Charles Edward Parker

Charles Edward Parker (1826–1890) was an American architect from Boston, Massachusetts.

Life and career After growing up in Keene, New Hampshire, Parker moved to Boston in the 1840s, where he worked for architect Gridley J. F. Bryant. Around 1846, at the young age of 20, he established his own office. After several years of private practice, he joined the office of prominent architect Richard Bond as junior partner. The firm, Bond & Parker, existed from 1850 until 1853. He practiced alone for the rest of his career. He retired from active practice soon before his death in late 1890.

Parker was the father of the noted composer Horatio Parker, born in Auburndale in 1863. Parker's Hora Novissima, written in 1893 after his father's death, was dedicated to him. Of the influence of the father on the son, it was said that from him, "[Horatio] inherited an artistic nature and creative faculty", though his primary artistic inspiration came from his mother.

Legacy Parker designed the Easthampton Town Hall and the Chicopee City Hall, as well as at least nine churches. Several of these, plus the City Hall in Chicopee, have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places for their architectural significance.

Architectural works Year Building Address City State Notes Image Reference 1847 Brookline Reservoir Gatehouse 7 Warren St Brookline Massachusetts 100px 1848 Keene Town (City) Hall 11 Washington St Keene Has been highly altered. 100px 1848 Gideon F. T. Reed House 35 Elm St Canton Massachusetts 1851 Concord Town House 22 Monument Sq Concord Massachusetts With Richard Bond. 1851 Isaac Davis Monument Town Green Acton Massachusetts 100px 1851 Tremont Bank Building 41-43 State St Boston Massachusetts With Richard Bond. Demolished. 1853 J. B. Bradlee Building 50-52 Broad St Boston Massachusetts Later known as the Architects' Building. 100px 1857 Williston Hall Amherst College Amherst Massachusetts Radically rebuilt in 1951 to plans by McKim, Mead & White. 100px 1859 Barrett Hall Amherst College Amherst Massachusetts 100px 1859 South Congregational Church 27 Pleasant St Concord New Hampshire 100px 1860 Eliot Church 474 Centre St Newton Massachusetts Burned in 1887. 1863 St. James Episcopal Church 44 West St Keene New Hampshire 100px 1867 Soldier's Monument Old North Cemetery Weymouth Massachusetts 1868 Bethany Congregational Church 115 Main St Montpelier Vermont Due to structural deficiences, the sanctuary was replaced in 1959 to designs by Freeman French Freeman of Burlington. 100px 1869 Easthampton Town Hall 43 Main St Easthampton Massachusetts 100px 1868 Third Congregational Church 103 Springfield St Chicopee Massachusetts Now Christ's Community Church. 100px 1871 Chicopee City Hall 17 Springfield St Chicopee Massachusetts 100px 1873 Evangelical Baptist Church 23 Chapel St Nonantum Massachusetts 100px 1875 Central Fire Station 44 Warren St Concord New Hampshire Presently a facility of the local YMCA. 1877 John Kimball House 10 N State St Concord New Hampshire Highly altered. 1881 Episcopal Church of the Messiah Auburndale Massachusetts Has been significantly rebuilt.