Charles W. Bates (1879–1929) was an American architect who practiced primarily in Wheeling, West Virginia, and was one of the region's most successful architects. He mostly specialized in commercial and school buildings in the north Ohio River valley.
Born December 27, 1879, in Wheeling, Bates first attended the local public schools, then completed his education at the Linsly Military Institute. He studied architecture and engineering at the Armour Institute of Technology, in Chicago. In Chicago, he worked for D. H. Burnham & Company and Horatio R. Wilson. He then went to Pittsburgh, where he worked for several more architects before taking a job in the architectural department of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Bates then went abroad, returning in 1907. Upon his return, he established the firm of Rudolph & Bates with A. W. Rudolph in Altoona, central Pennsylvania. This firm was dissolved a year later and Bates returned to Wheeling, where he remained for the rest of his life and career.
Bates was one of the region's leading architects, with his chief local competitor being the older Frederick F. Faris. He designed many of the area's largest buildings, including four 10-story structures and the public library in Wheeling, and the high schools in a number of towns. Overviews of his work were published in 1909 and 1912.
1909
Rose Hill School, Monroe St, Bellaire, Ohio1910
First United Presbyterian Church, 3358 Guernsey St, Bellaire, OhioEdward F. Stifel House (Edemar), 1330 National Rd, Wheeling, West VirginiaWheeling Public Library (Old), 2100 Market St, Wheeling, West Virginia1911
First Ward School, Belmont St, Bellaire, OhioWestover School, East St, Westover, West Virginia1912
Cairo School, School St, Cairo, West VirginiaHawley Building, 1025 Main St, Wheeling, West Virginia1913
Neuralgyline Building, 88 19th St, Wheeling, West VirginiaRodewig Building, 3127 Belmont St, Bellaire, Ohio1914
National Bank of West Virginia Building, 1201 Main St, Wheeling, West VirginiaMorgantown High School, 300 Spruce St, Morgantown, West Virginia (demolished)Peoples Savings Bank Building, 30 S 4th St, Martins Ferry, Ohio1915
Farmers and Merchants National Bank Building, 3195 Union St, Bellaire, OhioFenray Theatre, 21 S 4th St, Martins Ferry, Ohio (demolished) 1916
Claysville High School, Main St, Claysville, Pennsylvania (demolished)First National Bank Building, 1388 Main St, Smithfield, OhioGerman Savings Bank Building, 103 S 4th St, Martins Ferry, Ohio1917
Elm Junior High School, 808 Elm St, Martins Ferry, Ohio (demolished)Hoeveler Storage Warehouse, 750 S Millvale Ave, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPoint Pleasant High School, 1200 Main St, Point Pleasant, West VirginiaYorkville School, Market St, Yorkville, Ohio1918
Miller Avenue School, 734 Miller Ave, Clairton, Pennsylvania (demolished)Moundsville High School, Tomlinson Ave, Moundsville, West Virginia (demolished)1919
Bank of Morgantown (Citizens) Building, 265 High St, Morgantown, West VirginiaWellsville High School, Center St, Wellsville, Ohio1920
Harding High School, Vine St, Fairport Harbor, Ohio.1921
12th Street Garage, 79-81 12th St, Wheeling, West VirginiaMetropolitan Theatre, 371 High St, Morgantown, West Virginia1922
Colson Hall, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West VirginiaRiley Law Building, 45 14th St, Wheeling, West VirginiaCharles R. Shreve High School, Hanover St, Martins Ferry, Ohio1923
[Clairton High School]], Waddell Ave, Clairton, Pennsylvania (highly altered)1924
Central Union Trust Building, 40 14th St, Wheeling, West Virginia1925
Bellaire High School, 35th St, Bellaire, Ohio1927
Pythian Theatre, 1025 Chapline St, Wheeling, West Virginia1928
Cadiz High School, 440 E Market St, Cadiz, OhioCapitol Theatre, 1015 Main St, Wheeling, West Virginia1929
Bridgeport High School, W Bennett St, Bridgeport, Ohio