Guilbert & Betelle designed the 1927 Essex County Hall of Records, in Newark, as a complement to the existing 1902 Court House by Cass Gilbert (to which they did the massive remodeling described in this article). Interestingly, James Betelle worked for Gilbert about that time; it’s possible he was involved in its construction as well. [...]
Entries from October 2006
Essex County Hall of Records
October 31st, 2006 · No Comments · Architecture, Articles
All I Got is a Photograph
October 24th, 2006 · 2 Comments · Architecture, Diary, Miscellaneous
I found this wonderful photograph of the Chamber of Commerce Building in the Newark Library’s photo archive. It works on a both large and small scale, from the full breadth of the building down to fine details at street level.
After visiting the building recently I was hoping to find a good period photo, and this [...]
The Franklin Murphy House, Newark NJ
October 14th, 2006 · 2 Comments · Architecture, Miscellaneous
The only private residence Guilbert & Betelle designed (that I know of) was the Franklin Murphy House in Newark, New Jersey. Franklin Murphy had quite a life; born in 1846, he fought in the Civil War as a teenager, seeing action at Gettysburg. He went on to found the Murphy Varnish Company in Newark, and [...]
Tags:Newark·residential
Discoveries at The Grolier Club
October 1st, 2006 · No Comments · Architecture, Articles, Diary
James Betelle wrote articles for countless magazines and journals, but as far as I know, only one book; a forward to a 1933 publication by The Carteret Book Club entitled Colonial Dutch Houses in New Jersey. I suspected the book was rare, as it could only be found in by-appointment collections; no open stacks or [...]
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