Wilkens, Henry A.

WILKENS, Henry A. (1831-1907) was best known as a talented sculptor in London, Ontario during the late nineteenth century but he frequently used the title 'Architect & Sculptor' to advertise his services (W.H. Irwin, City of London Directory, 1874-75). Born in Germany in 1831 he went to the United States in 1852 and after serving with the New York Regiment in the American Civil War he came to Canada. He advertised himself as 'modeller & sculptor' in London in 1865 (Free Press [London], 31 March 1865, 3) and in early 1869 was invited by Thomas W. Dyas to form an architectural partnership (see list of works under Dyas & Wilkens). Their professional relationship was short-lived, and by May of 1870 Wilkens had associated himself with J.W. Smyth of the London Marble Works (Free Press [London], 4 May 1870, 4). He taught drawing and modelling classes at the Mechanics Institute in London (Daily Advertiser [London], 12 May 1875, 1) and executed stone carvings for civic and ecclesiastical monuments in the London area (Free Press [London], 21 Nov. 1878, 4). He left Canada in 1879 and moved to Buffalo where, for unknown reasons, he changed his name to August A. Langebahn. He died there on 6 June 1907 (obituary in the Free Press [London], 8 June 1907, 3; inf. from Charles Addington, London)

WESTMINSTER BRIDGE, bakery, cookhouse and stables for John Taylor 'near the Ivy Green', 1872 (Daily Advertiser [London], 12 March 1872, 2)
RICHMOND STREET, near Kent Street, pair of houses for John G.McCue, 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 25 Nov. 1874, 2)
MILL STREET, near Talbot Street, row of three houses for Michael Curry, 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 25 Nov. 1874, 2)
GREAT MARKET STREET, near Wellington Street, pair of cottages for Joseph Portwood, 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 25 Nov. 1874, 2)
SACRED HEART ROMAN CATHOLIC CONVENT, Dundas Street at Colborne Street, design and construction of Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, 1877 (Daily Advertiser [London], 13 Oct. 1877, 4, descrip.)