McDonald Brothers (architects)
| Company type | Partnership |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Founder | Kenneth McDonald, Harry McDonald, Donald McDonald |
| Defunct | 1896 (partnership), 1901 (Kenneth McDonald solo) |
| Headquarters | Louisville , United States |
| Products | Architectural design, primarily courthouses and public edifices |
McDonald Brothers, established in 1878, was an architectural firm based in Louisville that focused primarily on designing courthouses and public edifices. The firm was a collaboration among siblings Kenneth McDonald, Harry McDonald (also known as Henry P. McDonald), and Donald McDonald.
History
Harry McDonald, the eldest partner, served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and later held a seat in the Kentucky legislature until his death in office in 1904. Donald McDonald completed his education at Washington and Lee University in 1873.
The McDonald Brothers partnership was active from 1874 until 1896, after which Kenneth McDonald operated independently until 1901.
In 1896, the firm was commissioned to redesign Thomas Jefferson’s Rotunda at the University of Virginia following a fire in 1895. At that time, they were already engaged locally with the design of Christ Episcopal Church. Their plans included a new portico featuring cast-iron columns, an impressive staircase, and a detailed two-story interior supported by multiple cast-iron colonnades. However, due to an error in assessing the structural integrity of the remaining ruins, they were replaced by Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White.
Alfred Joseph, who later founded Louisville’s Joseph & Joseph architectural firm, was formerly employed by McDonald Brothers and subsequently collaborated with other firms including McDonald and Dodd alongside William J. Dodd.
A considerable number of the McDonald Brothers’ designs have survived and are recognized on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Work
Among the distinguished projects credited to the McDonald Brothers and their associated firms are:
- Adair County Courthouse, built in 1885, Columbia, KY
- Adath Israel Temple, Louisville, KY
- Aurora City Hall, Aurora, IN
- Various buildings within the Burlington Historic District, KY
- Casey County Courthouse, Liberty, KY
- Carroll County Courthouse, Carrollton, KY (designed by H. P. McDonald in 1884)
- Christ Episcopal Church (circa 1896), Charlottesville, VA
- Cumberland County Courthouse, Toledo, IL
- First Cumberland Presbyterian Church-McKenzie, McKenzie, TN
- Gibson County Courthouse, Princeton, IN
- Goodnight House, Franklin, KY
- Henry County Courthouse, Jail, and Warden's House, New Castle, KY
- Hickman County Courthouse, Clinton, KY
- Kentucky National Bank, Louisville, KY
- Buildings within the Old Eddyville Historic District, Eddyville, KY
- Old Jail, Washington, GA
- Old Stone Jail in Carrollton, KY (designed by H.P. McDonald in 1880)
- Sevier County Courthouse, Sevierville, TN
- Simpson County Courthouse, Franklin, KY
- Washington County Courthouse, Salem, IN
- Bartow County Courthouse, Cartersville, GA (by McDonald, Kenneth & Co.)
- Lincliff, Louisville, KY (attributed to Kenneth McDonald)
- Muhlenberg County Courthouse, Greenville, KY (credited to Kenneth McDonald Sr.)
- Rossmore Apartment House, Louisville, KY (designed by Kenneth McDonald)
- Calvary Episcopal Church, Louisville, KY (by Henry P. McDonald)
- Jail section of the Owen County Courthouse and Jail, Owenton, KY (designed by H.P. McDonald in 1874)
These works highlight the firm’s prominent role in courthouse and municipal architecture throughout Kentucky and surrounding regions. Numerous projects have been honored with listings on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), underscoring their architectural significance and historical importance.
McDonald and Dodd
- Franklin Building, located at 658-660 South Fourth Avenue, Louisville
- Seelbach Hotel, situated at 500 South Fourth Street, Louisville
After the Partnership
- Jefferson County Courthouse Annex (1901), 517 Court Place, Louisville, KY (designed by McDonald, Kenneth Sr.), listed on the NRHP