Name Benjamin Price | Role Architect | |
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Structures Mount Zion Memorial Church, Niotaze Methodist Episcopal Church, First Christian Church | ||
Benjamin Detwiler Price (September 3, 1845 - September 19, 1922) was an architect known principally for his catalogue sales of plans for churches. He reportedly sold over 6,000 copies of his church plans, and several of the churches he designed are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places.
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Architectural practice
Born in North Coventry, Pennsylvania, he established his architectural practice at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the 1870s, he began marketing plans for churches through the mail. In 1876, Price began working with the Methodist Episcopal Board of Church Extension and prepared 67 church plans for them. The Methodist Episcopal Church Board sold copies of Price's plans by mail for prices ranging from two to fifty dollars. By 1885, the Board had sold 1,975 copies of Price's plans. In 1889, Price reacquired the rights to his designs from the Board. In the 1892 edition of "Church Plans," Price wrote that he had sold 600 copies of his plans in 1891 and that a total of 5,350 plans had been sold through December 31, 1891. He claimed to have sold more than 6,000 copies of his plans between 1876 and 1907. A number of editions of his book "Church Plans" were published from 1885 to 1906.
Family and personal life
Price was married in 1872 to Mary W. Dingee. Price and his son, Max Charles Price, co-authored later editions of "Church Plans" and also formed a company to manufacture and sell paper imitation stained glass. By 1900, he had moved to Middletown Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. By 1920, he had moved to Punta Gorda, Florida. In 1922, Price died in Punta Gorda, Florida.
Works
A number of Price's works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. His works include: