Clarence W. Wigington | |
|---|---|
 Wigington circa 1905 | |
| Born | (1883-04-21)April 21, 1883 |
| Died | July 7, 1967(1967-07-07) (aged 84) |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse | Viola Williams |
Clarence Wesley "Cap" Wigington (1883-1967) was an Americanarchitect who grew up inOmaha, Nebraska. After winning three first prizes in charcoal, pencil, and pen and ink at an art competition during theTrans-Mississippi Exposition in 1899, Wigington went on to become a renowned architect across theMidwestern United States, at a time when African-American architects were few.[1] Wigington was the nation's first blackmunicipal architect,[2] serving 34 years as senior designer for the City ofSaint Paul, Minnesota's architectural office when the city had an ambitious building program.[3] Sixty of his buildings still stand in St. Paul, with several recognized on theNational Register of Historic Places. Wigington's architectural legacy is one of the most significant bodies of work by an African-American architect.[4]
Clarence Wesley Wigington was born inLawrence, Kansas, in 1883, but his family soon moved to Omaha, where he was raised inNorth Omaha'sWalnut Hill neighborhood. From 1900 to 1904 he attended evening courses taught byAlfred Juergens andJ. Laurie Wallace. After graduating fromOmaha High School at the age of 15[citation needed], Wigington left an Omaha art school in 1902 to work forThomas R. Kimball, then president of theAmerican Institute of Architects. After six years he started his own office. In 1910 Wigington was listed by the U.S. Census as one of only 59 African-American architects, artists and draftsmen in the country.[4] While in Omaha, Wigington designed theBroomfield Rowhouse,Zion Baptist Church, and the secondSt. John's African Methodist Episcopal Church building, along with several other single and multiple family dwellings.[5]
After marrying Viola Williams, Wigington received his first public commission, to design a small brickpotato chip factory inSheridan, Wyoming. He ran the establishment for several years.[6]
Wigington continued his work inSaint Paul, Minnesota, where he earned a national reputation. He moved there in 1914 and by 1917 was promoted to the position of senior architectural designer for the City of St. Paul. During the 1920s and '30s, Wigington designed most of theSaint Paul Public Schools buildings, as well as golf clubhouses, fire stations, park buildings, and airports for the city. Other Wigington structures include theHighland Park Tower, theHolman Field Administration Building and theHarriet Island Pavilion, all now listed on theNational Register of Historic Places, as well as theRoy Wilkins Auditorium. Wigington also designed monumental ice palaces for theSt. Paul Winter Carnival in the 1930s and '40s.[7]
Wigington was among the 13 founders of theSterling Club, a social club for railroadporters,bellboys,waiters,drivers and other black men. He founded theHome Guards of Minnesota, an all-black militia established in 1918 whenracial segregation prohibited his entry into the Minnesota National Guard duringWorld War I. As the leader of that group, he was given the rank ofcaptain, from which the nickname "Cap" was derived.[8]
After retiring from the City of St. Paul in 1949, Wigington began a private architectural practice in California. Soon after moving toKansas City, Missouri in 1967, he died on July 7.[9]
As senior architect for the city, Wigington designed schools, fire stations, park structures and municipal buildings. Aside from his work in Omaha, Wigington also designed the building which originally hosted theNorth Carolina State University atDurham.[10]
Nearly 60 Wigington-designed buildings still stand in St. Paul. They include the notable Highland Park Clubhouse, Cleveland High School, Randolph Heights Elementary School, and the downtown St. Paul Police Station, in addition to the Palm House and the Zoological Building at theComo Park Zoo.[11] Fire Station No. 19, just north of theHighland Park Tower, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as of April 2023.[12] Although Wigington is not listed on the blueprints, the NRHP listing affirms that "it is likely Wigington was at least consulted in the design of Fire Station No. 19, if not serving as the primary designer himself."[13]
| Notable Wigington-designed buildingsin order of year of construction | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Location | Constructed | NRHP?[14] | ||
| Broomfield Rowhouse | 2502-2504 Lake Street,NorthOmaha, Nebraska | 1913 | Yes | ||
| Zion Baptist Church | 2215 Grant Street, North Omaha | 1914 | No | ||
| Como Park Elementary School | 780 Wheelock Parkway W.,St. Paul, Minnesota | 1916 | No | ||
| Highland Park Tower | 1570 Highland Parkway, St. Paul | 1928 | Yes | ||
| Roy Wilkins Auditorium | 175 Kellogg Boulevard West, St. Paul | 1932 | No | ||
| Holman Field Administration Building | 644 Bayfield Street, St. Paul | 1939 | Yes | ||
| Hamline Playground Recreation Center | 1564 Lafond Ave., St. Paul | 1940 | No | ||
| Harriet Island Pavilion | 75 Water Street, St. Paul | 1941 | Yes | ||
| St. James A.M.E. Church | 624 Central Avenue West, St. Paul | No | |||
| Private residence for Jack G. Butwin | 357 Woodlawn Ave., St. Paul | 1948 | No[15] | ||
Sixty of his buildings still stand in Saint Paul, with four recognized by listing on theNational Register of Historic Places, in addition to another Register-listed building he likely designed. His architectural legacy constitutes one of the most significant bodies of work by an African-American architect.[4]
Renamed to honor Wigington in 1998, the Harriet Island Pavilion is now called the Clarence W. Wigington Pavilion.[16]
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