Robert Maurice Trimble
Robert Maurice Trimble, usually called Maurice Trimble or R. M. Trimble, learned the contractor’s trade before he became an architect, and his body of work shows thorough mastery of every branch of architecture. We seldom hear his name when important Pittsburgh architects are brought up, but a look through the list of his works will convince us that he belongs at the second level if not among the giants.
North Side Unitarian Church
Here is his biography from The Book of Prominent Pennsylvanians in 1913, when many of his most important works were still ahead of him:
R. M. Trimble was born in the old Sixth ward, on the North Side, May 15, 1871, and is the son of John H. and Elizabeth McA. Trimble. He attended the Sixth Ward school and Allegheny high school, graduating in 1887. After a short course at the Western University of Pennsylvania, he entered into the contracting business with his father, remaining with him until 1892, when he commenced the study of architecture in the office of a Pittsburgh architect. He continued as a draughtsman in this office until 1898, in which year he opened an office and began the independent practice of architecture. During the active practice of fifteen years he has designed and erected, in addition to a large number of residences, many buildings of different types, such as banks, churches, apartment houses, schools, commercial buildings, hospitals, etc., throughout Western Pennsylvania.
Tower of St. Thomas Church, Oakmont
Here is a partial list of buildings by R. M. Trimble:
Engine Co. No. 15, 1519 Orchlee Street, Brighton Heights, 1900
St. Thomas Memorial Episcopal Church, Delaware Avenue at 4th Street, Oakmont, 1905
North Side Unitarian Church, North Avenue at Resaca Place, 1909
Ben Avon Presbyterian Church, Church Avenue at Rostrevor Place, 1911
H. J. Heinz Factory, 1913
Sarah Heinz House, 1 Heinz Street, 1915
Community House for 1st UP Church, 801 Union Avenue, Allegheny Center, 1916
Allegheny YMCA, North Avenue at Monterey Street, 1926
Taylor Allderdice High School, Shady and Forward Avenues, Squirrel Hill, 1927
Perry High School, 3821 Perrysville Avenue, Observatory Hill, 1931
Check the Great Big List of Buildings and Architects for Father Pitt’s latest research.
