Architect. Johnson was a member of Philadelphia's Republican 'machine' when he married ward boss Israel Durham's sister Margaret in 1902. Through Durham's connections, Mayor Samuel Ashbridge entered the city into a "perpetual contract" with Johnson, giving him the title of City Architect until his death. Johnson, with help from the 'machine', manipulated city contracts and controlled the construction of public buildings in the city. Despite several attempts by later mayors to break his contract, Johnson held onto his monopoly until his death in 1933. His work includes the Philadelphia Convention Hall, the City Hall Annex, the Germantown Cricket Club, the Pennhurst State School and Hospital, the Philadelphia Hospital for Mental Diseases (Byberry), the Municipal Hospital for Contagious Diseases, the Shallcross Farm School, and many others. Johnson was Commodore of the Philadelphia and Larchmont (NY) Yacht Clubs. He had amassed a fortune of over two million dollars by the time of his death by heart failure. He had no children. Johnson had properties in Germantown, Center City, Northern Liberties, and Ridley Park.
Architect. Johnson was a member of Philadelphia's Republican 'machine' when he married ward boss Israel Durham's sister Margaret in 1902. Through Durham's connections, Mayor Samuel Ashbridge entered the city into a "perpetual contract" with Johnson, giving him the title of City Architect until his death. Johnson, with help from the 'machine', manipulated city contracts and controlled the construction of public buildings in the city. Despite several attempts by later mayors to break his contract, Johnson held onto his monopoly until his death in 1933. His work includes the Philadelphia Convention Hall, the City Hall Annex, the Germantown Cricket Club, the Pennhurst State School and Hospital, the Philadelphia Hospital for Mental Diseases (Byberry), the Municipal Hospital for Contagious Diseases, the Shallcross Farm School, and many others. Johnson was Commodore of the Philadelphia and Larchmont (NY) Yacht Clubs. He had amassed a fortune of over two million dollars by the time of his death by heart failure. He had no children. Johnson had properties in Germantown, Center City, Northern Liberties, and Ridley Park.
Bio by: GoddoG
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