From: Eldredge, Robert F. Past and Present of Macomb County, Michigan. Chicago: S.J. Clarke, 1905, pp.103-104.

THEOPHILUS VAN DAMME

Theophilus Van Damme, an architect of Mount Clemens, standing at the head of his profession in this city and eastern Michigan, was born in Detroit, June 20, 1867, his parents being Peter and Matilda (Rabaut) Van Damme, both of whom were natives of Belgium. They came to America in the year 1854, locating in Detroit, where the father followed the blacksmith's trade for a number of years, while his wife passed away in 1892, at the age of sixty-eight years. She was reared in France, although born in Belgium. In their family were eleven children, of whom Theophilus was the fifth in order of birth, but with the exception of two all are deceased, the sister being Miss Emma Van Damme.

In the public schools of Detroit Theophilus Van Damme pursued his education and he entered upon his business career as proprietor of a cigar store, but soon afterward sold out. He next entered the employ of Lewis Van Denter, a pipe-organ manufacturer of Detroit, and a year later he began workin in the Van Derpool church furniture factory, which about that time was established in Detroit. Having occupied that position for a year, he secured a position with William Wright & Company, of Detroit, whom he represented as a wool carver for one year, after which he entered the service of Donaldson & Meyer, architects, of Detroit. He continued with them for four years and was afterward fora few months with John Scott & Company. He then came to Mount Clemens, where he entered the employ of N.J. Gibbs, with whom he remained until 1892, in which year he began business for himself as an architect. His pronounced skill and ability, his prominent position in business circles and his gratifying success are all indicated in the large number of plans that he has made, including plans for many of the leading hotels of the city, including the Colonial, the Park and the Medea. He was also the architect of St. Joseph Sanitarium, the Clementine Bath House, the Olympia Bath House, the high school, the public library and some of the finest business blocks in Mount Clemens, these standing monuments of his skill and enterprise. He has also become a factor in the industrial life of Mount Clemens and is connected with a number of important productive industries. He was one of the incorporators of the Mount Clemens Casket Company, is the president of the Mount Clemens Brick & Tile Company and the vice president of the Mount Clemens Artificial Cement Stone Company.

On the 15th of March, 1890, occurred the marriage of Mr. Van Damme and Miss Margaret Rosnagle, a daughter of Samuel and Mary Rosnagle of Mount Clemens. They now have one daughter, Helen, and they lost two children in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Van Damme are prominent sociallyl, the hospitality of many of the best homes of the city being freely accorded them. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, and he served as alderman of the second ward of Mount Clemens. Fraternally, he is connected with the Mount Clemens lodge No.6, A.F. & A.M., of which he became a member in 1900, and he also belongs to the Maccabees tent. He is a man of unusual ability in his line of work, not only understanding the great mechanical principles which underlie his profession, but also giving evidence of much originality. Many of the buildings erected in Mount Clemens have been built after designs prepared by him. As a business man he is conspicuous among his associates, not only for his success, but for his probity, fairness and honorable methods. In everything he has been eminently practical and this has been manifest not only in his business undertakings, but also in social and private life. He possesses a genial manner and has gained that warm personal regard which arises from true nobility of character and deference for the opinion of others.