Thomas Alexander Tefft
Encyclopedia
Thomas Alexander Tefft (August 2, 1826 – December 12, 1859) was an American architect
. Born in Richmond, Rhode Island
, he was a schoolteacher when he was encouraged by Henry Barnard
to become an architect. While still a student at Brown University
, Tefft designed the original Union Station
in Providence
and the Cannelton Cotton Mill
in Cannelton, Indiana
. Graduating from Brown in 1851, Tefft went to Europe
in 1856 to study art and to promote his ideas for a uniform international currency
. He fell ill in Florence
and died there in 1859 at the home of his friend, the sculptor Hiram Powers
. His remains were interred temporarily in the English Cemetery, Florence
, then returned to Rhode Island.
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...
. Born in Richmond, Rhode Island
Richmond, Rhode Island
Richmond is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 7,708 at the 2010 census. The villages of Alton, Arcadia, Carolina, Hope Valley, Kenyon, Shannock, Usquepaug, Woodville, and Wyoming are located in Richmond.-History:The town of Richmond was originally part...
, he was a schoolteacher when he was encouraged by Henry Barnard
Henry Barnard
Henry Barnard was an American educationalist and reformer.-Biography:...
to become an architect. While still a student at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, Tefft designed the original Union Station
Union Station (Providence)
Union Station describes two distinct defunct train stations in Providence, Rhode Island.The original Union Station was Providence's first, opening in 1847 to accommodate the needs of the newly thriving city. It was considered "a brilliant example of Romanesque architecture" in its time, and the...
in Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
and the Cannelton Cotton Mill
Cannelton Cotton Mill
Cannelton Cotton Mill, also known as Indiana Cotton Mill, is a National Historic Landmark of the United States located in Cannelton, Indiana, USA.It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1991.-History:...
in Cannelton, Indiana
Cannelton, Indiana
Cannelton is a city in Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,209 at the 2000 census. Cannelton, which is the smallest incorporated city in the state, was formerly the county seat of Perry County until the seat was relocated to Tell City...
. Graduating from Brown in 1851, Tefft went to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1856 to study art and to promote his ideas for a uniform international currency
Currency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
. He fell ill in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and died there in 1859 at the home of his friend, the sculptor Hiram Powers
Hiram Powers
Hiram Powers was an American neoclassical sculptor.-Biography:The son of a farmer, Powers was born in Woodstock, Vermont, on the July 29, 1805. In 1818 his father moved to Ohio, about six miles from Cincinnati, where the son attended school for about a year, staying meanwhile with his brother, a...
. His remains were interred temporarily in the English Cemetery, Florence
English Cemetery, Florence
The English Cemetery is in Piazzale Donatello, Florence, Italy.-History:In 1827 the Swiss Evangelical Reformed Church purchased land outside the medieval wall and gate of Porta a' Pinti from Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany for an international and ecumenical cemetery, Russian and Greek Orthodox...
, then returned to Rhode Island.
Works
- George M. Bradley HouseGeorge M. Bradley HouseThe George M. Bradley House, now known as Saint Martin Hall, is a historic house on the upper campus of Providence College.The house was built in 1850 by Thomas Tefft in an Italian Villa style. In 1926, the house and properties were purchased by Providence College...
, 1850, Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode IslandProvidence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region... - Cannelton Cotton MillCannelton Cotton MillCannelton Cotton Mill, also known as Indiana Cotton Mill, is a National Historic Landmark of the United States located in Cannelton, Indiana, USA.It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1991.-History:...
, 1849, Cannelton, IndianaCannelton, IndianaCannelton is a city in Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,209 at the 2000 census. Cannelton, which is the smallest incorporated city in the state, was formerly the county seat of Perry County until the seat was relocated to Tell City... - Narragansett Baptist ChurchNarragansett Baptist ChurchNarragansett Baptist Church is an historic Baptist church building located at 170 South Ferry Road, in Narragansett, Rhode Island.-History:...
, 1850, Narragansett, Rhode IslandNarragansett, Rhode IslandNarragansett is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 15,868 at the 2010 census, but there is a greater population in the summer. The nickname for the town is "Gansett". The town of Narragansett occupies a narrow strip of land running along the eastern bank... - Nightingale-Brown HouseNightingale-Brown HouseThe Nightingale–Brown House is a National Historic Landmark at 357 Benefit Street in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, that is home to the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage at Brown University....
(addition), 1853, Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode IslandProvidence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region... - Saint Thomas Church and Rectory, 1851, Greenville, Rhode IslandGreenville, Rhode IslandGreenville is a village and census-designated place in the town of Smithfield in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 8,626 at the 2000 census...
- St. Paul's ChurchSt. Paul's Church (North Kingstown, Rhode Island)St. Paul's Church is a historic church at 76 Main Street in the village of Wickford within the town of North Kingstown, Rhode Island.The church was built in 1847 by Thomas Tefft and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.-See also:...
, 1847, North Kingstown, Rhode IslandNorth Kingstown, Rhode IslandNorth Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 26,486 at the 2010 census. The famous American portraitist Gilbert Stuart was born in the village of Saunderstown, located in the southern region of North Kingstown....