Hermann J. Gaul

Hermann J. Gaul (1869–1949) was an American architect of German descent, who designed a number of Catholic churches, schools, convents and rectories in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and elsewhere.

Personal life Born in Cologne, Germany in 1869 Gaul came to the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century. He settled in Chicago, Illinois and, after apprenticing for a time with noted Chicago architect Louis Sullivan, established an architectural firm under his own name in 1902. During his long and distinguished career he designed many landmark buildings for Roman Catholic clients throughout the Midwest.

Gaul’s son Michael F. Gaul (1913-1996) joined his father’s firm, now known as Hermann J. Gaul and Son, in the early 1930s and carried on the practice after his father’s retirement in 1948.

Several of Gaul’s buildings have been placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Works include Sacred Heart Church, Whiting, Indiana St. John the Baptist Church, Hammond, Indiana St. Benedict Church, Chicago, Illinois St. Mary Church and Academy, Indianapolis, Indiana Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, Hubertus, Wisconsin Angel Guardian Orphanage, (now Misericordia North), Chicago, Illinois St. Michael Church, Old Town, Chicago, Illinois (extensive exterior remodeling of original 1873 church, carried out in 1913) St. Peter and Paul Church, Naperville, Illinois St Nicholas Church, Evanston, Illinois Notre Dame Roman Catholic Convent, Waterdown, Ontario. Canada Greystone Mansion, Logan Square, Chicago, Illinois Former Mallinckrodt College, Wilmette, Illinois St. Philomena Church, Chicago, Illinois Immaculate Conception Church (now Monastery of the Holy Cross) Bridgeport, Chicago, Illinois Divine Word Monastery, Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Techny, Illinois St. Joseph School, Wilmette, Illinois St. Mary Church, Decatur, Indiana St. Margaret Church, Lake Henry, Minnesota St. Monica Church, Mishawaka, Indiana St. Mary Church, New Ulm, Minnesota (1922) Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel, Mankato, Minnesota (1924) Holy Rosary Church, North Mankato, Minnesota (1924)