James C. Bucklin

Background

James C. Bucklin was born in 1801.

Career

James served an apprenticeship under the late John Holden Greene afterward worked with William Tallman, a builder and lumber merchant, subsequently joined Russell Warren in preparing plans for the Arcade Building. This structure dating from 1828 still serves its original purpose as a shopping center in Providence. Warren and Bucklin also designed the Westminster Congregational Church, built in 1829 but no longer standing, remembered as a distinguished example of the Greek style with an imposing eight-column portico.

During the remainder of a long career, Mr. Bucklin continued active and carried out many commissions to plan both commercial and public buildings. Among his late works were several private homes in the city including the Thomas Davis house, 1869; the S. S. Sprague residence, 1870; and the old Hoppin homestead, a three-story brick mansion at Snow and Westminster Streets, his last known work dating from about 1875.

Achievements

• His best-known works in the city were: Washington Building in Market Square, a three-story structure of Classic design, covering a block frontage, 1843; Benefit Street School, 1832; Manning Hall, formerly the Library, 1834, and Rhode Island Hall, 1838, at Brown University; the "cabinet” of the Rhode Island Historical Society, 1844; the City High School, 1843; Butler Hospital, designed in Gothic style, 1845; Phenix Building, 1860; alterations to the Providence Athenaeum, 1867, originally designed by Strickland; Reynolds Block, c. 1870, no longer standing; and the extant Howard Building, 1870, a block of the Italianate type similar in style to other commercial structures built at about that time.

Works

More photos

• architecture

  • Westminster Congregational Church

    (It is no longer standing, remembered as a distinguished e...)

    1829

  • Extant Howard Buildling

    (A block of Italianate type similar in style to other comm...)

    1870

  • Arcade Building

    (It was built in the partnership of Russell Warren and Buc...)

Connections

coworker:

William Tallman

Mr. Bucklin worked with William Tallman

coworker:

Russell Warren

Mr. Bucklin joined Russell Warren in preparing plans for the Arcade Building.

teacher:

John Holden Greene

Mr. Bucklin served an apprenticeship under the late John Holden Greene.