John M. Trimble

H. P. Phelps writes: Mr. John Montague Trimble…was born in New York, in 1815,…and became stage carpenter at the old Bowery [Theatre].

During the California excitement, he built many houses which were shipped to the Pacific coast, all ready to be put up.

He delighted to make a contract to have a certain number done in a very short time, say forty days, and then do the work in half that period.

One summer,…it was suggested to him to come to Albany and change the old Pearl street theatre, then a church, into its original condition.

"[5] The Albany Evening Journal wrote: From the Bowery he went to the National Theatre when it was opened….Here he got up the gorgeous scenery and stage trappings that added so much….He became an architect and builder of public places of amusement….Among others he built the New Bowery, the Olympic [originally called Laura Keene's Theatre], Broadway and Tripler Hall, and remodeled the Old Park Theatre[6] in New York.…He built the Buffalo, Richmond and Charleston theatres….Most unfortunately, Mr. Trimble has for several years been totally blind.…Despite this calamity, Mr. Trimble has worked steadily along with all the energy of a man fully possessed of all his senses.