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MenuHomeUpfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon | COOPER, John ThomasBorn: 1832 12 03Died: 1909 10 19 Architect | |||||||||||||||||||||
Worked in the building trade as a stonemason, builder and architect in the Cape from about 1859 until he died. He was born in Nottingham, England and on 17 June 1859 he was one of 3832 immigrants who were recruited in England, Scotland and Ireland under protection of the Cape Town Immigration Board and brought to the Cape Colony to alleviate the shortage of skilled workers. He arrived in Cape Town where he worked as a stonemason for a year. In 1865 he supervised the building of the Dutch Reformed Church at Oudtshoorn after G WALLIS Snr, the architect, had quit owing to a disagreement. Building stopped after a short time because there was no money. Cooper is recorded as having requested that five stonemasons and a sawyer be sent from England. In 1892 Cooper entered into partnership with Jas [James] ROGERS, lasting a year (1892-1893) (cf COOPER & ROGERS). In 1895 CF ALLEN, a qualified architect, arrived in Oudtshoorn, presenting Cooper with competition. He married Elizabeth Gulley of Stawonarket, England. They had one son John T Jnr. who was born in 1867 in Oudtshoorn. Cooper was a keen cricketer and one of the founders of the Oudtshoorn Cricket Club in 1862. In the 1880s and 1890s he was a member of the Municipal Council of Oudtshoorn. After his death on 19 October 1909 his son, JT COOPER (Jnr), took over his business. All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon. List of projects With photographs With notes
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