Background
Franklin H. Sawtelle was born in 1846 in Norridgewock, Maine, United States.
Franklin H. Sawtelle was born in 1846 in Norridgewock, Maine, United States.
He was educated in schools in Norridgewock. Later he won a Traveling Scholarship and spent two years in travel and study in France and England.
During the early seventies Mr. Sawtelle secured a position as draftsman with the Providence firm of Stone & Carpenter. Continuing there for several years he acquired valuable experience, and in 1880 started practice for himself in the city with an office in the Wilcox Building. Active in the ensuing years Mr. Sawtelle designed a building for Miss Wheeler's private school on Hope Street (one of his most important works), a number of public schools in Providence and other cities, and the Bates Opera House in Providence. He was also architect of the Congregational Church in Taftsville, Conn., and planned additions and alterations to the High Street Universalist Church in Pawtucket, R. I. During one period Mr. Sawtelle was associated with the New York firm of Carrere & Hastings in supervising a number of their build¬ings in R. I. and Conn.
An early member and Fellow of the A. I. A. he was prominently identified with the Rhode Island Chapter, elected successively to the office of Secretary (1893), Vice-President, 1895, and between 1908 and 1910 served as President.