Quick Facts
Biography
Michael O'Donohue (1835–1912) was an Irish-American builder and architect from Hartford, Connecticut who designed a number of ecclesiastical buildings in New England for both Roman Catholic and Jewish clients.
Early life and career
O'Donohue was born in 1835 Ireland and immigrated to America in 1872. Little is known of his life before his relocated to Hartford.
Architectural practice
In 1890 he moved to Hartford, Connecticut where he established an architectural practice under his own name. He carried on an active business as a designer of Catholic churches in the Gothic Revival style. O’Donohue is one of the few architects of Catholic churches to have also built for non Catholic clients as well.
Legacy
O'Donohue is not as significant a figure in 19th Century American Catholic architecture as his fellow countrymen and contemporaries Patrick. C Keely, James Murphy, or Patrick W. Ford. Nonetheless his work is appreciated today and several of his buildings have been selected to National Registers.
Works
Connecticut
- Our Lady of Sorrows School, Hartford, Connecticut
- Ados Israel Synagogue, Hartford, Connecticut
- LaSalette Seminary, Hartford, Connecticut (Central portion of present building, wings added by O’Connell and Shaw)
- Former Immaculate Conception Church, Hartford, Connecticut
- St. Ann Church, Hartford, Connecticut (replaced by present building by Henry F. Ludorf)
- St. Anthony of Padua Church, Litchfield, Connecticut (burned 1944, replaced by Oliver Reagan)
- St. Mary Rectory, New Britain, Connecticut (church by Patrick. C. Keely)
- St. Mary Church, Union City, Connecticut
- Sacred Heart Church, Hartford, Connecticut (first church, later completed by George A. Zunner)
- St. Peter Church, New Britain, Connecticut
New York
- St Francis DeSales Church, Phoenicia, New York
Rhode Island
- Unnamed church, Providence, Rhode Island
- http://www.hogriver.org/issues/v03n03/hartford_jews.pdf Hog River Journal
- http://www.hispanichartford.org/scholarship/puerto-rican-heritage-trail-carol-correa-de-best/clay-hillarsenal-neighborhood/sacred-heart-catholic-church/ Hispanic Hartford – Sacred Heart Church
- http://www.hvinet.com/sfdchurch/ St. Francis DeSales Website