Renowned Philadelphia architect. He briefly worked for Samuel Sloan and John MacArthur, Jr. before setting out with his own practice. His wife was a member of the prestigious William Weightman family, which guaranteed Hale several lucrative design contracts. His work, emphasized in the High Gothic style, was highly praised at first but soon fell out of favor. After a fire destroyed his office in 1891, he retreated from public life. Hale died in Philadelphia on August 29, 1907 completely penniless and out of favor in the architectural community. His achievements in the field were wholly disregarded and he was seen as a fleeting oddity, who no one would much miss. Unfortunately, public interest has never quite swayed back toward Willis Hale. There is little published information about his life and work and most of his buildings that were not reabsorbed for more modern uses have been torn down. Although his talents are not quite great enough to place him in the class of revolutionary, Willis Gaylord Hale is an innovative architect whose unusual standard of work places him in a category beyond time and strict classification.
Renowned Philadelphia architect. He briefly worked for Samuel Sloan and John MacArthur, Jr. before setting out with his own practice. His wife was a member of the prestigious William Weightman family, which guaranteed Hale several lucrative design contracts. His work, emphasized in the High Gothic style, was highly praised at first but soon fell out of favor. After a fire destroyed his office in 1891, he retreated from public life. Hale died in Philadelphia on August 29, 1907 completely penniless and out of favor in the architectural community. His achievements in the field were wholly disregarded and he was seen as a fleeting oddity, who no one would much miss. Unfortunately, public interest has never quite swayed back toward Willis Hale. There is little published information about his life and work and most of his buildings that were not reabsorbed for more modern uses have been torn down. Although his talents are not quite great enough to place him in the class of revolutionary, Willis Gaylord Hale is an innovative architect whose unusual standard of work places him in a category beyond time and strict classification.
Gravesite Details
Buried 1 September 1907
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