Frederick C. Withers

Frederick Clarke Withers was one of our best-known architects who had done much public work, and was universally recognized as a man of talent and taste in his profession. He was born and educated in England, and came to America in 1853.

He served as a lieutenant in the New York Engineers in the Civil War until he was wounded, when he returned to the city, and he took up his profession.

He became a partner of the late Calvert Vaux, so well and favorably known during his life, and whose memory is deservedly honored, and immediately established a reputation. His Jefferson Market court house and prison, which was by a vote of architects decided to be one of the ten best buildings in America, is perhaps his best known work; in addition he designed the Hudson River State hospital at Poughkeepsie, the Deaf Mute college at Washington, the Astor Reredos and the rear building of Trinity Church, the Chapel of the Good Shepherd on Blackwell’s Island, the Vassar Hospital at Poughkeepsie, and a number of churches. He was the author of a work on Church Architecture.

He was a regular attendant at the meetings of The Century, and was very much esteemed here for his amiable and refined qualities and his high character as a Christian gentleman.

Henry E. Howland
1901 Century Association Yearbook