John Holden Greene (1777-1850) was a noted early nineteenth century architect practicing in Providence, Rhode Island. The bulk of his work dates to the late Federal period, and is mostly in the architectural style of the same name.[1] Greene is responsible for the design of over fifty buildings built in the city between 1806 and 1830, almost half of which are still standing.
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Life and career
John Holden Greene was born September 9, 1777, in Warwick, Rhode Island, to Thomas Rice and Mary (Briggs) Greene.[3] In 1794, at the age of seventeen, Greene went to Providence and apprenticed himself to housewright Caleb Ormsbee.[4] Greene completed his apprenticeship and remained in Ormsbee's employ until his death in 1807. Greene then began to work at the same trade under his own name. By 1824, he was listed in the Providence directory as an architect, rather than as carpenter or housewright.[5] He practiced as an architect until his death, but very few buildings can be positively attributed to him after 1830. This is believed to be related to his bankruptcy that resulted from the Panic of 1837 and the depression that followed.[6]
During his career, Greene had many apprentices.[4] The most prominent of these was James C. Bucklin, a successful Providence architect who was co-designer of the Providence Arcade.
Personal life
Greene married in 1800 to Elizabeth Beverly of Dighton, Massachusetts. They had four children who lived to adulthood.[3] Their eldest child, Albert Gorton Greene, would achieve some success in the legal profession.
Greene died September 5, 1850, in Providence. He was buried in the North Burial Ground, where his wife would join him in 1856.[3]
Influence and legacy
During this period, Greene was influential in introducing the L-shaped plan to domestic design. He also introduced the Gothic style to Providence with his house for Sullivan Dorr, completed in 1809.[1] The distinctive early nineteenth century Federal architecture of the city is largely attributed to Greene and his apprentices.[1] After 1830, his identified works were all designed in the Greek Revival style, though he did not become known for this style.
Though Greene's influence waned after the emergence of Greek Revival architects James C. Bucklin, Russell Warren and others, his style was revived in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as part of the larger Colonial Revival movement.
Much later, the architect Friedrich St. Florian referenced Greene's work in his design of a Postmodern house for Richard E. Edwards on Prospect Street in Providence, built in 1980-82.[8]
^Greene introduced Gothic architecture to Providence with this house, using details based on the pattern books of Batty Langley.[1]
^The architect of the building is not documented, though Rhode Island architectural historian William Jordy has argued that Greene is the most likely designer.[11] The name of Russell Warren has also been offered as a possible designer.
^When the hotel was demolished, the facade was incorporated into the College Building, built on the site and completed in 1937 to a design by architects Jackson, Robertson & Adams.
^When this house was demolished, the large second-floor window was salvaged and placed on Green's Arnold-Palmer House in Providence, then being restored.[20] also called the Harris-Easton House.
^This was unique among Providence houses in that its interior rooms were arranged around an octagonal rotunda.
References
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwWilliam McKenzie Woodward and Edward F. Sanderson, Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources, ed. David Chase (Providence: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1986)
^ abcLouise Brownell Clarke, The Greenes of Rhode Island, with Historical Records of English Ancestry, 1534-1902, Complied from the Mss. of Major-General George Sears Greene, U. S. V. (New York: Knickerbocker Press, 1903)
^ abcWilliam McKenzie Woodward, "Greene, John Holden," in
^The Providence Directory (Providence: Brown & Danforth, 1824)
^Frank Hurdis, "Introduction," in John Holden Greene: Carpenter-Architect of Providence, ed. Deborah Neu (Providence: Mowbray Company, 1972)
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