WIlliam P. Ginther

William Peter Ginther (FAIA) (March 21, 1858 – January 15, 1933) was an American architect based in Akron, Ohio. He was a prolific designer of Roman Catholic churches, schools and rectories throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, California, Virginia and New York.

Early life and education Ginther was born in Akron, Ohio, on March 21, 1858. His parents were Stephen and Anna M. (née Horning) Ginther. His father was a merchant tailor to the elite of the city. William attended Akron public schools (including the Jennings School)

Architectural career Reportedly, he drew a comic valentine for a girl, which was seen by Frank Weary, then Akron's leading architect, who then hired Ginther into his office. Ginther worked at his first architectural position in Weary's office from 1879 through 1886. He made a tour of Europe in 1889, including the cities of Rome, Milan, Paris, Venice, Florence, London, Berlin, Vienna and many other noted centers of art. Upon his return to Akron he established his own company and, in a period extending over 40 years, he served the needs of many Roman Catholic clients throughout the Midwest.

Legacy Ginther was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Many of his buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. One of his churches, Holy Family in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been raised to the status of a cathedral.

Works

Churches in Ohio Annunciation Church, Akron, Ohio St. Bernard Church and Rectory, Akron, Ohio St. Mary Church (original wooden church) and Rectory, Akron, Ohio St. Columbia Church (destroyed by fire in 1954), Youngstown, Ohio St. John the Evangelist Church (Columbus, Ohio) St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Columbus, Ohio St. Leo Church (Columbus, Ohio) St. Martin Church (demolished), Cleveland, Ohio Holy Trinity Church (closed), Cleveland, Ohio Holy Rosary Church, Cleveland, Ohio Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Cleveland, Ohio Annunciation Church, (demolished) Cleveland, Ohio St. Anthony Church (not St. Maron Church), Cleveland, Ohio St. Adelbert's church and rectory, Cleveland, Ohio Mother of Sorrows Church and Rectory, Ashtabula, Ohio St. Joseph's Church, Ashtabula, Ohio Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (demolished), Ashtabula, Ohio St. Luke's Church, Danville, Ohio Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Shelby Settlement, Ohio Good Shepherd Church, (closed) Toledo, Ohio; Immaculate Conception Church, (not sure if this is still around), Ozark, Ohio St. Louis Church, Gallipolis, Ohio SS. Cyril & Methodius Church, (demolished) Barberton, Ohio St. Patrick Church and Rectory, Bellefontaine, Ohio St. Francis Church, Carthagena, Ohio Holy Cross Church (demolished), Glouster, Ohio St. Michael Church, Gibsonburgh, Ohio St. Mary's Church, Antwerp, Ohio St. Mary Church, Payne, Ohio St. Nicholas Church, Miller City, Ohio St. Michael's Church, North Ridge, Ohio St. John's Church, Defiance, Ohio St. Mary's Church, Junction, Ohio Holy Name Church and Rectory, (church demolished), Steubenville, Ohio Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lorain, Ohio Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and Rectory, Warren, Ohio Sacred Heart Church, Coshocton, Ohio St. John the Evangelist Church, Logan, Ohio St. Joseph Church, Randolph, Ohio St. Mary Church, Norwalk, Ohio Holy Rosary Church, Lowellville, Ohio St. Philip Neri Church and Rectory, (closed), Murray City, Ohio St. Peter Church, Mansfield, Ohio St. Paul Church, North Canton, Ohio / New Berlin, Ohio St Joseph Church, Circleville, Ohio St. Mary's, (remodeled), Massillon, Ohio St. Mary's Church, Van Wert, Ohio (1915)

Churches in Other States St. Philip's Church, Crafton, Pennsylvania located at 50 West Crafton Avenue, built in 1906

Cathedral of the Holy Family, (plan only, his design was not built), Tulsa, Oklahoma St. Mary Church and Rectory. McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania St. Philip's Church, Crafton, Pennsylvania Immaculate Conception Church and Rectory (closed), Johnstown, Pennsylvania Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania St. Anne Church Erie, Pennsylvania St. Andrew Church Erie, Pennsylvania St. Patrick Church Erie, Pennsylvania Sacred Heart Church, St. Mary's, Pennsylvania Most Holy Rosary Church, Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania St. Stephen's Church, South Oil City, Pennsylvania St. Anthony's Church, Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania Basilica of St. Andrew, Roanoke, Virginia Santa Clara Church (the only Ginther-designed church built West of the Mississippi), Oxnard, California St. Joseph's Church, Perry, New York St. Mary Church, Cortland, New York St. Mary's Church, Clinton, New York Holy Family Church, Gas City, Indiana

Parochial residences St. John's Rectory, Canton, Ohio St. Procop Rectory, Cleveland, Ohio St. Augustine Rectory, Lakewood, Ohio Immaculate Conception Rectory, Wellsville, Ohio St. Pius Rectory, Mexahala, Ohio St. Mary Rectory, Shawnee, Ohio St. Mary's of the Springs Rectory, Shepherd, Ohio St. Joseph's Rectory, Randolph, Ohio St. John the Baptist Rectory, Columbus, Ohio St. Patrick Rectory Buchtel, Ohio

Parochial schools St. Bernard's School, Akron, Ohio St. Vincent de Paul's School, Akron, Ohio St. Mary School, Akron, Ohio St. Rose School, Lima, Ohio St. Joseph School, at Tiffin, Ohio Immaculate Conception School, Youngstown, Ohio St. Procop School, Cleveland, Ohio St. Colman School, Cleveland, Ohio St. Aloysius School, Cleveland, Ohio St. Vincent School, Cleveland, Ohio St. Mary School, Conneaut, Ohio St. Bernard School, New Washington, Ohio St. Joseph School Canton, Ohio St. Peter School, Canton, Ohio Immaculate Conception School, Canton, Ohio St. John's School Canton, Ohio St. Mary School, Elyria, Ohio St. Stephens School, Niles, Ohio St. Aloysius School, East Liverpool, Ohio St. Paul School, Salem, Ohio Immaculate Conception School, Wellsville, Ohio Holy Name School, Steubenville, Ohio St. Wenbelin's School, Fostoria, Ohio St. Augustine's School, Barberton, Ohio St. Michael's School, Bellaire, Ohio St. Mary's School, Piqua, Ohio Sacred Heart School, New Philadelphia, Ohio St. Rosa School, New Lexington, Ohio

Academies St. Mary's of the Springs Academy, Shepherd, Ohio St. Aloysius Academy, New Lexington, Ohio Ursuline convents Youngstown, Ohio Ursuline convents Tiffin, Ohio Villa Angela, an Ursuline academy (remodeled) Nottingham, Ohio Humility of Mary Academy, Mt. Marie, Ohio St. Joseph Academy, St. Mary's, Pennsylvania St. Anne, Cleveland, Ohio

Hospitals Mercy Hospital, Canton, Ohio Mount St. Mary's Hospital, Niagara Falls, New York St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, West Virginia