ELIAS. CARTER

Background

Elias Carter was born 1783 in Massachusetts, United States. His father, a builder, died when he was three, and the family moved to Hardwick.

Career

He was responsible for the construction of a number of churches in central Massachusetts, which an early biographer described as "typical white steepled churches of New England". His most influential design appears to have been the church in Templeton, Massachusetts, which inspired the design of at least two others. He also built houses throughout central Massachusetts, as well as a wing of the Westborough State Hospital, and played a role in the construction of the New Hampshire state insane asylum.He also built the Second Unitarian Church, 1828, the Union Church on Front Street, 1835-37, and the City Insane Hospital, though his public works were “less known and less unique".

Elsewhere Mr. Carter designed a church built at Templeton about 1811, and the First Parish (Unitarian) Church at Mendon which stood at the corner of Maple and Elm Streets until 1916 when it was destroyed by fire. Also sometimes ascribed to him were the old Academy at Lancaster (1832) and an Insane Hospital at Concord, N. H. His last known work was a house built at Mendon in 1859.

Works

More photos

• Other Work

  • Gov. Levi Lincoln House at 4 Avalon Place in Worcester, Massachusetts

    (This Greek Revival house is one of the first of the style...)

  • Acworth Congregational Church in Acworth, New Hampshire.

    (Its design is clearly inspired by the Congregation Church...)

  • Westborough State Hospital, Westborough, Massachusetts

    (Elias Carter; Kendall, Taylor & Stevens)

Connections

Father:

Timothy Carter

Mother:

Sarah (Walker) Carter