Franklin J. Sawtelle
Sawtelle (October 9, 1846 – March 9, 1911) was an American architect in practice in Providence, Rhode Island from 1880 until his death in 1911. Sawtelle had a varied practice but was best known for the design of single-family homes.
Also recorded as Franklin H. Sawtelle
Franklin J. Sawtelle

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- Name
- Franklin J.
- Born
- 9 October 1846
- Birthplace
- Norridgewock, Maine
- Died
- 9 March 1911
- Place of death
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Awards
- Fellow, American Institute of Architects (1889)
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- architect
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Sawtelle (October 9, 1846 – March 9, 1911) was an American architect in practice in Providence, Rhode Island from 1880 until his death in 1911. Sawtelle had a varied practice but was best known for the design of single-family homes.
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Franklin J. Sawtelle (1846–1911) was an American architect. Born in Norridgewock, the architect died in Providence.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 30 September 2026
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Franklin J. Sawtelle • Born — 9 October 1846 • Birthplace — Norridgewock, Maine • Died — 9 March 1911 • Place of death — Providence, Rhode Island • Practice — Franklin J. Sawtelle; Sawtelle, Robertson & Shurrocks • Awards — Fellow, American Institute of Architects (1889) • Illustration — The former Taftville Congregational Church in Taftville, Connecticut, designed by Sawtelle and completed in 1904. • Illustration — The Hope Building of the Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island, designed by Sawtelle with Frances E. Henley and completed by Henley alone in 1913.
Life and career
Life and career
Sawtelle was born October 9, 1846 in Norridgewock, Maine to George Sawtelle and Sarah Herrick Sawtelle, nee Peet. He was educated in the local schools, and as a teenager began his architectural studies in the Portland office of Francis H. Fassett. In 1873 he relocated to Providence, taking a job with Stone & Carpenter. After seven years, in 1880, he opened his own office. He practiced independently for his entire career, except during 1901–1902, when he was senior member of the partnership of Sawtelle, Robertson & Shurrocks with Wayland T. Robertson and Alfred F. Shurrocks. Sawtelle died in 1911, while engaged on the commission for the Wheeler School. The school was completed by Sawtelle's associate, Frances E. Henley. Sawtelle was actively involved in the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He joined in 1885, and between then and his death served in several different official capacities including as president from 1908 to 1910.
Personal life
Personal life
Sawtelle was married in 1873 to Delia Tappan of Norridgewock. They had no children. Sawtelle died March 9, 1911 in Providence at the age of 64.
Franklin J. Sawtelle, 1880–1901 and 1902–1911
Franklin J. Sawtelle, 1880–1901 and 1902–1911
• 1882 — James Street School, 75 James St, East Providence, Rhode Island • 1883 — Mary C. Wheeler house, 26 Cabot St, Providence, Rhode Island • 1884 — Horton Building, 19 Park St, Attleboro, Massachusetts • 1885 — Bates Block, 7 N Main St, Attleboro, Massachusetts • 1886 — Mary J. A. Grinnell house, 2 Brenton Ave, Providence, Rhode Island • 1888 — Blackstone Park Chapel, 209 Wayland Ave, Providence, Rhode Island • 1889 — Hope Webbing Company Mill, 999-1005 Main St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island • 1889 — Horatio A. Hunt House, 165 Waterman St, Providence, Rhode Island • 1891 — Gregory Building, 1 Main St, Wickford, Rhode Island • 1893 — Sophia F. Brown house, 192 Bowen St, Providence, Rhode Island • 1893 — Central Congregational Church, 296 Angell St, Providence, Rhode Island • 1893 — Central Congregational Church rectory, 20 Diman Pl, Providence, Rhode Island • 1893 — Stephen W. Sessions house, 274 Olney St, Providence, Rhode Island • 1894 — Miro O. Weeden house, 81 Brown St, Providence, Rhode Island • 1895 — Edwin P. Anthony house, 180 Angell St, Providence, Rhode Island • 1895 — Theodore H. Bliss house, 46 Cooke St, Providence, Rhode Island • 1896 — Charles A. Calder house, 50 Humboldt Ave, Providence, Rhode Island • 1896 — Francis W. Carpenter house, 276 Angell St, Providence, Rhode Island • 1898 — North Kingstown Free Library (former), 55 Brown St, Wickford, Rhode Island • 1904 — Taftville Congregational Church, 16 N B St, Taftville, Connecticut • 1905 — Smith-Malmstead house, 77 Princeton Ave, Providence, Rhode Island • 1906 — Sarah L. Herreshoff house, 11 Burton St, Bristol, Rhode Island • 1909 — C. Abbott Phillips house, 150 Slater Ave, Providence, Rhode Island • 1911 — Church of Our Father (former), 222 High St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island • 1913 — Wheeler School Hope Building, 216 Hope St, Providence, Rhode Island
Sawtelle, Robertson & Shurrocks, 1901–1902
Sawtelle, Robertson & Shurrocks, 1901–1902
• 1902 — U. S. Post Office, 652-656 Broadway, Olneyville, Providence, Rhode Island • 1902 — Mary L. McCarthy duplex, 71-73 Barnes St, Providence, Rhode Island • 1902 — Charles M. Mumford house, 315 Olney St, Providence, Rhode Island • 1902 — Robert B. Parker house, 67 Manning St, Providence, Rhode Island • 1902 — Simeon B. Tilley house, 353 Olney St, Providence, Rhode Island
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1846
Franklin J. Sawtelle born at Norridgewock.
1911
Franklin J. Sawtelle died at Providence.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Norridgewock.
Birth place
Providence.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Franklin J. Sawtelle”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q21069568: Franklin J. Sawtelle
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1."Franklin J. Sawtelle, F. A. I. A.". American Institute of Architects Quarterly Bulletin 1911: 48.
- 2.Woodward, Wm. McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986.
- 3."F. J. Sawtelle Dead; Veteran Architect," Providence Journal, March 10, 1911.
- 4.East Providence, Rhode Island: Statewide Preservation Report P-EP-1. 1976.
- 5.Sanitary Engineer 30 Aug. 1883: 308.
- 6.American Architect and Building News 5 Jan. 1884: 12.
- 7.Sanitary Engineer 16 July 1885: 136.
- 8.Olney Street-Alumni Avenue Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1989.
- 9.Historical Manual: Central Congregational Church, Providence, Rhode Island. 1902.
- 10.Engineering and Building Record 29 Oct. 1889: 196.
- 11.North Kingstown, R. I.: Statewide Historical Preservation Report W-NK-1. 1979
- 12.Engineering Record 17 June 1893: 49.
- 13.American Architect and Building News 6 Oct. 1894: 6.
- 14.Jordy, William H. Buildings of Rhode Island. 2004.
- 15.Engineering Record 12 Oct. 1895: x.
- 16.Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide 17 Sept. 1904: 604.
- 17.Providence Festival of Historic Houses June 2–4, 1989
- 18.Historic and Architectural Resources of Bristol, Rhode Island. 1990.
- 19.Blackstone Boulevard-Cole Avenue-Grotto Avenue Historic District NRHP Nomination. 2009.
- 20."A Woman Architect And Her Achievements," Providence Journal, June 11, 1911, 8.
- 21.Buzila, Ciprian. A Shell for Knowledge at Mary C. Wheeler School. Rhode Tour.
- 22.American Architect and Building News 15 Feb. 1902: xi.
- 23.Providence Preservation Society Records for 71-73 Barnes Street. 1987.
References
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reference work
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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