Jackson, Robertson & Adams
| Company type | Architectural firm |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Founder | F. Ellis Jackson, Wayland T. Robertson, J. Howard Adams |
| Defunct | 1956 |
| Fate | Renamed Fraser & Henthorne in 1956 |
| Headquarters | Providence , United States |
Area served | Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York |
Jackson, Robertson & Adams was an architectural practice headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, established in 1912 by architects F. Ellis Jackson (1879–1950), Wayland T. Robertson (1873–1935), and J. Howard Adams (1876–1924).
Firm history
Prior to launching this firm, Jackson collaborated with Providence-based architect Howard K. Hilton starting in 1902, creating the partnership Hilton & Jackson. Between 1902 and 1905, they produced notable Colonial Revival residences in Providence that skillfully merged early Rhode Island architectural traditions with contemporary influences. Jackson pursued advanced studies at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts under Eugene Joseph Armand Duquesne from 1905 to 1909, earning his diploma before returning to the United States. After Hilton passed away in 1909, Jackson maintained the practice alone under the Hilton & Jackson name. In 1911, he entered a partnership with Wayland T. Robertson, forming Jackson & Robertson; the following year J. Howard Adams joined them, resulting in the establishment of Jackson, Robertson & Adams. Both Robertson and Adams brought experience from their own private practices.
The firm gained recognition for its elegant Colonial Revival residential projects throughout Rhode Island and broadened its portfolio to include major civic and commercial commissions during Jackson’s tenure. Beginning in the 1930s, it became one of the few Rhode Island firms to embrace the Art Deco aesthetic.
F. Ellis Jackson's unexpected death occurred in 1950. The company continued operating under the name Jackson, Robertson & Adams until 1956, when partners George Fraser and Raymond J. Henthorne renamed it Fraser & Henthorne. This successor entity ceased operations in 1961.
Works of Jackson, Robertson & Adams
Civic and Commercial Buildings in Providence, Rhode Island:
- Franklin Street Fire Station, 33 Franklin St., Providence, RI (1914) - No longer standing.
- Renovation of Providence City Hall, 25 Dorrance St., Providence, RI (1914)
- Central Baptist Church, 372 Wayland Ave., Providence, RI (1915) - Currently serves as the Community Church of Providence.
- Gloria Dei Evangelical Lutheran Church, 15 Hayes St., Providence, RI (1916) - Replaced by a new structure designed by Martin Hedmark in 1925.
- Murray S. Danforth Medical Office, 402 Angell St., Providence, RI (1916)
- General Fire Extinguisher Company Office Building, 260 W. Exchange St., Providence, RI (1919)
- Victory Arch at Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI (1919) - Temporary installation commemorating the conclusion of World War I.
- Remodeling and extensive rear addition to Joseph Brown House for Counting House Corporation, 50 S. Main St., Providence, RI (1920)
- Office building at Cathedral Square, 556 Westminster St., Providence, RI (1922) - Demolished.
- Providence County Courthouse, 250 Benefit St., Providence, RI (1924)
- Morris Plan Bank Building, 25 Canal St., Providence, RI (1926)
- Nurses' Residence at Rhode Island Homeopathic Hospital, 825 Chalkstone Ave., Providence, RI (1927)
- Phenix National Bank Building, 89 Westminster St., Providence, RI (1927) - Demolished to make way for 50 Kennedy Plaza.
- Rhode Island State Office Building, 133 Smith St., Providence, RI (1927)
- Church School Wing addition at Central Congregational Church, Stimson Ave., Providence, RI (1931)
- Branch of Rhode Island Hospital Trust Co., 1 Olneyville Sq., Providence, RI (1931)
- College Building at Rhode Island School of Design, 2 College St., Providence, RI (1936)
- St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 445 Elmwood Ave., Providence, RI (1938)
- U.S. Post Office Annex, 1 Exchange Ter., Providence, RI (1939)
- Henry Bowen Anthony Fountain in Lippitt Memorial Park, 1059 Hope St., Providence, RI (1940)
- Branch of Industrial Trust Co., 582 Elmwood Ave., Providence, RI (1947)
- Brook Street Fire Station, 223 Brook St., Providence, RI (1950)
- North Main Street Fire Station, 151 N. Main St., Providence, RI (1952)
Private Residences in Providence:
- Beresford-Nicholson House, 288 Blackstone Blvd. (1910–12; remodeled 1919)
- Alice W. Adams House, 57 Barnes St. (1912)
- Charles O. Read House, 123 Blackstone Blvd. (1914)
- John P. Farnsworth House, 104 Prospect St. (1914)
- Benjamin P. Moulton House, 50 Channing Ave. (1915)
- Charles Grossman House, 72 Barnes St. (1915)
- George H. Cahoone House, 360 Olney St. (1915)
- J. Howard Adams House at 64 E. Orchard Ave. (1916) - Residence of the architect himself.
- James W. Thornley House, 2 Freeman Pkwy. (1916)
- John S. Holbrook House, 106 Prospect St. (1916)
- Mary L. Hartwell House, 16 Freeman Pkwy. (1917)
- David P. Moulton House at 75 E. Orchard Ave. (1922)
- Renovation of the Nightingale-Brown House for John Nicholas Brown II, located at 357 Benefit St. (1922)
- Benjamin Brier House at 15 Upton Ave. (1924)
- Wayland W. Rice House at 15 Taber Ave. (1924–25)
- Frederick W. Tillinghast House at 39 E. Orchard Ave. (1925)
- Jeanette B. Huntoon House at 63 Manning St. (1925)
- Lucy P. Kelley House at 25 Orchard Ave. (1925)
- Richard A. Hurley House at 103 Alumni Ave. (1916)
- James P. Murphy House at 57 Boylston Ave. (1917)
- Mary G. Chapin House at170 Everett Ave.(1917)
- Carrie M.Sutcliffe House at120 Laurel Ave.(1918)
- Shubael B.Howes House at450 Wayland Ave.(1920) - First residence designed by Wayland T.Robertson.
- Charles M.Smith III House at295 Laurel Ave.(1933)
Civic and Commercial Buildings Outside Providence within Rhode Island:
- Company houses and overseers' residence in Hope Village Historic District(1916–17)
- Lonsdale Company Houses within Lonsdale Historic District and along Main Street(1917–20)
- Stillwater Company Houses located in Harrisville Mill Village Historic District(1918)
- Administration building for Rhode Island Malleable Iron Works in Hillsgrove(1918) - Other structures demolished.
- Charles Brown House in Pawtuxet(1919)
- Branch offices for Industrial Trust Co.in East Providence(1920), Pascoag(1922), and Apponaug(1948).
- Free libraries in Davisville and Pascoag(1923).
- South County Public Service Company Building in Westerly(1926).
- St.Mary's Home for Children situated in Fruit Hill(1927).
- Dawson Brown Gates and Bucklin Memorial Building at Yawgoog Scout Reservation(1931–33).
- Rhode Island State Police Barracks constructed across Wyoming(1931), Lincoln(1931), Wickford(1933), Portsmouth(1935), Chepachet(1956).
- Terminal Administration Building for Rhode Island State Airport at T.F.Green Airport(1932).
- Assembly Theatre located in Harrisville(1933).
- Burrillville Town Building and Ninth District Courthouse in Harrisville(1933–34).
- Remodeling of First Universalist Church in Harrisville(1933).
- Burrillville High School(now William L.Callahan School)(1936).
- Green Hall on University of Rhode Island campus,Kinston(1936).
- Manager's Residence at Agawam Hunt Club Phillipsdale(1936).
- Jesse M.Smith Memorial Library in Harrisville(currently town offices)(1937).
- Passenger Terminal & Hangar No.1 at T.F.Green Airport(demolished2013)(1937).
- Jesse H.Metcalf Lodge within Yawgoog Scout Reservation(1939).
- Hangar No.2 at T.F.Green Airport(1940).
- U.S.Post Office building in Harrisville(donated by Austin L.Levy)(1952).
- Pontiac Free Library located in Pontiac(1956).
Projects Beyond Rhode Island:
In Connecticut:
- John R.Gladding Residence located in Thompson CT(1917).
- Mystic Museum of Art situated in Mystic CT(1931).
In Massachusetts:
- Chester T.Reed Residence,Worcester MA(1916).
- Boardinghouse for Blackstone Manufacturing Company located in Blackstone MA(1920).
In New York:
- Myron Taylor Hall on Cornell University campus,Ithaca NY(1932).
Hilton and Jackson Architectural Projects
- Howard K. Hilton Residence, 100 Brown Street, Providence, Rhode Island (1902)
- Mabel and Emily Ellis Residence, 244 Irving Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island (1903)
- Kinghorn-Webb Residence, 33 Cushing Street, Providence, Rhode Island (1903)
- Albert Gerald Residence, 194 Arlington Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island (1904)
- Sarah T. Harrison Residence, 103 Lloyd Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island (1904)
- Rose C. Hilton Residence, 12 Olive Street, Providence, Rhode Island (1909)
Projects by Jackson & Robertson and Fraser & Henthorne
Under the name Jackson & Robertson:
- Potter Home for Nurses at Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, Rhode Island (1911)
Under Fraser & Henthorne:
- Austin T. Levy School, located at 135 Harrisville Main Street, Harrisville, Rhode Island (1959)
- Woodward Hall at University of Rhode Island, 9 East Alumni Avenue, Kingston, Rhode Island (1960)
- Butterfield Hall at University of Rhode Island, 1 Butterfield Road, Kingston, Rhode Island (1961)