Background
Alderman was born September 20, 1862. In 1879 his family moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts, where he worked with his father, a carpenter.
Alderman was born September 20, 1862. In 1879 his family moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts, where he worked with his father, a carpenter.
As a young child he worked on the family farm and as a carpenter, and also attended school in East Granby, Connecticut. The family moved to Plainville, Connecticut, where he attended school for a year, then worked at country store.
Eventually Alderman realized that he really desired to be an architect and to that end he entered the office of James A. Clough, architect, of Holyoke, where he worked for 5 years. He then moved to Chicago, Illinois where he found work in the offices of Cass Chapman, a prominent architect. The firm name was B. Alderman & Company.
The business was very active from the start building churches, schools and public buildings for a varied clientele.