Celebrating Dempwolf

The year of 2009 is turning out to be a good one for noted architect J.A. Dempwolf, who passed away over 80 years ago.
Dempwolf led an architectural firm that designed many notable buildings throughout central Pennsylvania and beyond. He worked with his brother, Reinhardt, who was schooled at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, and his son, Frederick.
The year of 2009 marks the 100th anniversary for the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Institute of Architects – and John Augustus Dempwolf co-founded the local chapter. I recently heard a historian speak about the development of Harrisburg, and the name Dempwolf came up again and again. According to Ken Frew, research librarian at The Historical Society of Dauphin County and author of the upcoming book, Building Harrisburg, Dempwolf was better known than any other architect in central Pennsylvania in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
As the local architects recognize Dempwolf’s legacy, so too will York County’s architectural preservation organization.
On Thursday, May 14, Historic York, Inc. will hold its annual meeting and preservation awards. The event will take place at the renovated York County Court House – one of Dempwolf’s most notable works. The event will also serve as a kick-off for what is to come later this year: a tour of Dempwolf-designed buildings.
Historic York’s annual tour will be held on October 11 and include several mansions, private residences, and other notable buildings. On the Friday evening before the tour (October 9), Historic York and the York County Heritage Trust are partnering to hold an opening reception at the Historical Society Building at 250 East Market Street. The event will include a display of a portion of the Dempwolf drawing collection, short speeches about Dempwolf’s influence in the region, and an exhibit of his work. Watch this blog for more information as it becomes available.
For information on the preservation awards/annual meeting or Dempwolf tour, contact Alycia Reiten, executive director of Historic York, at 717-843-0320.