William R. Walker & Son (1881–1938) was an American architectural firm in Providence, Rhode Island. It included partners William Russell Walker (1830–1905), William Howard Walker (1865–1922), and later, William Russell Walker II (1889–1936).
William R. Walker began his architectural practice in 1864. Between 1876 and 1881 he partnered with Thomas J. Gould in Walker & Gould. In 1881, the two parted ways to start independent firms. Walker took his son, William H. Walker into partnership to form the firm of William R. Walker & Son. William R. Walker died in 1905. William H. Walker died in 1922, at which point his son, William R. Walker, Jr., took charge until his own death in 1936.
Throughout the firm's history, it was known for its educational buildings. All of the Walkers had important political connections, enabling them to obtain the commissions for these and other civic structures. The part of the Walker legacy that is most commonly passed over is their residential and commercial commissions. Prominent commercial commissions include Providence's Lederer Building (1897), Attleboro's Bronson Building (1903), and the Washington Building (1921) in Providence.
In Providence, Rhode Island:
1881 - John E. Troup House, 477 Broadway, Providence, Rhode Island
1882 - Elmwood Grammar School (former), 15 Vineyard St, Providence, Rhode Island
1882 - George E. Boyden House, 20 Bainbridge Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
1883 - Frank M. Mathewson House, 224 Bowen St, Providence, Rhode Island
1883 - St. Theresa's R. C. Church, 265 Manton Ave, Providence, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1884 - Masonic Temple, 127 Dorrance St, Providence, Rhode IslandBurned in 1896 and replaced by a building designed by Fred. E. Field.
1885 - Benjamin F. Vaughan House, 148 Power St, Providence, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1885 - John McAuslan House, 544 Elmwood Ave., Providence, Rhode IslandOne of Providence's most fanciful dwellings. Demolished.
1885 - Smith Street Primary School, 400 Smith St, Providence, Rhode Island
1886 - Atwells Avenue Fire Station, 318 Atwells Ave, Providence, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1886 - Covell Street Primary School, 231 Amherst St, Providence, Rhode Island
1887 - Christ Episcopal Church, 909 Eddy St, Providence, Rhode IslandDemolished in 2006.
1888 - Manton Avenue Grammar School, 917 Manton Ave, Manton, Rhode IslandDemolished in 2002.
1889 - Boston Store Annex, 140 Union St, Providence, Rhode Island
1889 - Nicholas and Cyrus M. van Slyck Duplex, 4–6 Young Orchard Ave, Providence, Rhode IslandPurchased by Bryant, and variously known as Gardner and Allan Halls. Demolished.
1892 - Boston Store (Remodeling), 239 Westminster St, Providence, Rhode IslandNew facade and the addition of two stories.
1893 - James E. Sullivan House, 254 Wayland Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
1895 - St. Joseph's R. C. Hospital, 21 Peace St, Providence, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1896 - Lederer Building, 137 Mathewson St, Providence, Rhode Island
1897 - Hotel Savoy, 135 Snow St, Providence, Rhode IslandDemolished in 1994.
1900 - Estelle R. Jackson Duplex, 121-123 Benevolent St, Providence, Rhode Island
1900 - George W. Robertson House, 242 Adelaide Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
1903 - Caesar Misch Building, 400 Westminster St, Providence, Rhode Island
1903 - Cranston Street Armory, 125 Dexter St, Providence, Rhode Island
1911 - Hanley Building, 56 Pine St, Providence, Rhode Island
1913 - Armory of Mounted Commands, 1051 N Main St, Providence, Rhode IslandThe headhouse was built in 1923–1925 from plans by William G. Richards.
1914 - Emery Theatre, 79 Mathewson St, Providence, Rhode IslandLater the Carlton. Demolished in 1954.
1914 - Gaiety Theatre, 220 Weybosset St, Providence, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1915 - Everett Apartments, 111 Everett Ave, Providence, Rhode Island
1915 - Avon Cinema, 260 Thayer St, Providence, Rhode Island
1916 - Emery's Majestic Theatre, 201 Washington St, Providence, Rhode IslandNow home to the Trinity Repertory Company.
1916 - Esek Hopkins School, 480 Charles St, Providence, Rhode Island
1916 - Lederer Mausoleum, Congregation Sons of Israel and David Cemetery, 401 Reservoir Ave, Providence, Rhode IslandA Doric temple built of Westerly granite.
1916 - Modern Theatre, 440 Westminster St, Providence, Rhode IslandDemolished in 1966.
1916 - Hotel Dreyfus (Remodeling), 95 Mathewson St, Providence, Rhode Island
1916 - Medical Building, 234 Thayer St, Providence, Rhode Island
1917 - Vinton Building, 354 Westminster St, Providence, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1919 - Rialto Theatre (Remodeling), 121 Mathewson St, Providence, Rhode IslandAdded the Mathewson facade. The auditorium was demolished in 1936.
1919 - Watkins Building, 274 Pine St, Providence, Rhode IslandBuilt for the D. W. Watkins Company.
1921 - Hotel Berkshire Annex, 133 Mathewson St, Providence, Rhode IslandNow part of the Hotel Providence.
1921 - Washington Building, 93 Washington St, Providence, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1923 - Jewish Orphanage of Rhode Island, 164 Summit Ave, Providence, Rhode IslandRemodeled in the 1950s to become Miriam Hospital. Barker & Turoff, architects of the remodeling.
1924 - Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences, 235 Benefit St, Providence, Rhode IslandNow a RISD building.
1926 - Henry Barnard School, Rhode Island College of Education, 199 Promenade St, Providence, Rhode IslandNow the site of Providence Place.
1934 - Gymnasium and Training School, 86 Mount Hope Ave, Rhode Island School for the Deaf, Providence, Rhode Island
Elsewhere in Providence County, Rhode Island:
1881 - Ernest W. Tinkham House, 194 East Ave, Harrisville, Rhode Island
1882 - John F. Clarke House, 91 Broad St, Valley Falls, Rhode Island
1883 - Corliss Safe Manufacturing Works, 72 Fenner St, Cranston, Rhode IslandAltered.
1884 - First Freewill Baptist Church, 130 Broadway, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
1884 - Park Place Congregational Church, 12 Park Pl, Pawtucket, Rhode IslandBurned in 1934.
1885 - Mauran Avenue School, 186 Mauran Ave, East Providence, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1885 - Middle Street School, 260 Middle St, Pawtucket, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1886 - 1st Ward Wardroom, 171 Fountain St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
1886 - 5th Ward Wardroom, 47 Mulberry St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
1888 - East Providence Town Hall, 145 Taunton Ave, East Providence, Rhode IslandBurned in 1976.
1888 - United Congregational Church, 75 N Broadway, East Providence, Rhode IslandAltered in 1931 by Benjamin W. Wright.
1888 - Williams Avenue School, 115 Williams Ave, East Providence, Rhode IslandHeavily altered.
1889 - Church Hill Grammar School, 81 Park Pl, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
1889 - Edgewood School, 185 Norwood Ave, Cranston, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1889 - Lincoln High School (former), 580 Broad St, Central Falls, Rhode IslandBuilt when Central Falls was a part of Lincoln. Now the City Hall.
1890 - Grove Street School, 16-26 Grove St, Pawtucket, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1892 - Charles C. Newall House, 234 Norwood Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
1894 - Cumberland Town Hall, 45 Broad St, Valley Falls, Rhode Island
1894 - Pawtucket Armory, 172 Exchange St, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
1894 - Payne Building, 7 Goff Ave, Pawtucket, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1895 - Pawtucket High School (former), 300 Broadway, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
1896 - St. Charles Borromeo R. C. School, 62 Daniels St, Woonsocket, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1896 - Woonsocket District Courthouse, 24 Front St, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
1897 - Masonic Building, 55 High St, Pawtucket, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1900 - St. Joseph's R. C. Convent, 194 Walcott St, Pawtucket, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1901 - Social Street School, 706 Social St, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
1902 - Harrisville School, 201 Callahan School St, Harrisville, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1904 - Clark Street School, 20 Clark St, Valley Falls, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1904 - South Woodlawn School, 54 Warren Ave, Pawtucket, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1908 - Prospect Street School, 329 Prospect St, Pawtucket, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1913 - Woonsocket Armory, 350 S Main St, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
1914 - Central Falls Police Station and Courthouse (former), 507 Broad St, Central Falls, Rhode Island
1919 - Clubhouse, Metacomet Country Club, 500 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, East Providence, Rhode Island
1919 - Thornton School, 4 School St, Thornton, Rhode Island
1920 - Fire Station No. 3, 1384 Cranston St, Cranston, Rhode Island
1921 - North Smithfield Memorial Town Building, 1 Main St, Slatersville, Rhode IslandAltered.
1922 - Arthur E. Platt School, 80 Burnside Ave, Riverside, Rhode Island
1924 - Park Theatre, 848 Park Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
1927 - Central Falls High School, 24 Summer St, Central Falls, Rhode Island
1927 - Cranston High School, 899 Park Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
1927 - Fire Station No. 1, 131 Park Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
1927 - Masonic Temple, 2121 Smith St, Centerdale, Rhode Island
1928 - Chester W. Barrows School, 9 Beachmont Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
1929 - East Providence Junior High School (former), 20 Whelden Ave, East Providence, Rhode IslandNow known as the Taunton Plaza apartments.
1929 - Frank C. Angell Memorial Town Hall, 2000 Smith St, Centerdale, Rhode Island
1930 - Edward S. Rhodes School, 164 Shaw Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island
1935 - Building for Disturbed Men, 16 Wilma Schesler Ln, Rhode Island Hospital for Mental Diseases, Howard, Rhode Island
1935 - Building for Disturbed Women, 18 Wilma Schesler Ln, Rhode Island Hospital for Mental Diseases, Howard, Rhode Island
In Kent County, Rhode Island:
1886 - District 4 School, 1515 W Shore Rd, Warwick, Rhode Island
1893 - Warwick Town (City) Hall, 3275 Post Rd, Apponaug, Rhode Island
1907 - Pontiac School, Greenwich Ave, Pontiac, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1908 - Kent County Courthouse (Remodeling), 125 Main St, East Greenwich, Rhode Island
Presently the East Greenwich Town Hall.
1912 - Kentish Artillery Armory, 3259 Post Rd, Apponaug, Rhode Island
1915 - Phenix Trust Building, 704 Main St, Phenix, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1916 - Buttonwoods School (former), 3027 W Shore Rd, Buttonwoods, Rhode Island
1916 - Cowesett School, 33 Division St, Cowesett, Rhode IslandNear East Greenwich. Demolished.
1916 - Spring Green School (former), 65 Shippen Ave, Spring Green, Rhode Island
1920 - Apponaug School, 20 Centerville Rd, Apponaug, Rhode Island
1921 - Miriam A. Duffy School, 10 Harris Ave, Arctic, Rhode Island
1924 - Quidnick School, 191 MacArthur Blvd, Quidnick, Rhode Island
1926 - West Warwick Junior High School (former), 124 Providence St, River Point, Rhode IslandNow an elementary school.
1931 - Oakland Beach School, 383 Oakland Beach Ave, Oakland Beach, Rhode IslandA WPA project.
1932 - Nelson W. Aldrich High School, 789 Post Rd, Warwick, Rhode IslandA WPA project. Now a junior high school.
In Bristol County, Rhode Island:
1882 - St. Mary's R. C. Church, 645 Main St, Warren, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1888 - George Hail Free Library, 530 Main St, Warren, Rhode Island
1890 - Warren Town Hall, 514 Main St, Warren, Rhode IslandTower shortened after 1938.
1891 - St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 5 Chapel Rd, West Barrington, Rhode Island
1896 - Walley School, 260 High St, Bristol, Rhode Island
1900 - Oliver School, 151 State St, Bristol, Rhode Island
1903 - Drownville School, Lincoln Ave & Walnut Rd, Drownville, Rhode IslandDemolished.
1919 - Maple Avenue School, 310 Maple Ave, Barrington, Rhode Island
In Washington County, Rhode Island:
1901 - Westerly Armory, 8 Dixon St, Westerly, Rhode Island
1904 - Ashaway School, 12 Hillside Ave, Ashaway, Rhode IslandAltered.
1907 - North Kingstown High School (former), 99 Phillips St, Wickford, Rhode Island
1912 - Westerly Town Hall and Courthouse, 45 Broad St, Westerly, Rhode Island
1925 - Doyle House, Exeter School, Exeter, Rhode Island
Demolished.
1927 - Higgins House, Exeter School, Exeter, Rhode IslandDemolished in 2013.
In Massachusetts:
1882 - First Universalist Church, 43 N Washington St, North Attleborough, MassachusettsDemolished.
1884 - Goff Memorial Building, 124 Bay State Rd, Rehoboth, MassachusettsBurned in 1911.
1885 - Centenary M. E. Church, 39 N Main St, Attleboro, MassachusettsHeavily altered.
1885 - William H. Smith House, 185 S Main St, Attleboro, Massachusetts
1886 - Fall River City Hall (rebuilding), 40 S Main St, Fall River, MassachusettsThe building had been gutted by fire. Demolished in the 1960s.
1888 - Mellen House, N Main & Franklin Sts, Fall River, MassachusettsBurned in 1943.
1889 - Byron W. Anthony House, 527 Rock St, Fall River, Massachusetts
1890 - Fall River National Bank Building, 59 N Main St, Fall River, Massachusetts
1904 - Bronson Building, 8 N Main St, Attleboro, Massachusetts
1910 - Attleboro Armory, 91 Pine St, Attleboro, Massachusetts
1915 - Goff Memorial Building, 124 Bay State Rd, Rehoboth, Massachusetts
1918 - Empire Theatre, 166 S Main St, Fall River, MassachusettsDemolished.
1918 - Sanford Building, 1 Park St, Attleboro, Massachusetts
1925 - First National Bank Building, 19 Park St, Attleboro, Massachusetts
1932 - Smart Memorial Library (former), 536 Fall River Ave, Luther's Corner, Massachusetts
1936 - Hiram Lake Chapel, Rehoboth Village Cemetery, Bay State Rd, Rehoboth, Massachusetts
In Connecticut:
1883 - Ponemah Mill No. 2, 555 Norwich Ave, Taftville, Connecticut
In Maine:
1905 - Narragansett Hotel, 149 Beach Ave, Kennebunk, Maine
Several architects were educated in the office of William R. Walker & Son, including:
Albert H. Humes, Central Falls (1881–1887)
Franklin R. Hindle, Providence (1892-1895)
Thomas J. Hill Pierce, Providence (1912–1913)
