Nicol, Charles Wheeler

Charles Wheeler Nicol Soundex Code N240

Charles Wheeler Nicol (1888-1959) was the architect who designed the Farcroft Apartments, 1337 W. Fargo Avenue in 1928.

These apartments were in the 2000 Annual Fall House Tour.

His office was at 23 E. Jackson Boulevard

Article about Nicol by Benjamin L. Ross (http://www.b-levi.com/research/arch/nicol/)

Charles Wheeler Nicol started an architectural practice in Lafayette, Indiana on Saturday, March 1, 1913. He soon became one of the most prominent architects in Lafayette, designing commercial buildings, schools, residences, and a variety of buildings at Purdue University. Nicol was featured in the January, 1914 edition of The Ohio Architect, Engineer and Builder. This article contains many illustrations of his work from 1913 and renderings of upcoming projects. The magazine also featured an article entitled "Lafayette is Wide Awake," describing the prosperity of Lafayette and its many advantages.

Charles W. Nicol later formed the firm of Nicol, Scholer & Hoffman, the premier Lafayette architectural firm of the 1920s. After Nicol left Lafayette, Walter Scholer went on to found his own practice, which is now Scholer Corp. Aside from the 1914 article, there is little documentation of Nicol's work. Scholer Corp. retains some drawings from the Nicol, Scholer & Hoffman period. Charles Nicol moved to Chicago and later founded the firm of Nicol, Nicol Chaney and Vanek with his son, Robert Scott Nicol (1916-1968). Nicol seems to have known Louis Sullivan personally and was a fellow-member of the Cliff Dwellers Club, a private social club for people "seriously interested in the arts." Charles W. and Robert S. Nicol were both lifetime members of the Illinois St. Andrew Society, a Scottish-heritage organization. Charles Nicol also served as president of the Chicago Building Congress from 1947-1948.

Nicol was elected president of Chicago Building Congress in January 1947.

Obituary, Chicago Tribune, December 3, 1959, page D10 and December 4, page B2

Charles Wheeler Nicol, (1888-1959), of 456 N. Austin Boulevard, Oak Park, an architect who designed many schools, hotels, and other buildings, died Wednesday, in Westlake Hospital, Melrose Park.

Mr. Nicol was senior partner in the architectural firm of Nicol and Nicol, 23 E. Jackson Boulevard. He designed 1,260 buildings in 147 cities of 17 states, which had a value of more than $200 million. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects and president of the AIA club of Chicago for four terms and served for two terms of the Chicago Building Congress.

Surviving are his widow, Bernice; son and partner, Robert Scott; 3 daughters, Mrs. Janet Arrington, Mrs. Martha Smith, and Mrs. Mary Bauer; and 11 grandchildren. Services will be held at 8:30 p.m. Friday in the chapel at 523 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL. Interment: Grandview Cemetery, West Lafayette, Indiana.

Member: Murat Temple, Shriners, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Chicago Landmarks Historic Resources Survey

Nicol designed the following houses/buildings:

1337 W. Fargo Avenue, Farcroft Apartments

AIA Listing

File: ahd1032610 Charles Wheeler Nicol (1888-1959)

Name: Nicol, Charles Wheeler

Personal Information

Birth/Death: b. 5 Nov. 1888 - d. 2 Dec. 1959

Occupation: American architect

Location: Chicago, IL

AIA Affiliation

Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 1945-decease

Biographical Sources

American Architects Directories:

Biographical listing in 1956 American Architects Directory

Related Records

Archival Holdings

The American Institute of Architects Archives

Membership file contains membership application, Fellowship nomination, and notification of death. Letters in support of Fellowship have been scanned separately. His Fellowship nomination was under consideration by the jury when he died, and was then removed from consideration.

Publications