Hutchins & French was an American architectural firm based in Boston. It was established in 1910 as the partnership of architects Franklin H. Hutchins and Arthur E. French. The firm specialized in the design of bank and school buildings.
Firm history Hutchins & French was formed in Boston in 1910 by architects Franklin H. Hutchins and Arthur E. French, who had met while employed in the office of Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge. They quickly developed a specialty in the design of bank and school buildings. In 1914, increasing work in northern New England allowed them to open a branch office in Manchester, New Hampshire,"Personal" in The American Contractor 35, no. 23 (June 6, 1914): 124. which operated until the mid-to-late 1920s. After the deaths of French in 1929 and Hutchins in 1934, the firm was managed by partners Francis Whitten, who joined the office in 1920, and Evander French, French's son, who had joined in 1927."Whitten, Francis," American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 601."Evander French," The Winchester Star, October 6, 1960. Evander French died in 1960, and Gordon C. Mallar, who had also joined the firm in 1927, became a partner."Mallar, Gordon Cranton," American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1962): 458. Whitten and Mallar retired in the 1970s,"Francis Whitten, 87," The Boston Globe, March 8, 1979. and the firm was continued by the surviving partner, Sam G. Gountanis. Gountanis died in 1989."Sam Gountanis, 70," The Boston Globe, December 11, 1989.
Legacy Cleveland architect Philip Lindsley Small worked for the firm in 1914. His work includes Karamu House (1949) and the Huntington Museum of Art (1952)."Small, Philip L(indsley)" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 512.
At least five buildings designed by Hutchins & French have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.
Founders Franklin H. Hutchins Franklin Henry Hutchins (1871 – February 14, 1934) was born in Boston. He worked in the offices of Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge and Parker, Thomas & Rice. Prior to establishing Hutchins & French he had also designed the Kennebunk Free Library in his mother's hometown of Kennebunk, Maine, which was completed in 1907.George A. Gilpatric, Kennebunk History (Kennebunk: Star Print, 1939) He was senior partner of the firm of Hutchins & French until his death.Henry F. Withey and Elsie Rathburn Withey, "Hutchins, Franklin H." in Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased) (Los Angeles: New Age Publishing Company, 1956): 313-314.
Hutchins never married. He died at home in Boston at the age of 63."Franklin Hutchins, architect, dead," The Boston Globe, February 14, 1934.
Arthur E. French Arthur Eugene French (1876 – February 26, 1929) was born in Wayland, Massachusetts, and was raised in Weston. He was trained as an in architect in the office of Cabot, Everett & Mead, and also worked for Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge for three years."Arthur E. French, architect, dead," The Boston Globe, February 27, 1929.Henry F. Withey and Elsie Rathburn Withey, "French, Arthur E." in Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased) (Los Angeles: New Age Publishing Company, 1956): 221-222.
French and his wife, Charlotte, had four children, two sons and two daughters. He died at home in Winchester at the age of 53.
Architectural works 1913 – Amoskeag Bank Building, 875 Elm St, Manchester, New Hampshire 1914 – Blackstone National Bank Building, 25 N Main St, Uxbridge, MassachusettsThe American Contractor 34, no. 36 (September 6, 1913): 70. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Uxbridge Common District. 1914 – Manufacturer's National Bank Building, 145 Lisbon St, Lewiston, MaineBankers Magazine (November 1916): 450. NRHP-listed, also a contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Lewiston Commercial Historic District. 1915 – Barton's Department Store, 849 Elm St, Manchester, New Hampshire Demolished. 1915 – Haverhill National Bank Building, 191 Merrimack St, Haverhill, MassachusettsEngineering News 71, no. 6 (February 5, 1914): 83. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Washington Street Shoe District. 1918 – Dorchester Trust Company Building, 555 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, BostonAmerican Architect 111, no. 2162 (May 30, 1917): 12. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Uphams Corner Historic District. 1921 – World War I Memorial, Uxbridge Common, Uxbridge, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: UXB.902, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed November 17, 2024. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Uxbridge Common District. 1922 – Manufacturers' National Bank Building, 67 N Washington St, North Attleborough, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: NAL.83, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed November 17, 2024. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed North Attleborough Town Center Historic District. 1923 – Indian Head National Bank Building, 146 Main St, Nashua, New HampshireThe American Contractor 43, no. 38 (September 23 1922): 43. 1923 – Kennebunk High School, 14 Park St, Kennebunk, Maine NRHP-listed. 1923 – William Parker Straw House, 282 N River Rd, Manchester, New HampshireWilliam Parker Straw House NRHP Registration Form (1987) NRHP-listed. 1924 – Fred N. Smith house, 417 Edgewater Dr, Mishawaka, Indiana"To build fine home," The South Bend Tribune, March 10, 1924. Built for the cashier of the First National Bank, for which Hutchins & French completed a bank in 1925. 1924 – Union National Bank Building, 61 Merrimack St, Lowell, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: LOW.91, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed November 17, 2024. 1924 – Wakefield Trust Company Building, 371 Main St, Wakefield, Massachusetts NRHP-listed. 1925 – First National Bank Building, 101 Lincolnway E, Mishawaka, Indiana"New First National Bank Building ready for opening," The South Bend Tribune, March 20, 1925. 1925 – First National Bank Building, 545 Pleasant St, New Bedford, Massachusetts"First National, New Bedford" in United States Investor 35, no. 26 (June 28, 1924): 42. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Central New Bedford Historic District. 1925 – First National Bank Building, 21 Grove St, Peterborough, New HampshireBryant F. Tolles Jr. and Carolyn K. Tolles, New Hampshire Architecture: An Illustrated Guide (Hanover: University Press of New England, 1979): 111. 1926 – Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church, 34 Dix St, Winchester, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: WNT.1836, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed November 17, 2024. 1926 – Whittemore Elementary School, 30 Parmenter Rd, Waltham, MassachusettsWaltham city report for 1926 1927 – Solomon Agoos house, 62 Beech Rd, Brookline, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: BKL.471, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed November 17, 2024. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Longwood Historic District. 1927 – Everett National Bank Building, 457-459 Broadway, Everett, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: EVR.17, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed November 17, 2024. 1927 – Wakefield Trust Company Building, 336 Main St, Wakefield, Rhode IslandArchitectural Forum (1928): 146. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Wakefield Historic District. 1928 – Centreville Bank Building, 1218 Main St, West Warwick, Rhode IslandWilliam H. Jordy, Buildings of Rhode Island (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004): 331. 1928 – Keene National Bank Building, 20 Central Sq, Keene, New HampshireBryant F. Tolles Jr. and Carolyn K. Tolles, New Hampshire Architecture: An Illustrated Guide (Hanover: University Press of New England, 1979): 142. 1928 – Masonic Building, 46 S Washington St, North Attleborough, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: NAL.74, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed November 17, 2024. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed North Attleborough Town Center Historic District. 1928 – Plimpton Hall, Tilton School, Tilton, New HampshireDomestic Engineering (July 16, 1927): 96. 1929 – Kennebunk Savings Bank Building, 104 Main St, Kennebunk, Maine 1929 – Medford Savings Bank Building, Medford, Massachusetts"Medford Savings Bank begins demolishing old bank nuilding," Boston Globe, April 15, 1928. 1929 – State Theatre, 1118 Elm St, Manchester, New Hampshire Demolished. 1930 – Service Building, 128 Merchants Row, Rutland, VermontGlenn M. Andres and Curtis B. Johnson, Buildings of Vermont, (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2013): 83-84. A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Rutland Downtown Historic District. 1931 – Gleason School, 160 Playstead Rd, Medford, Massachusetts 1932 – James A. Hervey School (former), 120 Sharon St, Medford, Massachusetts"New school in Medford to be completed next month," Boston Globe, March 6, 1932. 1932 – Quincy School additions, 94 Newbury Ave, Quincy, MassachusettsHistoric Building Detail: QUI.32, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, no date. Accessed November 17, 2024. NRHP-listed. 1948 – Ludlow Savings Bank Building, 33 Center St, Ludlow, Massachusetts 1949 – Natick Federal Savings Building, 49 Main St, Natick, Massachusetts 1949 – Parkhurst School, 40 Samoset Rd, Winchester, Massachusetts"A school designed for neighborhood use" in American School Board Journal 120, no. 2 (February 1950): 47-49. 1950 – First National Bank Building, 170 Commercial St, Provincetown, MassachusettsDavid W. Dunlap, Building Provincetown: A Guide to its Social and Cultural History (Provincetown: Provincetown Historical Commission, 2015) 1950 – Hampden Savings Bank Building, 19 Harrison Ave, Springfield, Massachusetts 1955 – Merrimack Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 305 N Main St, Andover, Massachusetts 1956 – Essex Savings Bank Building, 290-296 Essex St, Lawrence, MassachusettsEngineering News-Record 150, no. 10 (March 5. 1953): 91. 1957 – Central Savings Bank, 50 Central St, Lowell, Massachusetts"Whitten, Francis," American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1962): 758. 1960 – Vermont National and Savings Bank Building, 100 Main St, Brattleboro, Vermont 1961 – Winter Hill Federal Savings Bank Building, 342 Broadway, Somerville, Massachusetts"Mallar, Gordon C(ranton)," American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1962): 458. 1962 – Greenfield Savings Bank Building, 400 Main St, Greenfield, Massachusetts"Mallar, Gordon Cranton," American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 590. 1963 – Masonic Temple (former), 47 Adams Ave, Saugus, Massachusetts"Masons in Saugus order bldg. plans," Daily Evening Item, November 18, 1961. 1969 – Braintree Cooperative Bank Building, 1010 Washington St, Braintree, Massachusetts 1976 – Great Meadow Village, 23 Beach Rd, Salisbury, MassachusettsEngineering News-Record (May 8, 1975): 58.
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