * Lynn ( ...

and

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

over a career spanning at least 35 years Wheeler designed structures throughout the Essex County area, including Haverhill, Marblehead,

Newburyport Newburyport is a coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, northeast of Boston. The population was 18,289 at the 2020 census. A historic seaport with vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island. The mo ...

Salem Salem may refer to: Places Canada Ontario * Bruce County ** Salem, Arran–Elderslie, Ontario, in the municipality of Arran–Elderslie ** Salem, South Bruce, Ontario, in the municipality of South Bruce * Salem, Dufferin County, Ontario, part ...

Swampscott Swampscott () is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located up the coast from Boston in an area known as the North Shore. The population was 15,111 as of the 2020 United States Census. A former summer resort on Massachusetts Ba ...

, and Lynn. Wheeler is responsible for a total of five Lynn structures listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

, more than any other person or firm.

Life

Holman King Wheeler was born October 26, 1859 in

Berlin, Massachusetts Berlin ( ) is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The town was first settled in 1665 and incorporated in 1812, and is governed under the open town meeting system. It is located northeast of Worcester and west of Boston. The ...

. He attended the

Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...

, then located in Boston. He graduated in 1882. He had worked in the offices of Lynn architects beginning in 1878, and began working on his own by 1883. In 1884 he formed the firm of Wheeler & Northend in Lynn, with Salem architect W. Wheelwright Northend. Northend resumed his independent practice around 1893, and Wheeler continued alone. In 1904 he established a partnership with Charles L. Betton, Wheeler & Betton. Betton had left by 1914, and Wheeler established Wheeler & Johnson. By 1919, Wheeler had left the Lynn area, heading south to Boston. He did at least one project from his office in that city, but had retired to his and his wife's home in

Newton Newton most commonly refers to: * Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist * Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton Newton may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Newton'' (film), a 2017 Indian film * Newton ( ...

by 1920. Upon his death in 1943, he was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn.

Partners

Northend

William Wheelwright Northend was born in 1857 in Salem to late
Massachusetts State Senator William Dummer Northend
He was the younger brother to

Mary Harrod Northend Mary Harrod Northend was an American writer specializing in American colonial architecture and home furnishings. She is best known for ththousands of photographsshe either took or commissioned to illustrate her books and articles. Early life Sh ...

. Originally intending to practice law, he graduated from

Bowdoin College Bowdoin College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. When Bowdoin was chartered in 1794, Maine was still a part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The college offers 34 majors and 36 minors, as well as several joint eng ...

in 1880. Turning to architecture, he worked for

Hartwell & Richardson Hartwell and Richardson was a Boston, Massachusetts architectural firm established in 1881, by Henry Walker Hartwell (1833–1919) and William Cummings Richardson (1854–1935). The firm contributed significantly to the current building stock and ...

and Cobb & Frost. He then attended M. I. T. for a year before studying in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

. Prior to establishing a firm with Wheeler, he had opened an office in Salem. After the firm's dissolution, he practiced alone for a year before his death in 1894. He was the architect of Swampscott's Phillips High School, opened in 1894 and demolished c.2018. (Sources disagree on whether Northend or Wheeler was the architect.)

Betton

Charles Louis Betton was born in 1870, and died in 1934 in Lynn. After leaving Wheeler, Betton established his own office. He designed the Pickering School in 1916 on Conomo Ave, Lynn. He also did extensive industrial work.

Johnson

The identity of Johnson is currently unknown.

Architectural works

Wheeler & Northend, 1884-1893

* 1885 - G. A. R. Hall, 58 Andrew St, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Listed on National Register of Historic Places ** General

Frederick W. Lander Frederick William Lander (December 17, 1821 – March 2, 1862) was a transcontinental United States explorer, general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and a prolific poet. Birth and early years Lander was born in Salem, Massachu ...

(for whom the Lynn G.A.R. Post is named) while attending

Governor Dummer Academy The Governor's Academy is an independent school north of Boston located on in the village of Byfield, Massachusetts, United States (town of Newbury), north of Boston. The Academy enrolls approximately 412 students in grades nine through twelv ...

began a longtime friendship with William Dummer Northend, father of William Wheelwright Northend * 1885 - Grader Block, 3 Pleasant St,

Marblehead, Massachusetts Marblehead is a coastal New England town in Essex County, Massachusetts, along the North Shore (Massachusetts), North Shore. Its population was 20,441 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. The town lies on a small peninsula that extends ...

* 1886 - John A. Greenwood House, 158 South Common St, Lynn, Massachusetts * 1887 - Sylvanus P. Gardner House, 1 Windsor St,

Haverhill, Massachusetts Haverhill ( ) is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Haverhill is located 35 miles north of Boston on the New Hampshire border and about 17 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The population was 67,787 at the 2020 United States Cen ...

* 1888 - Central Police Station, 18 Sutton St, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Demolished. * 1889 - Lynn Police Department Stables, 28-30 Sutton St, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Demolished. * 1889 - Lynn High School (1892 building), 498 Essex St, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Listed on National Register of Historic Places ** Original building section destroyed by fire on March 29, 1924 ** Later the English High School. Now residential units. * 1890 - Myra S. Rowell House, 94 Elmwood Rd,

Swampscott, Massachusetts Swampscott () is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located up the coast from Boston in an area known as the North Shore. The population was 15,111 as of the 2020 United States Census. A former summer resort on Massachusetts Ba ...

* 1890 - Tapley Building, 206 Broad St, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Listed on National Register of Historic Places ** Burned in 1999. * 1890 - Heffernan Block, 1-5 Exchange St & 402-404 Union St, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Demolished c. 1910 as part of the Lynn Central Square railroad grade separation * 1890 - John S. Earl Building, 9-13 Exchange St & 406-408 Union St, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Also referred to as "Earl's Block" ** Demolished c. 1910 as part of the Lynn Central Square railroad grade separation * 1891 - Oxford Club, 106 Broad St, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Wheeler was a member. The building has been highly altered. * 1891 -

Essex County Courthouse The Essex County Veterans Courthouse is located in Newark, New Jersey, United States. It was built in 1904 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 26, 1975. The building, designed by Cass Gilbert, has a four-story rotu ...

(Remodeling), 34 Federal St,

Salem, Massachusetts Salem ( ) is a historic coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, located on the North Shore of Greater Boston. Continuous settlement by Europeans began in 1626 with English colonists. Salem would become one of the most significant seaports tr ...

Tolles, Bryant F. ''Architecture in Salem: An Illustrated Guide''. 1983. * c.1891 - Lucien icNewhall Block, 25-35 Central Ave and 30-33 Willow St, Lynn, Massachusetts ("Lucien" is a mis-spelling of "

Lucian Lucian of Samosata, '; la, Lucianus Samosatensis ( 125 – after 180) was a Hellenized Syrian satirist, rhetorician and pamphleteer Pamphleteer is a historical term for someone who creates or distributes pamphlets, unbound (and therefore ...

") ** Demolished. Former location is now the parking lot at the rear of the "flatiron" building, diagonally opposite the

Thomas P. Costin Jr. Post Office Building The Thomas P. Costin Jr. Post Office Building, formerly known as the United States Post Office—Lynn Main is a historic post office building at 51 Willow Street in Lynn, Massachusetts. It still serves as Lynn's central post office. The two stor ...

* 1893 -

Lynn Armory The Lynn Armory is a historic armory building at 36 South Common Street in Lynn, Massachusetts. It is one of the best examples of Romanesque Revival architecture in the city. It was built in 1893 out of red sandstone to a design by Wheeler & N ...

, 36 South Common St, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Listed on National Register of Historic Places

Holman K. Wheeler, 1893-1904

* 1894 - The Phillips School, Greenwood Avenue,

** Sources disagree on whether Northend or Wheeler was the architect. ** First High School in Swampscott ** Demolished c.2018 * 1895 - Naumkeag Building, 203 Essex St,

* 1895 - Hugh E. Murphy Building, Washington St near Monroe St * 1895 - Proctor Building, 31 Exchange St, Lynn, Massachusetts * 1895 - Edward Heffernan Block, 516-520 Washington Street, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Demolished September 2021 * 1897 - Henry B. Falls Apartments, 110-120 Broad St, Lynn, Massachusetts * 1900 - Bacheller School, 35 Lynnfield St, Lynn, Massachusetts * 1900 - Jackman School, School St,

Newburyport, Massachusetts Newburyport is a coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, northeast of Boston. The population was 18,289 at the 2020 census. A historic seaport with vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island. The mo ...

** Demolished. * 1901 - Lynn Business College, 112 Exchange St, Lynn, Massachusetts * 1902 - Eugene A. Putnam Apartments, 95 Union St, Lynn, Massachusetts

Wheeler & Betton, 1904-1914

* 1904 - High Rock Tower,

High Rock Tower Reservation The High Rock Reservation (or High Rock Park) is a city park in the Highlands neighborhood of Lynn, Massachusetts. Designed in 1907 by the Olmsted Brothers, the roughly park encompasses the summit area of a hill with commanding views of the surro ...

, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Listed on National Register of Historic Places * 1904 - Lennox Building, 184-186 Market St, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Demolished. * 1904 - Littlefield Building, 604 Essex St, Lynn, Massachusetts * 1909 - Goddard Bros. Store, 76 Market St, Lynn, Massachusetts (currently occupied by Zimman's fabrics store) * 1911 - Brewster Apartments, 26 Broad St, Lynn, Massachusetts * 1912 - Arthur Wellington Pinkham (grandson of

Lydia Pinkham Lydia Estes Pinkham (born Estes; February 9, 1819 – May 17, 1883) was an American inventor and marketer of an herbal-alcoholic "women's tonic" for menstrual and menopausal problems, which medical experts dismissed as a quack remedy, but w ...

) House, 311 Western Ave, Lynn, Massachusetts ** Now the Lucia Lighting Company

Wheeler & Johnson, 1914-c.1918

* 1915 - English High School (Addition), 498 Essex St, Lynn, Massachusetts ** The James Street wing. * 1915 - Littlefield Building, 604 Essex St, Lynn, Massachusetts (addition) * 1917 - A. J. Mulholland Tannery, 14 Proctor St,

''American Contractor'' 9 Dec. 1916: 21.

Holman K. Wheeler, c.1918-1919

* 1919 - Dry Storage Building, Chestnut Street,

Amesbury, Massachusetts Amesbury is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located on the left bank of the Merrimack River near its mouth, upstream from Salisbury and across the river from Newburyport and West Newbury. The population was 17,366 at the 2020 ...

, for Biddle & Smart Co.

Architectural drawings

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeler, Holman K. 1859 births 1943 deaths Architects from Massachusetts Architects from Lynn, Massachusetts 19th-century American people 19th-century American architects