Career
Crabtree was a native of Rochester, New New York He "received architectural training at Holyoke, Massachusetts, later moving to New Britain, where he was employed in the office of West.H.Cadwell, a well-known local architect", from 1901 to 1904. He worked on his own in New Britain from 1905 to 1928, and then in Hartford from then to 1942.
He designed numerous business block buildings and private houses in New Britain and Hartford and their surrounding areas.
Works include (with attribution variations): Ernest R. Burwell House, 161 Grove Saint Bristol, Connecticut (Crabtree,Walter P), NRHP-listed Francis H. Holmes House (1906), 349 Rocky Hill Avenue. New Britain, Connecticut (Crabtree,Walter P), NRHP-listed Masonic Temple (New Britain, Connecticut), 265 West. Main Saint New Britain, Connecticut (Crabtree, Walter P), NRHP-listed B.P.0.
Elks Lodge, New Britain, built somewhat later than 1906, Neo-Classical style Southington Public Library, 239 Main Saint Southington, Connecticut (Potter,George Wilson,Senior (original design 1902).
Crabtree, (1930 addition), NRHP-listed Bristol Trust Company (1907), Riverside Avenue. and Main Saint, Bristol, Connecticut, centerpiece of the Main Street Historic District, (Crabtree, Walter), NRHP-listed Fairfield State Hospital, a campus-like institutional facility, designed in a modified colonial style, built of red brick, starting in 1931.(Crabtree, Walter P, Senior).