Howard Hoppin (April 17, 1856 – October 19, 1940) was an American architect from Providence, Rhode Island.

Early life Hoppin was born on April 17, 1856, in Providence, Rhode Island. He was a son of Dr. Washington Hoppin (1824–1867), a homeopathic physician, and Louise Claire (née Vinton) Hoppin (1832–1891). Among his siblings were Francis L. V. Hoppin, Louise Claire Hoppin (a founder of the Red Cross), Harriet (née Hoppin) Jacob, and Washington Hoppin, Jr.

Hoppin was from a prominent and talented Providence family; his paternal grandparents were Thomas Coles Hoppin and Harriet Dunn (née Jones) Hoppin. His maternal grandparents were Maj. John Rogers Vinton (who was killed during the Siege of Veracruz and became the namesake of Fort Vinton) and Lucretia Dutton (née Parker) Vinton of Boston. Among his paternal uncles were Augustus Hoppin, a prominent illustrator (who wrote about the family in his novel, Recollections of Auton House), and Dr. Courtland Hoppin, also a homeopathic physician, was the grandfather of Courtland Hector Hoppin, a pioneer in the field of animated film. His maternal uncle, David Hammond Vinton, Quartermaster General of Florida (who married Pamela, a daughter of Maj. Gen. Jacob Brown), was the father of The Right Reverend Alexander Hamilton Vinton, the first Bishop of Western Massachusetts, and Harriette Arnold Vinton (wife of Dr. John Clarkson Jay, son of Dr. John Clarkson Jay).

Career

Hoppin began his architectural practice in Providence in the late 1870s. Early on, he developed a specialty in small churches. He worked alone until 1890, when he was joined by Spencer P. Read and his brother, Francis L. V. Hoppin. The new firm was known as Hoppin, Read & Hoppin."Hoppin, Read & Hoppin, Architects". Industries and Wealth of the Principal Points in Rhode Island. 1892. They worked together until 1896, when Francis left to found the firm of Hoppin & Koen in New York City. It was at this time that Hoppin took Edward F. Ely (1858-1920) into the firm, as Hoppin & Ely. In 1907, Ely left to become a member of the city's Board of Park Commissioners.Resolutions and Ordinances of the City Council of the City of Providence. 1920. At this point, Frederick E. Field became partner. This arrangement lasted until 1922, when Thomas J. Hill Peirce, joined, the firm becoming Hoppin, Field & Peirce. It was dissolved within a few years, at which point Hoppin appears to have retired.

Architectural works In private practice, before 1890: St. James Episcopal Church, 474 Fruit Hill Ave., Fruit Hill, RI (1879)Historic and Architectural Resources of North Providence, Rhode Island: A Preliminary Report. 1978. Rathlin (George L. Bradley Estate), Bradley Rd., Pomfret, CT (1882) - Demolished.Pomfret Street Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1998. St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church, 3257 Post Rd., Apponaug, RI (1882) - Burned in 1911.D'Amato, Don. A. The Walking Tour of Historic Apponaug Village. 1998. Christ Episcopal Church, 527 Pomfret St., Pomfret, CT (1883) Union Chapel, 1003 Buttonwoods Ave., Buttonwoods, RI (1884)D'Amato, Don A. Images of America: Warwick 1996. Oberthal (Frederick W. Chapin House), 6 Needles Eye Rd., Pomfret, CT (c.1885)American Architect and Building News 1 Jan. 1886. Rectory for Christ Episcopal Church, 521 Pomfret St., Pomfret, CT (1885) Whitfield Apartments, 280-300 Broad St., Providence, RI (1886) - Demolished.Ontario Apartments NRHP Nomination. 1998. Truman Beckwith House, 205 Governor St., Providence, RI (1887)Sanitary Engineer and Construction Record 20 Nov. 1886: iv. All Saints Episcopal Church, 111 Greenwich Ave., Pontiac, RI (c.1888)American Architect and Building News 12 Jan. 1889: 18. Obwebetuck Inn, Sanitarium Rd., South Windham, CT (c.1888) - Burned in 1907.American Architect and Building News 20 Oct. 1888: 182. St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 10 Turner Ave., Riverside, RI (1888) - Demolished.St. Matthew's Episcopal Church NRHP Nomination. 1991. As Hoppin, Read & Hoppin, 1890-1896:

Charles Street Grammar School, 291 Charles St., Providence, RI (1891) - Demolished.Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Buildings for the Year 1891 . 1892. Olney Street Fire Station, 355 Hope St., Providence, RI (1892)Historic and Architectural Resources of the East Side, Providence: A Preliminary Report. 1989. Psi Upsilon House, 4 Manning St., Providence, RI (1892) - Demolished in 1972.American Architect and Building News 10 Sept. 1892. Harry A. Waldron House, 9 Stimson Ave., Providence, RI (1893)Woodward, Wm. McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986. Howard Hoppin House, 86 Brown St., Providence, RI (c.1894) - The architect's own residence."RI National Register Search: Hoppin, Howard House". https://www.ri.gov/preservation/search/view.php?idnumber=PROV00968. n.d. Web. Maxcy Hall, 108 George St., Brown University, Providence, RI (1895) - Altered.Engineering News 19 Jan. 1895: 143.

As Hoppin & Ely, 1896-1907:

Goddard House, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI (1897) C. Franklin Nugent House, 67 Orchard Ave., Providence, RI (1898)Wayland Historic District NRHP Nomination. 2005. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (Tower), 114 George St., Providence, RI (1900)Alexander, John D. "The Church Building: A Guide to the Church". http://www.sstephens.org/. 2006. Weld House, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI (1900) President's House, Brown University, Providence, RI (1901) - Demolished 1953.Mitchell, Martha. Encyclopedia Brunoniana. 1993. Administration Building (Van Wickle Hall), Brown University, Providence, RI (1902) - Demolished 1962.School Board Journal July 1901: 31. Caswell Hall, Brown University, Providence, RI (1902) Memorial Hall (Remodeling), RISD, Providence, RI (1902) - Built 1853.Jordy, William H. Buildings of Rhode Island. 2004. Perimeter Fence, Brown University, Providence, RI (1903)Architectural Review July 1904: 76. Lapham Building, 290 Westminster St., Providence, RI (1904)Downtown Providence: Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-P-5. 1981. Y. W. C. A. Building, 254 Washington St., Providence, RI (1905)Engineering News 9 Feb. 1905: 48.

As Hoppin & Field, 1907-1922:

First Church of Christ, Scientist, 71 Prospect St., Providence, RI (1906–13)Howe, Jeffery, Houses of Worship: An Identification Guide to the History and Styles of American Religious Architecture. 2003Woodward, William McKenzie. PPS/AIAri Guide to Providence Architecture. 2003. Horatio E. Bellows House, 96 Alumni Ave., Providence, RI (1908) Burroughs Apartments, 372-374 Lloyd Ave., Providence, RI (1909) Jenkins Street Primary School, 53 Jenkins St., Providence, RI (c.1909) - Demolished.Year-Book of the Rhode Island Chapter, American Institute of Architects. 1910. U. S. Post Office, 1619 Lonsdale Ave., Lonsdale, RI (1909) - Built by the Lonsdale Company, leased to the post office.Lincoln, Rhode Island: Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-L-1. 1982. E. H. Baker House, 410 S. Washington St., North Attleborough, MA (c.1910)Year-Book of the Rhode Island Chapter, American Institute of Architects. 1911."Baker House". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d. Web. Varnum Memorial Armory, 6 Main St., East Greenwich, RI (1913)American Contractor 27 Sept. 1913: 56. St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church, 3257 Post Rd., Apponaug, RI (1917-1926)American Contractor 6 Oct. 1917: 58. Samuel W. Bridgham School, 359 Carpenter St., Providence, RI (1919) Central High School, Fricker St., Providence, RI (1921)Bridgemen's Magazine Oct. 1921: 501. As Hoppin, Field & Peirce, 1922-?: Bradford School, Church St., Bradford, RI (1923) - Altered.American Contractor 16 Sept. 1922: 48. High Street School, 140 High St., Westerly, RI (1923) Henry Warner Budlong Memorial Library, 3267 Post Rd., Apponaug, RI (1924–25)Warwick Civic Center Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1980. The Providence, 18 Boulevard Ter., Middletown, RI (1924)Private Residence, Set of architectural drawings signed HH [Howard Hoppin], Hoppin, Field & Peirce, in association with the Portland Cement Assoc., dated March 1924.

References

External links Hoppin & Koen architectural drawings and photographs, circa 1900-1922 Held in the Dept. of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York City