Background
Francis Hatch Kimball was born in 1845 at Kennebunk, Maine, United States.
(The building was demolished to make way for an Annex to t...)
The building was demolished to make way for an Annex to the Irving Trust Company Building, now One Wall Street, completed in 1965.
(The New York Times described the architectural style as "...)
The New York Times described the architectural style as "Florentine" below the fifth floor, and "severely simple" above. Another critic called the style "utterly utilitarian," but the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission identified the architecture as palazzo.
Francis Hatch Kimball was born in 1845 at Kennebunk, Maine, United States.
In 1879 Mr. Kimball moved to New York to begin practice in association with Thomas Wisedell, an architect of Gothic predilection and training, and during five years in that partnership established a reputation in theatre work. One of the firms first commissions was to remodel the old Madison Square Theatre, and on completion of that work, prepared plans for Harrigan's Theatre (later known as the Garrick), the Casino Theatre on Broadway at 39th Street (of Moorish design), and an Opera House at Yonkers. In addition Wisedell & Kimball were chosen architects of the Goodwin Building in Hartford and other buildings at Trinity College.
After Mr. Wisedell's decease in 1884, Kimball carried on his work alone (except for an interval of one year when he was associated with Henry S. Ihnen) until 1892. Among his best known independent works may be cited the Catholic Apostolic Church on West 57th Street in New York, the Emanuel Heights Baptist in Brooklyn, 1885, and Christ Church at Nashville, Tenn., built between 1887-92 . He did not however confine himself to ecclesiastical work, but designed various types of buildings including the Montauk Club in New York (an example of Venetian Gothic), and the Corbin Building on Broadway at Johns Street, 1889. ,
During the last phase of his career, (1892-1918) Mr. Kimball was associated with George Kramer Thompson under the firm name of Kimball & Thompson. Their first important building, for the Manhattan Life Insurance Company, was won in a competition. This structure, built on Broadway between 64th and 66th Streets was the first of New York's high office buildings, attracted much attention. It was followed by other important works, bringing wide recognition to the firm. Among these were the Standard Oil Building; Empire Building, Broadway and Rector Street, completed in 1898; the City Investment Company Building (an outstanding structure); the Adams Express Company Building, No. 61 Broadway: Trust Company of America Building, 57 Wall Street, later taken over by the Chase National Bank and alterations and additions to B. Altman's Store.
In 1879 Mr. Kimball moved to New York to begin practice in association with Thomas Wisedell, an architect of Gothic predilection and training.
During one year Mr. Kimball was associated with Henry S. Ihnen.
During the last phase of his career, (1892-1918) Mr. Kimball was associated with George Kramer Thompson under the firm name of Kimball & Thompson.
