Walter F. Fontaine & Sons

Walter Francis Fontaine
Born	1871 Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Died	1938 Charlestown, Rhode Island
Nationality	United States
Occupation	Architect

Walter F. Fontaine (1871–1938) was an American architect of French Heritage from Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Fontaine was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts in 1871 to parents that had moved there from Woonsocket. When he was a young child, his family moved back to Woonsocket, where his father, John B. Fontaine (1836-1895) was a prominent building contractor.

He was educated in the local schools, and began his architectural training in 1887 in the office of Willard Kent, a local architect. After additional training in Europe in 1893, he worked for the Providence firm of Stone, Carpenter & Willson. Near the end of his time there, he was responsible for the construction supervision of that firm's Providence Public Library and Union Trust Co. Building.

In 1901 he returned to Woonsocket where he opened his own office. Beginning in 1903, he worked with Elmer H. Kinnicutt as Fontaine & Kinnicutt. This association ended upon Kinnicutt's death in January 1910. In 1921, his two sons, Oliver W. and Paul N. Fontaine began working for him. By this time Joseph M. Mosher was also associated with the office. In 1935, both sons became partners in the newly reorganized firm of Walter F. Fontaine & Sons. It remained as such until the elder Fontaine's death.

After their father's death, his sons reorganized the firm as Walter F. Fontaine, Inc. It remained as such until 1942, when Paul left to participate in the war effort. In his brother's absence, Oliver opened his own office, which remained active into the 1970s.

Fontaine was a member of the AIA and served for a time as Vice President of the Rhode Island chapter. He was also a member of the Rhode Island State Planning Board.

Fontaine and his wife, Obeline Lucier Fontaine, died during the Hurricane of 1938 at their summer home in Charlestown, Rhode Island.

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