Oliver W. Fontaine


Oliver W. Fontaine was an American architect from Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Biography

Oliver Fontaine was born in late 1900 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island to local architect Walter F. Fontaine, then at the beginning of his successful career. He attended the Lowell Textile School, and entered the Fontaine office in 1921, along with his brother, Paul N. Fontaine. In 1935 they were admitted to the firm as partners, as Walter F. Fontaine & Sons. The partnership remained until 1938, when Walter Fontaine died when the Hurricane of 1938 destroyed the family summer home. The firm, now Walter F. Fontaine, Inc., existed until 1942, when Paul joined the war effort.
Upon his brother's departure, Oliver Fontaine established his own Woonsocket office. He practiced alone until 1967, when he added Charles Seavor as partner. Seavor had been a designer in the office since at least 1963, and would lead the office in the 1970s.
Architect Joseph M. Mosher also worked for the Fontaine office in the 1930s and 1940s.

Architectural works

Walter F. Fontaine, Inc., 1938–1942