George P. B. Alderman

George Perkins Bissell Alderman
Engraved portrait of Alderman, c. 1925
Born	September 20, 1862 Tariffville, Connecticut
Died	November 3, 1942(1942-11-03) (aged 80) Holyoke, Massachusetts
Nationality	American
Known for	Architect
Spouse(s)	Clara Belle Drake Inez B. Goslee
Children	10
Signature

George Perkins Bissell Alderman (September 20, 1862 – November 3, 1942), often referred to as George P. B. Alderman was an American architect who was very active in western Massachusetts and Connecticut during the late 19th and early 20th Century.

Childhood and architectural training

Alderman was born September 20, 1862. As a young child he worked on the family farm and as a carpenter, and also attended school in East Granby, CT. The family moved to Plainville, Connecticut, where he attended school for a year, then worked at country store. In 1879 his family moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts, where he worked with his father, a carpenter.

Eventually Alderman realized that he really desired to be an architect and to that end he entered the office of James A. Clough, architect, of Holyoke, where he worked for 5 years. He then moved to Chicago, Illinois where he found work in the offices of Cass Chapman, a prominent architect.

Architectural practice

In 1885, Mr. Alderman returned to Holyoke and opened his own architectural office where he was later joined by his brother, Henry. The firm name was George P. B. Alderman & Company. The business was very active from the start building churches, schools and public buildings for a varied clientele.

Personal life

Alderman’s son, Bissell Alderman was also an architect who attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and had a long and distinguished career serving many New England clients. The younger Alderman would also serve two terms as president of the Western Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Alderman was very active in civic affairs. He was a director of the Hadley Falls Trust Company, a trustee of the People's Savings Bank, and a member of the finance committee. He was a member of the Second Baptist Church of Holyoke, a member of the Holyoke Lodge of Odd Fellows, Mt. Tom Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Engineers' Society of Western Massachusetts.

Works include

Sacred Heart Church, New Britain CT; one of several such houses of worship that Alderman and his firm designed

Connecticut

• 1901, German Lutheran Church, Hartford, Connecticut;
• 1901, German Lutheran Church, Terryville, Connecticut
• 1903, Sacred Heart Church, New Britain, Connecticut;
• 1921 St. Michael the Archangel Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut

Massachusetts

• 1881, Clovis Robert Block, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1884, Childs Building, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1884, Taber Block, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1887, Chapel for the First Congregational Church, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1884, Rigali Building, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1889, First Methodist Episcopal Church, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1891, rectory of the Precious Blood Church, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1893, unnamed church and chapel, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1897, The Elmwood, commercial block, Elmwood, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1897, Willimansett School (Chapin Elementary School), Chicopee, Massachusetts
• 1898, French Roman Catholic Church, Willimansett section of Chicopee, Massachusetts
• 1899, German Lutheran Church, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1899, Steiger Building, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1900, Endeavor Baptist Chapel, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1901, Mater Dolorosa Parish, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1903, Rodphey Sholem Synagogue, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1905, Saint Jean-Baptiste Church, Ludlow, Massachusetts
• 1908, Friedrich Block, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1912, Willimansett School- North Addition, Chicopee, Massachusetts
• 1920, Mount Tom Lodge Masonic Temple, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• 1921, Second Baptist Church, Holyoke, Massachusetts alterations
• 1933, United States Post Office–Holyoke Main, Holyoke, Massachusetts

New York

• 1901, German Lutheran Church, of St. John, Port Richmond, NY