James King (architect)

James King was an early architect in Idaho. He was the first formally trained architect operating in the state.

He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and studied architecture there. During the American Civil War he served in the quartermaster's department, in West Virginia. After the war he practiced architecture in West Virginia. He moved to Boise, Idaho in 1888.[1]

According to the National Register nomination about one of his works, "Research has not revealed much information about King, and few of his buildings remain." Photos of some of his works show "that he worked in the prevailing eclectic idiom style: the C.W. Moore house is a flamboyant Chateauesque residence, and the [Boise City National] bank building is Richardsonian Romanesque; the [Washington County] courthouse had a Georgian Revival cupola, a projecting pavilion reminiscent of Federal architecture and round Romanesque arches."[1]

Several of his works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Works include:

  • Bishops House (1889), moved to its present location in 1977.[2]
  • Benjamin Watlington House (1890), Queen Anne-style, NRHP-listed[1]
  • Washington County's courthouse (1890), demolished 1938.[1]
  • Boise City National Bank Building (1891-92), aka 801 Building, Boise. King completed design of three-story originally constructed building; initial work was by a Chicago architect.[3] The fourth floor and parapet were designed by Tourtellotte & Co. and added later.[4]
  • C.W. Moore House (1892), Warm Springs Ave., Boise. Geothermally heated. NRHP-listed[5]
  • First Presbyterian Church (Boise, Idaho)|First Presbyterian Church]] (1893), Boise[6]
  • Old Idaho State Penitentiary's wall and administration building (1893-94), Boise[1]
  • Kingsbury-Day House (1896), Boise[7]

References
  1. Cheri Clausen; Elizabeth Egleston (October 3, 1990). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Benjamin Watlington House / Steve and Cheri Clausen House; 013844". National Park Service. Retrieved December 30, 2019. With accompanying four photos from 1990
  2. "Bishops House". Idaho Architecture Project. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  3. "The Electric Era". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. August 23, 1891. p. 6.
  4. Don Hibbard (June 14, 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Boise City National Bank / Simplot Building". National Park Service. Retrieved January 17, 2020. With accompanying photo from 1977
  5. "Historic Warm Springs Mansion on Market for First Time".
  6. "First Prebyterian Church". Idaho Architecture Project. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  7. "Kingsbury-Day House". Idaho Architecture Project. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
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