Architect, the "fourth partner" of McKim, Mead, and White in the Gilded Age. McKim hired Wells in 1879. He was a relative of the great Samuel Adams. Father was Thomas F. Wells, and his brother was MIT mathematics genius Webster (1850-1916).
Webster Wells
In Sept. 1879, MM&W started with Wells as Chief Designer. Until his premature death at 37, for over 11 years, he had a profound effect on American Architecture. The Villard Houses in NYC are of his design. He is given credit as the Premier designer of MM&W, and was best friends with the partners, Charles McKim (1847-1909), William Mead (1846-1928) and Stanford White (1853-1906), and with Thomas Hastings and Augustus Saint-Gaudens. He loved Music and architecture and helped arrange regular classical concerts.
Most of the info on Wells comes from Mosette Broderick's 2010 excellent book, "Triumvirate: McKim, Mead & White". It tells the story of their world and times, and the buildings they built: houses for the rich like Astors and Vanderbilts, Trinity Church in Boston, Judson Memorial Baptist Church in NY, and the Boston Public Library.
He helped mold the US into a love of Italian Renaissance, got an offer of partnership, just as he contacted pneumonia, and died shortly thereafter. His huge 1st-ever drawings by an American of Italian palaces exist at the Century Club.
He worked after high school for Luce, then Peabody and Stearns, and Richard Morris Hunt, before starting at MM&W.
Webster Wells
In Sept. 1879, MM&W started with Wells as Chief Designer. Until his premature death at 37, for over 11 years, he had a profound effect on American Architecture. The Villard Houses in NYC are of his design. He is given credit as the Premier designer of MM&W, and was best friends with the partners, Charles McKim (1847-1909), William Mead (1846-1928) and Stanford White (1853-1906), and with Thomas Hastings and Augustus Saint-Gaudens. He loved Music and architecture and helped arrange regular classical concerts.
Most of the info on Wells comes from Mosette Broderick's 2010 excellent book, "Triumvirate: McKim, Mead & White". It tells the story of their world and times, and the buildings they built: houses for the rich like Astors and Vanderbilts, Trinity Church in Boston, Judson Memorial Baptist Church in NY, and the Boston Public Library.
He helped mold the US into a love of Italian Renaissance, got an offer of partnership, just as he contacted pneumonia, and died shortly thereafter. His huge 1st-ever drawings by an American of Italian palaces exist at the Century Club.
He worked after high school for Luce, then Peabody and Stearns, and Richard Morris Hunt, before starting at MM&W.
Architect, the "fourth partner" of McKim, Mead, and White in the Gilded Age. McKim hired Wells in 1879. He was a relative of the great Samuel Adams. Father was Thomas F. Wells, and his brother was MIT mathematics genius Webster (1850-1916).
Webster Wells
In Sept. 1879, MM&W started with Wells as Chief Designer. Until his premature death at 37, for over 11 years, he had a profound effect on American Architecture. The Villard Houses in NYC are of his design. He is given credit as the Premier designer of MM&W, and was best friends with the partners, Charles McKim (1847-1909), William Mead (1846-1928) and Stanford White (1853-1906), and with Thomas Hastings and Augustus Saint-Gaudens. He loved Music and architecture and helped arrange regular classical concerts.
Most of the info on Wells comes from Mosette Broderick's 2010 excellent book, "Triumvirate: McKim, Mead & White". It tells the story of their world and times, and the buildings they built: houses for the rich like Astors and Vanderbilts, Trinity Church in Boston, Judson Memorial Baptist Church in NY, and the Boston Public Library.
He helped mold the US into a love of Italian Renaissance, got an offer of partnership, just as he contacted pneumonia, and died shortly thereafter. His huge 1st-ever drawings by an American of Italian palaces exist at the Century Club.
He worked after high school for Luce, then Peabody and Stearns, and Richard Morris Hunt, before starting at MM&W.
Webster Wells
In Sept. 1879, MM&W started with Wells as Chief Designer. Until his premature death at 37, for over 11 years, he had a profound effect on American Architecture. The Villard Houses in NYC are of his design. He is given credit as the Premier designer of MM&W, and was best friends with the partners, Charles McKim (1847-1909), William Mead (1846-1928) and Stanford White (1853-1906), and with Thomas Hastings and Augustus Saint-Gaudens. He loved Music and architecture and helped arrange regular classical concerts.
Most of the info on Wells comes from Mosette Broderick's 2010 excellent book, "Triumvirate: McKim, Mead & White". It tells the story of their world and times, and the buildings they built: houses for the rich like Astors and Vanderbilts, Trinity Church in Boston, Judson Memorial Baptist Church in NY, and the Boston Public Library.
He helped mold the US into a love of Italian Renaissance, got an offer of partnership, just as he contacted pneumonia, and died shortly thereafter. His huge 1st-ever drawings by an American of Italian palaces exist at the Century Club.
He worked after high school for Luce, then Peabody and Stearns, and Richard Morris Hunt, before starting at MM&W.
Inscription
In Memory of Joseph Morrill Wells, Architect- Born Mar. 1, 1853 -- Died Feb. 2, 1890
Gravesite Details
Headstone broken and on ground in pieces. Designed by Stanford White. Very sad. Morrill was Joseph's Mom's maiden name.
Family Members
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Records on Ancestry
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