Francis Charles Woods

Francis Charles Woods (January 12, 1844 - April 11, 1912) was a Scottish-born American architect and organ-builder who designed many buildings in Utah and Idaho. Some of his works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), including the Hotel Brigham (with Julius A. Smith) and the Summit County Courthouse.[1][2][3]

Francis Charles Woods
BornJanuary 12, 1844
Glasgow, Scotland
DiedApril 11, 1912
Ogden, Utah, U.S.
OccupationArchitect
Spouse(s)Evelyn Pratt
Children5 sons (including Moroni Charles Woods), 8 daughters
RelativesParley P. Pratt (father-in-law)

Works include:

He married Evelyn Pratt, on November 5, 1873, in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City

According to a biography written by daughter Phyllis, in Malad City, Idaho, he built "a hotel, homes, stores, and a beautiful courthouse, which stands as a monument to him today. He also worked as a coffin builder while in that city."[5] That courthouse, built in 1882, was Italianate, and was replaced in 1939 by the Oneida County Courthouse[6]

Per the daughter, he designed "the Auditorium" in Pocatello, Idaho.[5] Assuming that's correct, it would be the Auditorium Opera House, either the 1893 reconstruction of an earlier opera house that was damaged in a fire, but which itself was destroyed in a fire in October 1899, or the 1900 new construction in brick. This, like some other Woods works, was Italianate in style, although the front was later modified in Art Deco style, but the Italianate styling can still be seen in its side wall along the alley running beside it. After another fire in 1939, the building was converted into a furniture store, which remained in 1994 and was included in the NRHP listing of the East Side Downtown Historic District.[7]

He also designed a "Mental Hospital" in Blackfoot.[5] He built works as far north as Rexburg, Idaho.[5]

In Ogden, he designed "the Presbyterian Church, Healy hotel, City Police Station, South Washington, Quincy, and Madison schools besides thirteen county schools and numerous stores and residences."[5]

Evelyn and Francis had 13 children, 12 of whom would marry within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Salt Lake City Temple.[5]

Moroni Charles Woods, one of the sons, also became an architect.

References
  1. "Francis Charles Woods". Utah Center for Architecture. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  2. "F. C. Woods Called By Death". The Ogden Standard. April 12, 1912. p. 6. Retrieved October 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Funeral Services for Francis C. Woods". Deseret News. April 15, 1912. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "St. Joseph Catholic Church: Our History". Retrieved October 22, 2019. With multiple photos of 1889 church.
  5. Phyllis Afton Woods Parker (daughter) (January 15, 1933). "Biography of Francis Charles Woods". Jared Pratt Family Association. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  6. Jennifer Eastman Attebery (June 23, 1987). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Oneida County Courthouse". National Park Service. Retrieved January 14, 2017. with two photos from 1986
  7. Jennifer Eastman Attebery/Kathleen Lacey (June 15, 1994). National Register of Historic Places Registration: East Side Downtown Historic District (Report). With photo of the Auditorium Opera House, with view of its side, and 17 other photos from 1994
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