Dawson & McLaughlin
The beauty of any city is almost entirely dependent upon the good taste of the architects who build the city. After the great fire of London, in 1666, the authorities wishing to beautify and perfect the new city, engaged Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St. Paul's, to superintend the rebuilding of the great city. Had this plan been fully carried out, London would be a far more beautiful city today than it is.
The architecture of the city of Lima until in very recent years has not had much to commend it. The dwellings have, in part, lacked that which constitute beauty to the eye.
Among the men who have studied architecture under the really great masters is Charles Wilmott Dawson, born at Plainfield, New York, December 10, 1867, who came to Lima about six years ago. Mr. Dawson entered Haverford College, where he studied for two years, preparing for his future professional work. He then matriculated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating from that noted institution in 1888. Not content with his course of study thus pursued, he spent a full year in careful study under the great Henry Van Brunt, at one time president of the American Institute of Architects. Mr. Dawson has had 18 years of successful professional work in various parts of America. He has traveled widely, and has gained a thorough knowledge of his profession. In Lima he has constructed the most prominent commercial buildings found in the city today; these buildings are largely to his credit. Among them is the extensive manufacturing plant of The Deisel-Wemmer Company, the wholesale warehouse of The Moore Brothers Company, the Central Building and the Renze Block. Mr. Dawson has also constructed a large number of the most beautiful residences to be found in Lima, including those of J. D. S. Neely, F. T. Cuthbert, Henry G. Wemmer, W. J. Wemmer, W. K. Boone and G. E. Bluem. Mr. Dawson has long been noted for the thoroughness with which he does his work.
He is unswervingly honest, painstaking and accurate. At the beginning of the present year, 1906, Mr. Dawson associated with him in the business, Thomas D. McLaughlin, a young man of great promise, who was born at Oil City, New York, August 4, 1882. Mr. McLaughlin obtained his first collegiate training at Lima College, Lima, Ohio, where he did most excellent work. He then spent three years at Hamilton College, New York, in careful preparation for professional work. Mr. McLaughlin then became a pupil of the architectural department of Columbia University, New York City, where he studied architecture for three years. He has had experience in the various practical lines of architecture, at one time being superintendent of construction for the Buckeye Pipe Line Company.
The confidence which the people repose in this firm is further shown by the fact that they have been unanimously selected by the trustees of the Lima Library Association to construct the new $50,000 Carnegie Library. Such remarkable preparation and talent for the work in hand is rarely found as in the firm of Dawson & McLaughlin.