WILLIAM PATTON

 

 

WILLIAM PATTON, supervising architect of the new city hall, is a native of the north of England, of Scotch descents; was reared and attended school in his native country, near Durham Cathedral and University buildings, and received his architectural education and training there and at York Cathedral.  He then went to London and entered the office of Sir Gilbert Scott, the well known architect and was also employed in the office of many other prominent architects.  He was employed on railroad work by George Hudson, the railroad king.  Upon the breaking out of the gold excitement in California, he sailed on the bark Antelope.  The late, Thomas Blythe, the millionaire, was a fellow passenger.  The vessel arrived here in August, 1849.  Soon after arrival, Mr. Patton went to the mines and remained there teaming as long as he could make good wages, but when he could make only $2.50 per day he thought it time to return to his profession.  He engaged in mercantile business, but under the prevailing system of credit he says he woke up one fine morning and found himself practically "busted."  The Indians stole his best mules and the Australian thieves stole his horses.  After chasing Indians in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, he quit the mercantile life and sought new fields.  Going to Sacramento in 1854, he was employed at painting, and after striping the wheels of the coach for the California Stage Company, in payment for his fare, went to Nevada to Sacramento.  Next, returning to his profession, he built the Marysville water works.  After a few years he came to San Francisco, and located here permanently, and since then for more than thirty years past, he has been prominently identified with architectural interests here.  In May, 1889, he was appointed by the board of new city hall commissioners, supervising architect for the new city hall of San Francisco, a position involving large responsibility, and since then this work has progressed under his supervision.

 

Mr. Patton is a member of the Society of San Francisco Pioneers and a Fellow of the American Society of Architects.  Amongst his many works are the Synagogue Emanuel, on Sutter Street; Grace Cathedral, the old Starr King's church, the Safe Deposit block, Mechanics Institute, a road bridge in Sonoma County, near Healdsburg, the Alameda Water Works Reservoir building, besides many business blocks in San Francisco, Alameda and elsewhere, and now has in hand the Flood Mausoleum and several other works.

 

 

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco" Volume 1. Lewis Publishing Company 1892. Page 422.

Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton.