Amos P. Cutting


Amos P. Cutting was an American architect in practice in Worcester, Massachusetts. He entered practice in 1868 and developed a practice specializing in the design of churches and public buildings. Shortly before his death he organized the firm of Cutting, Carleton & Cutting; it maintained his specialties and outlived him by over thirty years.

Life and career

Amos Porter Cutting was born September 13, 1839, in Lyme, New Hampshire, to Hiram Cutting and Harriet Newell Cutting, née Chapin. When he was a toddler the family moved to Newport, Vermont. He was trained as a carpenter in Newport and Springfield, Massachusetts, and settled in Worcester in 1862. There he worked for Russ & Eddy, manufacturers of millwork. He was soon joined there by his elder brother, George H. Cutting, who would become a successful general contractor in Worcester. While working as a carpenter, Cutting studied architecture in his spare time.
In 1868 Cutting opened an architects' office in Worcester. From to he worked in partnership with John E. Holman under the name Cutting & Holman, and from 1890 to with Walter R. Forbush under the name Cutting & Forbush. In 1895 he organized a third and final partnership with Elbridge S. Carleton and Frank H. Cutting, his son, under the name Cutting, Carleton & Cutting.
Over his nearly thirty years in professional practice, Cutting designed many churches, public buildings, office buildings and private homes. At the time of his death, the recently completed New Hampshire State Library and the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, Vermont, were considered his exceptional works. He unsuccessfully participated in the 1895 architectural design competition for the Worcester City Hall.
In 1887 Cutting joined the Western Association of Architects ; he was one of the organization's easternmost members. In 1889 the WAA merged with the American Institute of Architects, and Cutting, like all members, was made a Fellow. In 1892 he was a founding member of the former Worcester chapter.

Personal life

Cutting was married in 1868 to Lora Jennie Smith of Worcester. They had ten children, five sons and five daughters, seven of whom lived to adulthood.
In his 50s Cutting's health declined, and he spent the winters of 1894–95 and 1895–96 in Los Angeles in search of better health. He died there February 6, 1896, at the age of 56.

Legacy

Cutting's firm continued under the name Cutting, Carleton & Cutting until Carleton's death in 1932. Frank H. Cutting continued to practice and died in 1957.
Worcester architects C. Leslie Chamberlain and Walter B. Nourse of the notable firms of Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain and Barker & Nourse worked for Cutting. J. William Patston, architect of the Quinsigamond Firehouse and other buildings, also worked for Cutting.
At least seven of Cutting's works have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, in addition to four by Cutting, Carleton & Cutting. Others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works

All dates are date of completion.

A. P. Cutting, 1868–1876, 1878–1890 and 1891–1895

Cutting & Holman, 1876–1878

Cutting & Forbush, 1890–1891

Cutting, Carleton & Cutting, 1895–1932