Edwin T. Banning

Casino, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI. 1896.

East Providence High School, East Providence, RI. 1908–09.

Temple Beth-El, Providence, RI. 1910–11.

Edwin Thomas Banning (1864–1940) was an American architect from Providence, Rhode Island.

Banning was born in Danielson, Connecticut. His parents, natives of Newport, Rhode Island, returned to it when their son was very young. He attended Rogers High School and Brown University.^[1] He dropped out in his junior year, and began working as a draftsman for Gould & Angell, prominent Providence architects.^[2][3]

Banning established an office in Providence in the mid-1890s. He began to specialize in public buildings, including a number of schools. He relocated his office to Newport in 1900, and back to Providence in 1903. Later that year he made his brother-in-law, Henry C. Thornton, a partner in Banning & Thornton. This association continued until 1912, when Banning went west to San Diego, California.^[4] He continued to practice as an architect, and died there in 1940.^[1]

Architectural works

Edwin T. Banning, before 1903:

• Casino, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI (1896)^[5]
• Hospital and Gymnasium, Sockanosset School for Boys, Howard, RI (1898) - Demolished.^[6]
• Wayland Park School, 15 Curtis St., Cranston, RI (1898) - Demolished.^[7]
• Y. M. C. A. Gymnasium, 41 Mary St., Newport, RI (1900–01) - Demolished.^[8]
• Middletown Free Library (Old), 1251 W. Main Rd., Middletown, RI (1902)^[9]

Banning & Thornton, 1903–1912:

• Cranston High School (Old), 845 Park Ave., Cranston, RI (1903–04)^[10]
• Warwick High School (Old), 319 Providence St., West Warwick, RI (1904–05) - Highly altered.^[11]
• Humboldt Avenue Fire Station, 155 Humboldt Ave., Providence, RI (1905)^[12]
• Old State House (Remodeling), 150 Benefit St., Providence, RI (1906)^[13]
• Rhode Island Building, Jamestown Exposition, Norfolk, VA (1906–07) - Demolished.^[14]
• Arlington Grammar School, 1090 Cranston St., Cranston, RI (1907) - Demolished.^[15]
• Norwood Avenue Grammar School, 205 Norwood Ave., Cranston, RI (1907) - Highly altered.^[15]
• East Providence High School (Old), 20 Whelden Ave., East Providence, RI (1908–09)^[16]
• Temple Beth-El, 688 Broad St., Providence, RI (1910–11)^[17]
• Gleason House, Rhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded, Exeter, RI (1912) - Demolished.^[18]

Edwin T. Banning, from 1912:

• St. Vincent R. C. Church, 4080 Hawk St., San Diego, CA (1913) - Demolished.^[19]

References

1. "Edwin T. Banning Dies in San Diego". Newport Mercury 24 May 1940: 3.
2. Handbook of the Beta Theta Pi. 1886.
3. The Providence Directory and Rhode Island Business Directory. 1889.
4. Architect and Engineer 1912 Nov. 1912: 112.
5. Woodward, Wm. McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986.
6. Brickbuilder Dec. 1897: 285.
7. Annual Report of the State Board of Education, January, 1899. 1899.
8. American Architect and Building News 1900: 175.
9. "Library History". http://www.middletownpubliclibrary.org/. 2013. Web.
10. Annual Report of the State Board of Education, January, 1905. 1905.
11. Annual Report of the State Board of Education, January, 1906. 1906.
12. Wayland Historic District NRHP Nomination. 2005.
13. Jordy, William H. Buildings of Rhode Island. 2004.
14. Annual Report of the State Auditor. 1907.
15. School Board Journal May 1907: 28.
16. Engineering Record 21 Nov. 1908: 48.
17. American Contractor 16 July 1910: 51.
18. Annual Report of the State Auditor 1913.
19. Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer 9 Aug. 1913: 29.