"Capitol Punishment"
Joseph Miller Huston
(1866-1940)
Known As:
Architect who built
Pennsylvania State Capitol
(click to enlarge)
(click to enlarge)
Laurel Hill West Cemetery
Section : Radnor
Plot: 448
Location:
† - Denotes a fellow Resident of
Laurel Hill Cemetery
When it comes to American History, Philadelphia is one of the greatest cities to be in. We are the Birthplace of America with the Declaration of Independence being written and signed here. Congress met here before, during and after the Revolution, our government began here and we served as the first capitol of the United States of America. The Pennsylvania State House on Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th Streets also served as the capitol of Pennsylvania. It still stands today but as the city was getting ready to welcome Revolutionary War Hero Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834) for a visit, people began calling it “The Hall of Independence” in 1824 and today it is known simply as Independence Hall.
In 1799, the Capitol was moved to my other favorite place to be, Lancaster County, PA. It only served as the state's capitol for a very brief time. The building used to conduct the state's affairs is now used as the Lancaster City Welcome Center in the historic district.
It was decided by the state legislature to make Harrisburg the permanent capitol of Pennsylvania. The original capitol building had a very bold Roman style to it. However, when that burnt down, it was time for an even bolder, permanent building. The one that stands today will take your breath away both on the outside as well as the inside. The construction of something so grand was deeply saturated in controversy. Why, you may ask. Well, that is exactly what we are here to find out. Let's travel back to the mid 19th century.
Today, we find ourselves standing on the streets of Philadelphia. It's cold, there's snow covering the dirt streets as horse drawn carriages get people to and from their destinations. We pick up a copy of the Saturday Evening Post, we see that it's February 1866.
The Civil War had just come to an end less than a year ago and days later, our victorious President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated while enjoying an evening play. We are now in the Reconstruction period. As a way to resist, a group of white men form a secret society in the South to repress and intimidate freed people. They call this new outfit the Ku Klux Klan.
Closer to home, a new portrait photographer, Frederick Gutekunst (1831-1917), is gaining success taking photographs of several important people. Just last year he took a very famous photo of General Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) with his hand in his coat from his studio at 706 Arch Street. One of the most influential magazines, “Godey's American Ladies' Magazine”, is published right here in Philadelphia. Just a few months ago the nation celebrated their first Thanksgiving as a National Holiday thanks to the “Editress”, Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1879).
This is the world we are surrounded by when thirty-four year old Scottish immigrant Elizabeth M. Huston (1829-1894†) gives birth to Joseph Miller Huston on Friday, February 23, 1866. Along with her husband, thirty-five year old Irish immigrant Robert Huston (1828-1908†), they raise their eight children Philadelphia. With three older siblings and three younger siblings, Joseph is right in the middle.
By 1880, The Hustons are now living at 622 East Cumberland Street. Young Joseph has just graduated 8th grade and begins working for well-known Philadelphia merchant John B. Ellison (1794-1865 †) and Sons. The business is housed in a very handsome building at 22-26 South 6th Street.
Joseph stays at Ellison and Sons until the age of seventeen, when he enters the world of architecture by joining the firm of Frank Furness and Sons. Frank Furness (1839-1912 †) is a well known architect in Philadelphia. Furness' attention to detail is unmatched. His own wooden desk, which is on display at the Philadelphia Museum Of Art, is covered in intricate carvings topped with three winged angels. Frank Furness designs can still be seen today in the J. F. Fryer cottage in Cape May New Jersey, the mansion of William H. Rhawn (1832-1898) known as Knowlton in Northeast Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts and even the gatehouse at The Philadelphia Zoo.
Joseph begins working part-time for the Furness Firm while he continues to study Greek, Latin and Mathematics. With the help of a tutor, his education advances and he is accepted to Princeton University in September 1888. While attending the Ivy League School, Joseph meets people that will become lifelong friends. He also becomes an honor student and a member of several prestigious artistic and literary societies including:
~ Presbyterian Social Union
~ T-Square Club
~ The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
~ Germantown Cricket Clubs
~ Princeton Club of Philadelphia
~ Merion Cricket Club
~ Union League of Philadelphia
~ Lincoln Club
On Summer break between freshman and sophomore years, he and fellow classmates, landscape and impressionist painter, Edward Redfield (1869-1965), architect, Frank Hays (1866-1930 †), and sculptor, Alexander Stirling Calder (1870-1945 †) embark on a tour of Europe. They sketch their way through Ireland, England, Belgium and France. Edward Redfield will go on to be part of the art colony in New Hope, Pa and will become known for his often snow covered landscape paintings of the area. Frank Hays will first work in the architecture firm of Cope & Stewardson before forming his own firm of Kennedy, Hays & Kelsey. Alexander Stirling Calder will become known for his famous sculpting of Swann Memorial Fountain in Logan Square just in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
In his senior year at Princeton, Joseph wins three gold medals for public speaking. He also begins to take note of the people he has met and the impact they have made in his life.
After graduating in 1892, Joseph joins the Furness firm full time and begins working on the designs of the Pennsylvania Railroad's Broad Street Station along with its adorning “Chinese Wall”.
In 1895, Joseph decides to open an architecture firm of his own. He takes on fellow Furness architect Stanford B. Lewis (1869 - 1935) as a silent partner. The first building they get to work on is a project for the Presbyterian Board of Publications and Sabbath School Work. Made of brick and granite, it stands eleven stories in an E-shape. Designed with decorative terra cotta elements, columns in both the Ionic and Corinthian styles, seals of various boards and agencies of the related churches as well as the Presbyterian church, medallions and statues. Speaking of statues, Joseph turns to his old friend Alexander Stirling Calder to sculpt six historically important Presbyterians to be placed high in the alcoves of the building. The building is named after an early president of Princeton University and signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon (1723-1794). The Witherspoon Building opens in 1896 and by 1897, Huston and Lewis move their offices in.
This is where we have to put a pin Joseph's life. In order to learn about his next journey, we must learn a little about the Capitols of Pennsylvania. Yes, that's right there were multiples. We will return to Joseph in just a little bit. I promise that the paths of the Pennsylvania Capitol and Joseph Miller Huston will collide in an unforgettable way. For now, lets jump back in time about a century before this.
Although Philadelphia serves as the original capitol of the U. S. and Pennsylvania alike, as the population grows, the Pennsylvania legislature decides to take their business west. In 1799. it is first moved to Lancaster, Pa. Only serving as the state capitol for thirteen years, it is decided to move even further west. When the legislature decides to move to Harrisburg, there are only about 2,300 people living there. They commission architect Stephen Hills (1771 - 1844) to design a building they will conduct business in. Construction begins on May 31, 1819 and is completed in 1822. The new building is called The Hills Capitol. A federal-style building capped with a large dome that looks down on the six iconic columns that are 56-foot-high and 4 feet in diameter shielding the front entrance.
To the add a one story extension to the House side of the Capitol, James Hamilton Windrim (1840-1919 †) is commissioned. On the morning of Tuesday, February 2, 1897, at 10:30 am, it is State Senator John C. Grady (1877-1905) who first reported smelling smoke. Two young people, hired to assist senators in Chamber known as pages, are sent to find the source but come up short. As the smoke grows, other Senators follow the scent to the smoke wafting from under the closed door of the Lieutenant Governor's Office. State Librarian William H. Miller (1846-1915) runs to the fire alarm in the state library, notifying the local fire department at 12:30 pm while the senators form a bucket brigade. Eleven of Harrisburg's fire departments respond. Despite their efforts in the subfreezing temperatures, the fire quickly gets out of control. The House and Senate are a smoldering pile of debris by 4 pm. Although many historic bills from the Colonial period are lost, there are no casualties.
That night, the business of the capitol of Pennsylvania is temporarily moved across the street from the smoking wreckage, to the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church as discussions begin on building a new Capitol.
The following morning, the only thing left of the iconic Hills Capitol are the façade, the tower that was once caped with a dome and the six 56-foot-high columns.
When we last left Joseph Miller Huston, he had just opened his firm with his partner, Stanford B. Lewis and had moved the firm into a new building of their own work, The Witherspoon Building. The new firm wants to aim high for their new company. Around this time, a competition is being held.
The state collects the $200, 000 pay out from the destruction caused in The Hills Capitol from the insurance company. To build another Capitol, the estimate is $550, 000. Governor Daniel Hasting (1849-1903) consults University of Pennsylvania architect professor Warren P. Laird (1861-1948 †). In addition to bids being accepted from architecture firms across America, special invitations are sent to two firms in Philadelphia. Those firms are Cope & Stewardson and Furness & Evans. Despite not receiving a special invitation, Huston & Lewis put a bid in any way.
None of them receive the winning bid. Instead, Henry Ives Cobb (1859-1931), who's architect firm is based out of Chicago, wins, saying he can build the capitol for the allotted $550,000 budget. Submitting the lowest bid and winning the contract for construction was Philadelphia contractor Allen B. Rorke (1846-1899 †). The plumbing, lighting, heating and ventilating is provided by Philadelphia contractor James A. Palmer (1843-1898 †). “Philadelphia Times” editor Alexander K. McClure (1828-1909 †) gives the keynote speech at the groundbreaking ceremony on May 2, 1898.
Not winning the bid proves to be a much needed deterrent for Joseph. As work was being constructed on this new Capitol building, Joseph and his brother Samuel Huston (1869–1917 †) decide to take a sabbatical. They tour through Europe, Arabia and Asia, studying, sketching, collecting historic styles and influences to be used in future designs.
The trip is nearly fatal for Samual. While the brothers are in Rome, his appendix ruptures. It will take several weeks to recover. In the mean time, Joseph uses this opportunity to tour through the majestic city. He sketches the art architecture. Joseph is especially taken with St. Peter's Basilica. In his sketch pad he writes “one day I hope to build a building as grand”.
The trip lasts from 1888 until 1889. Upon the brothers Huston return to Philadelphia, Joseph begins building a home on Lehman Lane in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. Naming the home Oaks Cloister, Joseph designs his home-to-be with a blend of Tudor and Beaux-Arts styles. It becomes Joseph's test lab for a future project.
The ballroom has a gilded coffered ceiling, a hand-carved fireplace imported from Caen, France, a gold mosaic tile wall-niche/grotto that holds the “Venus in the Waves” sculpture by George Grey Barnard (1863-1938). The sitting room has a mask from the sculpture “Boar's Hunt” above the fireplace. Oaks Cloister gains its Pennsylvania state historic marker in 2005 and is placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. It is used as a filming location for 2009's “Cold By Nature”. Today, it is privately owned and is used as a meeting place for various organizations and special events.
While construction of Oaks Cloister would last from 1901-1904, Joseph and Samuel embark on an architectural tour of the United States. On their stop in Kentucky, Joseph falls in love with Mathilda MacGregor (1878-1965†). Her father is retired physician Dr. Thomas Alexander MacGregor. Towards the end of their engagement, Mathilda's grandmother passes away, so the young couple marry in a quiet ceremony at Dr. MacGregor's home in Louisville, Ky. A newspaper announces that the wedding will take place on “Tuesday next” October 7, 1901. “Mr. Huston's widespread acquaintance and professional prominence give the announcement especial interest here”. After their honeymoon, they settle into The Oaks Cloister along with Nora Condon (1862-1951†). Nora is an old friend of Mathilda's from Kentucky. Joseph and his wife spend the next few years growing their family with daughter Judelle MacGregor Huston (1902-1986) and son Craig Huston (1904-1978†).
Oaks Cloister
Photo by Jerrye & Roy Klotz, M. D.
Meanwhile, back in Harrisburg, construction of the new Capital is not going as well as originally intended. The building still in progress, people are calling it “a barn”, others, “a sugar factory”. Architect Henry Ives Cobb even refers to it as “ugly”. Governor Hastings, horrified with its outcome, states:
“There are a score of farmer’s barns in Pennsylvania more attractive in appearance than this building. It is made of cheap mortar, looks like a hastily erected factory building, and is repulsive to the eye.”
Pennsylvania calls for something bigger, better, more attractive to represent the state's business. The House and Senate agree to build a third attempt at a Capitol. They budget $4 million for the project. With a bill signed by Governor William A. Stone (1846-1920) on July 18, 1901, a call goes out to architects with a submission deadline of November 30, 1901. The last contest was such a failure that few prominent architects entered this time around. Only nine entries were received.
Joseph Miller Huston wins this time. At thirty-five, he has very little experience but makes up for it with his grand ideas. He has designed things like The Witherspoon Building, but never anything on the scale of the Capitol. Joseph signs the contract in January 1902 to spend no more than $4 million and to have the building ready for use by 1906.
The plans for the new Capital that won the legislature over are monumental. The dome is a one-half scale replica of the one he found at St. Peter Basilica in Rome. The central rotunda will be based on the grand staircase and arches found in the Paris Opera. For the House Chamber, he designs an Italian Renaissance, for the the Senate Chamber, a French Renaissance, the Supreme Court Chamber is of Roman and Greek design, The Governor's reception is designed in the Tudor style, the Ladies' Lounge in the style of Louis XV.
George F. Payne
(1853-1908)
The first step is to find a construction company. The George F. Payne Company takes the job. George F. Payne (1854-1908†) and his partner Charles G. Wetter (1853-1939†) have quite the portfolio. Their firm is responsible for such buildings as The Bullitt Buidling that once stood on South 4th Street, the Crozer Building that still stands on Chestnut Street, the United Gas Improvement Company Building standing at Broad and Arch, The Lorain Hotel that stands on Broad Street, St. Joseph's Academy, and standing at 36th & Spruce Streets, The Wistar Institute. Payne's firm becomes a subcontractor to the Capitol Special Furnishings contractor John H. Sanderson (1856-1909†).
The ground breaking ceremony took place on November 2, 1902. Day-to-day operations are over seen by Stanford B. Lewis. Progress was slow, setback by delivery delays with the granite and steel, and a strike at the quarry. On May 25, 1903, a wall suddenly gives way and collapses onto superintendent Owen Roberts (1855-1903†) killing him. It takes several months for George Payne to find his replacement.
Ground Breaking Ceremony ~ November 2, 1902
Pictured are:
~ Charles F. Wetter
~ Owen Roberts
~ Joseph Miller Huston (with shovel in hand),
~ George F. Payne (third from the right)
~ Stanford B. Lewis (second from the right)
Joseph's attention to detail is extraordinary precise. The specific types of columns, every pediment, acanthus leaf and even every rosette, are designed, drafted and carefully placed in the exact location that are intended. Despite the quest for perfection, the Board of Commissioners for Public Grounds and Buildings are unhappy with the fact that Joseph Miller Huston and George F. Payne are conducting meetings on their own without contacting The Commission. Huston and Payne's only authority was to construct the building. Furnishing the elaborate building is an entirely separate matter. Regardless of the discontent, The Commission hire Joseph to design the furnishings for his immense project.
When it comes to bidding, I admit I know nothing about the practice. In this industry, a schedule is part of the bid that lists pay items, units of measurement, prices, estimated quantities, and the total bid price.
Special Furnishings bids begins on June 7, 1904. The contract is set up to charge by the pound or by the foot, which causes a lot of confusion for the competitive bidders. Strawbridge & Clothier tries to enter a bid on the furniture portion of the schedule but finds the schedule as well as the specifications “unintelligible”.
The contract is awarded to Philadelphia furniture dealer John H. Sanderson. He understands the bidding system so well that he is the only contractor to bid on every item of the special schedule.
John H. Sanderson
(1856-1909)
Construction continued on schedule so that on January 15, 1906 the legislature could be seated to re-ellect Philander C. Knox (1853-1921). Joseph presents his final certification on July 27 and the commission meet for the last time on August 15, 1906 to accept his certificate.
The Capitol Dedication Ceremony will take place on Thursday, October 4, 1906. 50,000 people show up to witness this historic occasion as The Carlisle Indian Band plays “Hail, Hail, The Gang's All Here”. Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker (1843-1916) officially dedicates the Pennsylvania State Capitol. At first sight of this iconic monument to Pennsylvania politics, keynote speaker, President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) states “This is the handsomest building I ever saw.”
The Capitol Dedication Ceremony ~ October 4, 1906
1902 Capitol Competition Sketch
The Pennsylvania Capitol sits on 2.5 acres, reaches 272 feet tall, 520 feet long. The center wing is 254 feet wide, and the two side wings are 212 feet. Capping it all off is a 94 foot-diameter dome that weighs in at 24,000 tons. Within its 475 rooms, it contains chambers for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the Pennsylvania Senate and the Harrisburg chambers for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Also included in the 442, 560 square feet is a mezzanine and a basement. Being a child of the 1980's and 1990's, anytime I hear that there is a basement, I always wonder if THAT'S where Pee-Wee's bike is.
Paying close attention to detail, Joseph designs the large six-inch thick bronze doors at the main entrance to the Capitol. Scenes from the history of Pennsylvania decorate the doors. There is The Treaty of Penn with the Indians. Decorating the edges of the doors are busts of those who are important in getting the Capitol built such as Governor Pennypacker, Senator Boies Penrose (1860-1921†), and Senator Matthew Quay (1833-1904).
Pennypacker is so pleased with his new Capitol and the fact that the cost was slightly less than the allotted $4 million, there is no suspicion that there is any crooked activity going on. The artwork and the furnishing, on the other hand, doubled the figure agreed upon.
Now, before we go any further, I have to explain a term that I admit, I had to look it up myself, not ever hearing the term used, but finding it peppered throughout my research, I wanted to know what exactly it meant.
Wikipedia defines Graft as:
“A form of political corruption defined as the unscrupulous use of a politician's authority for personal gain. Political graft occurs when funds intended for public projects are intentionally misdirected in order to maximize the benefits to private interests.”
Now that we know that term, we shall store that in the back of our mind for use throughout this story. This is the first part of the story in which we hear this because us Pennsylvanians are skeptical of.....well, everything. Before the dedication of Capitol, there is talk amongst the people of something not adding up.
Pennsylvania is using an over complicated system for purchasing and ordering equipment, altering or improving state-owned buildings, landscaping state grounds and even the furnishings. The use of unit prices based on feet and pounds is instituted in 1896. Slowly, it extends to cover a growing number of items in the coming years. Unless it is meticulously controlled, the per-foot rule is prone to be abused. It is not controlled in any way. There should be a well-defined system for taking measurements. The rules do not recognize the difference between linear feet, square feet or cubic feet. In hindsight, the system is described as “an excellent business selling air to the state.”
The contracts for the per pound basis should have a maximum weight defined. They do not. This is subject for abuse in such instances as placing lead inside the wooden legs of furniture to increase the weight for a larger price tag.
The system of charging by the foot or by the pound is the source of confusion for competitive bidders. John H. Sanderson not only understands this system, but is the only person to bid on every item. Now that reform Democrat William H. Berry (1852 – 1928) is elected to Pennsylvania State Treasurer in 1905, Sanderson knows the storm is coming. Being the only member of the Democratic party to be elected to a state office between 1895 and 1834, Governor Pennypacker comments on Berry being elected calling it a “freak of ill fortune”. Knowing that Berry's term will begin on May 2. 1906, Sanderson does everything he can to get his invoices approved before he takes office. $950,000 is pushed through in the final week bringing the total of more than $2 million in billing approved by the current Pennsylvania State Treasurer, William L. Mathues (1862-1908), all before the change of office. Some of the approved billing is for work not yet completed.
John H. Sanderson
(1856-1909)
William L. Mathues
(1862-1908)
William P. Snyder
(1867- 1939)
Joseph M. Huston
(1866-1940)
William L. Mathues
(1862-1908)
William H. Berry
(1852 – 1928)
