Wilson Brothers & Company

Main Building, Drexel University, dedicated in 1891.

A prominent architecture and engineering firm established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1876, the Wilson Brothers were noted for their structural expertise. The firm designed or contributed engineering work to dozens of bridges, industrial buildings, hospitals and railroad stations. The brothers also designed churches, schools and residences. Among their major works are the Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge over the Schuylkill River, the main building of Drexel University, and the train shed of Reading Terminal, all in Philadelphia.

The firm's founders were Joseph Miller Wilson (1838-1902), architect and civil engineer, John Allston Wilson (1837-96), civil engineer, and Frederick Godfrey Thorn (1857-1911), architect and engineer. A third brother, Henry W. Wilson (1844-1910), civil engineer, joined the firm in 1886, and was promoted to partner in 1899.

Joseph worked in the construction department of the Pennsylvania Railroad from 1860 to 1876, and designed numerous bridges and railroad structures, including several commuter stations on the Main Line. He was hired to oversee the design and construction of the principal buildings for the 1876 Centennial Exposition, and Wilson Brothers & Company was formed following completion of this work. John worked for several railroads, including the Pennsylvania and the Reading.

In 1881, the Pennsylvania Railroad hired the firm to design its main passenger terminal directly west of Philadelphia City Hall. Eleven years later, the Wilson Brothers' Gothic Revival station at Broad & Filbert Streets was incorporated into the far larger Broad Street Station by Frank Furness.

Selected Architectural Works

File:Eakins.jpg

Max Schmitt in a Single Scull by Thomas Eakins (1871). The Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge over the Schuylkill River (1866-67) can be seen in the background.

1876 Centennial Exposition

Memorial Hall (Herman Schwarzmann, architect; Joseph M. Wilson, engineer) (1875-76)^[1]
Machinery Hall (Herman Schwarzmann, architect; Joseph M. Wilson, engineer) (1875-76, demolished)
Main Exposition Building (Herman Schwarzmann, architect; Joseph M. Wilson, engineer) (1875-76, demolished)

Pennsylvania Railroad

Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge over Schuylkill River (1866-67, altered 1873)^[2]
Bryn Mawr Station, Bryn Mawr, PA (1869, demolished 1963)^[3]
Wynnewood Station, Wynnewood, PA (1870)^[4]
Haverford Station, Haverford, PA (c. 1870, altered)
Bryn Mawr Hotel, Bryn Mawr, PA (1871, replaced by Frank Furness after 1889 fire)^[5]
Ardmore Station, Ardmore, PA (pre-1874, demolished)^[6]
Broad Street Station, (1881, expanded by Frank Furness 1892-93, demolished 1953)^[7]
Upsal Station (1884)
40th Street Bridge, Philadelphia, PA (pre-1885, demolished)^[8]
41st Street Bridge, Philadelphia, PA (pre-1885, demolished)^[9]
Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge over Delaware River, Trenton, NJ (pre-1885, demolished)^[10]
Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge over Susquehanna River, west of Harrisburg, PA (pre-1885, demolished)^[11]

Philadelphia Buildings

Reading Railroad Overpass (John A. Wilson, engineer) (1871) ^[12]
Presbyterian Hospital (1874, demolished)^[13]
Joseph D. Potts house alterations (Joseph M. Wilson, architect) (1876), now WXPN-FM, University of Pennsylvania^[14]
St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church, West Philadelphia (1883-85, rebuilt after 1897 fire)^[15]
Presbyterian Home for Aged Couples and Men (pre-1885, demolished 2006)^[16]
Drexel Institute of Technology, now Main Building, Drexel University (1888-90)^[17]
Home for Indigent Women, now Ralston House (1889)^[18]
George W. Childs Drexel mansion (1891), now Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, University of Pennsylvania^[19]
Reading Terminal Train Shed (1891-93)^[20]
Physicians & Dentists Office Building (1896)^[21]
Philadelphia Commercial Museum, National Export Exposition (1897-99, demolished)
Land Title Building, 608-10 Chestnut (1899)^[22]

Buildings Elsewhere

Astronomical Observatory, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York (pre-1885)^[23]
Bridge over Harlem River, New York City (pre-1885)^[24]
Norman Williams Memorial Library, Woodstock, VT (c. 1885)^[25]
Baldwin Hotel, Beach Haven, NJ (pre-1885)^[26]
Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Station, Washington, DC (pre-1885)^[27]
Union Station Train Shed, Richmond, VA (1900)^[28]

References

Wilson Brothers & Company, A Catalogue of Work Executed (Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1885)

Wison Brothers & Company Project List at Philadelphia Architects and Buildings [1]

^ Memorial Hall at Historic American Buildings Survey
^ PRR Schuylkill River Bridge at Historic American Buildings Survey
^ Bryn Mawr Station at Historic American Buildings Survey
^ Wynnewood Station at Historic American Buildings Survey
^ 1st Bryn Mawr Hotel from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Ardmore Train Station from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Broad Street Station at Historic American Buildings Survey
^ 40th Street Bridge from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ 41st Street Bridge from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Delaware River Bridge from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Susquehanna River Bridge from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Reading Railroad Overpass at Historic American Buildings Survey
^ Presbyterian Hospital from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Potts House at Historic American Buildings Survey
^ St. Andrew's from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Presbyterian Home from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Drexel Institute at Historic American Buildings Survey
^ Ralston House from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Drexel Mansion from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Reading Terminal Train Shed at Historic American Buildings Survey
^ Physicians & Dentists Building from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Land Title Building from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ West Point Observatory from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Harlem River Bridge from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Norman Williams Library from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Baldwin Hotel from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ B&P Station from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
^ Union Station Train Shed at Historic American Buildings Survey

[1] Memorial Hall at Historic American Buildings Survey

[2] PRR Schuylkill River Bridge at Historic American Buildings Survey

[3] Bryn Mawr Station at Historic American Buildings Survey

[4] Wynnewood Station at Historic American Buildings Survey

[5] 1st Bryn Mawr Hotel from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[6] Ardmore Train Station from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[7] Broad Street Station at Historic American Buildings Survey

[8] 40th Street Bridge from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[9] 41st Street Bridge from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[10] Delaware River Bridge from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[11] Susquehanna River Bridge from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[12] Reading Railroad Overpass at Historic American Buildings Survey

[13] Presbyterian Hospital from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[14] Potts House at Historic American Buildings Survey

[15] St. Andrew's from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[16] Presbyterian Home from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[17] Drexel Institute at Historic American Buildings Survey

[18] Ralston House from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[19] Drexel Mansion from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[20] Reading Terminal Train Shed at Historic American Buildings Survey

[21] Physicians & Dentists Building from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[22] Land Title Building from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[23] West Point Observatory from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[24] Harlem River Bridge from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[25] Norman Williams Library from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[26] Baldwin Hotel from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[27] B&P Station from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

[28] Union Station Train Shed at Historic American Buildings Survey

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