J. M. Wood

 

J.M. Wood, although not a resident of San Francisco for many years, is one of the best know architects in this country.  He is a native of New York city, born in 1841.  His father, James E. Wood, a native of Maine, came to New York and for many years was a leading coal merchant and the head of the Union Coal Company for many years.  He was a prominent Whig and a leader in the councils of the party.  He was president of the Board of Aldermen of the city of New York, and held the office of United States Harbormaster.  He died in 1864.  His wife, a most estimable lady, was Miss Jane Dunning, a native of Scoharie county, New York, and survived him one year, dying in 1865.

 

The subject of our sketch was reared and received his education in his native city.  Soon after reaching his majority he went to Chicago and entered the office of one of the leading architects.  Several years later he opened an office for himself, and for the past quarter of a century has been identified with the building interests of that city.  He has given much attention to designing and erecting theaters, opera houses and concert halls throughout the United States.  Among the temples of art designed and erected by him are the New California Theater; Grand Opera House, Los Angeles; Grand Opera House, Portland; the Tacoma Theater; New Broadway Theater, Minneapolis; Blake Opera House, Racine, and Grand Opera House, Warsaw, Wisconsin; Rockford Opera House, and Grand Opera House, Danville, Illinois; Academy of Music. East Saginaw; Wood’s Opera House, Bay City; Academy of Music, Kalamazoo; Redmond’s Opera House, Grand Rapids; Academy of Music, Toronto, Canada; Academy of Music at Franklin, Oil City and Altoona, Pennsylvania; Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and many others, too numerous to mention.  He is an enthusiast in this branch of his profession, and has devoted a great deal of time and study to the comfort, convenience, acoustic qualities and effect in the design and arrangements of opera houses, theaters and concert halls.  His design and supervision in erecting the magnificent New California Theater in this city was through the endorsement and special recommendation of the most eminent artists in the profession, -- Booth, Barrett, Modjeska and others.