Queer Places:
Colonial Williamsburg, 101 Visitor Center Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23185, United States
Walter Mayo Macomber (February 25, 1894 - January 4, 1987) was an apprenticed at the Boston Architectural Club and with his father, who was an architect, cabinetmaker, and builder. During World War I, Macomber volunteered to serve in the American Unit of the French Ambulance Corps, and in 1916 received the Medal of Honor from the French Republic. After the war he joined the Boston architecture firm Perry, Shaw & Hepburn. In 1928 he became the resident architect at Colonial Williamsburg, supervising its restoration and reconstruction until 1934; he then became the resident architect at Mount Vernon for thirty years. He formed an architectural practice in Washington, D.C., in 1958 with Walter Peter Jr. and after 1964 practiced in his own firm. He designed numerous restoration projects for historic properties, including Stratford Hall, President Monroe's law library, and the Fairfax County Court House; he completed the installation of the historicist diplomatic reception rooms at the Department of State in 1985 at age ninety.
Walter Macomber was born in Revere, Mass. Macomber's interest in the preservation of 18th and 19th century architecture led him to pursue a lifelong career in restoration architecture. In 1928, he was an associate member of the architectural firm of Perry, Shaw and Hepburn of Boston. This firm was commissioned by Colonial Williamsburg to restore the colonial Capitol.
Macomber was selected to supervise the restoration of Williamsburg from 1928 to 1934. During this period the Capitol and Governor's Palace were reconstructed and the Christopher Wren Building restored.
Some of the many historical restoration projects credited to Macomber's expertise are the Linden's in Washington; Scotchtown, Patrick Henry's Birthplace; Ford's Theater, Washington; and City Tavern, Washington.
Macomber was the resident architect for 30 years at Mount Vernon and consultant architect for restoration projects at Stratford Hall for 10 years.
At age 90, he completed his last commission for the fine arts commission to renovate the diplomatic reception rooms for the Secretary of State at the Department of State, Washington.
He married Marian Hunter of Sarasota; they had two children, Louis Newhall Macomber of Foster City, Calif.; and Cynthia Macomber Colonna of Yorktown.
My published books: