Jeremiah O'Rourke
Encyclopedia
Jeremiah O'Rourke, FAIA
, (1833, Dublin – 1915), was an Irish-American architect
known primarily for his designs of Roman Catholic churches and institutions and Federal post offices. He was a founder of the Newark-based architectural firms of Jeremiah O'Rourke (active from 1850s to the 1880s) and Jeremiah O'Rourke & Sons (active from the 1880s until his death).
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in Newark, New Jersey
, where he was Patrick Charles Keely's chief "competitor for Roman Catholic church and institutional commissions in metropolitan New York and northern New Jersey."
He became a member and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
in 1886.
O'Rourke was appointed to the office of the United States Supervising Architect in Washington, D.C.
on the recommendation of both New Jersey senators in early 1893 at an annual salary of $4,500, succeeding W. J. Edbrooke of Chicago
(other sources state he was appointed under the administration of Grover Cleveland
(March 4, 1885 – March 4, 1889 and January 1, 1883 – January 6, 1885)), where he designed several federal post offices.
He returned in 1894 to private practice, founding Jeremiah O'Rourke & Sons in Newark, New Jersey
and New York City
with sons William P. O'Rourke, Joseph B. O'Rourke, and Louis J. O'Rourke. O'Rourke and his sons specialized in ecclesiastical designs.
O'Rourke died April 22, 1915.
FAIA
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects is a postnomial, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects...
, (1833, Dublin – 1915), was an Irish-American architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
known primarily for his designs of Roman Catholic churches and institutions and Federal post offices. He was a founder of the Newark-based architectural firms of Jeremiah O'Rourke (active from 1850s to the 1880s) and Jeremiah O'Rourke & Sons (active from the 1880s until his death).
Early life
Born in Dublin, Ireland, In 1850, and graduated from the Government School of Design, Queens College, Cork. He thereafter emigrated to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Architecture
He set up his architectural firmArchitectural firm
An architectural firm is a company which employs one or more licensed architects and practices the profession of architecture.- History :Architects have existed since early in recorded history. The earliest recorded architects include Imhotep and Senemut . No writings exist to describe how these...
in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, where he was Patrick Charles Keely's chief "competitor for Roman Catholic church and institutional commissions in metropolitan New York and northern New Jersey."
He became a member and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
in 1886.
O'Rourke was appointed to the office of the United States Supervising Architect in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on the recommendation of both New Jersey senators in early 1893 at an annual salary of $4,500, succeeding W. J. Edbrooke of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
(other sources state he was appointed under the administration of Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
(March 4, 1885 – March 4, 1889 and January 1, 1883 – January 6, 1885)), where he designed several federal post offices.
He returned in 1894 to private practice, founding Jeremiah O'Rourke & Sons in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with sons William P. O'Rourke, Joseph B. O'Rourke, and Louis J. O'Rourke. O'Rourke and his sons specialized in ecclesiastical designs.
O'Rourke died April 22, 1915.
Works
- Church of the Immaculate Conception (Camden, New Jersey) (completed 1953), Camden, New JerseyCamden, New JerseyThe city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
- St. John's Church (Orange, New Jersey), Orange, New JerseyOrange, New JerseyThe City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
- The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Newark, New Jersey), Newark, New JerseyNewark, New JerseyNewark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
- Church of St. Paul the Apostle (New York City)Church of St. Paul the Apostle (New York City)The Church of St. Paul the Apostle is a substantial Roman Catholic church on Columbus Avenue between 59th and 60th streets, in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, New York...
(1876-1884) - Hotel Lorraine, 545 5th Avenue (1930), New York City, 13 stories
- Old Post Office (1901), Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New YorkBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
- Old Post Office Building (1899), Federal Triangle, Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, 12 stories - Old United States Courthouse and Post Office (1894), Duluth, MinnesotaDuluth, MinnesotaDuluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
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