Walter Robinson Shiner is the senior partner in the firm of Shiner & Appel, architects of New Haven, with offices in the Chamber of Commerce building. He has made for himself a creditable position and is now accorded a liberal patronage, so that his life record stands somewhat in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, for Mr. Shiner is a native son of New Haven, his birth having occurred in this city on Christmas day of 1883. The family had long resided here. His grandfather, Stephen Shiner, was a prominent carriage and coach builder of New Haven, and the father, Henry S. Shiner, also born in this city, followed the same line of business for a considerable period. He is now active in manufacturing lines with the Winchester Company. He married Phoebe Robinson, a native of New York, and to them were born two sons, Henry S. and Walter Robinson.
     The youthful experiences of the latter were those of most boys of the locality and period. His time was largely devoted to school work until he reached the age of sixteen, when he started out to provide for his own support and secured employment in the office of Alien & Williams, the leading architects of the city. With them he served his apprenticeship and in 1900 he was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, devoting two years to an architectural course. Later he spent two years with Horace Traumbauer, a leading architect of Philadelphia, after which he returned to New Haven to become head draftsman tor the firm of Brown & Von Beren. He remained with that firm for two years and then went to Europe for further study and travel, remaining for a period of six months, during which time he made a close study of ancient architecture and gleaned much knowledge of value to him in his profession. Upon his return to the new world he opened an office at 902 Chapel street, where he remained for two years, when he became associated as a partner with Mr. Von Beren. his former employer. That connection was continued for three years, when Mr. Shiner withdrew and in October, 1914. entered into his present business relations with. T O. Appel as the senior partner of the firm of Shiner & Appel. The firm today has a very extensive and important patronage. As architects they have prepared the designs for the Colonial building now in course of construction at the corner of Church and Elm streets, one of the finest office and store buildings of New Haven, together with many other leading public buildings and fine private residences of this city and vicinity.
     In February, 1910. was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Shiner and Miss Ruby Hoyt. a native of Meriden, Connecticut, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Franklin Hoyt. They have one son. Graham Hoyt.
     Mr. Shiner is a member of Company F of the New Haven Grays. in which he holds the rank of corporal, and he served for tour months on the Mexican border. In politics he is a republican but without ambition for office. He aided in organizing the Architects Club of New Haven in 1916 and is now filling the position of its secretary. He may well be termed the architect of his own fortunes and in this connection he has builded wisely and well, for he started out in life without financial assistance and has depended upon his own resources for his educational training and for his advancement. He is today thoroughly acquainted with all forms of architecture as exemplified in the leading buildings of the old world and of the new. and in making designs he has been successful in accomplishing a harmonious unity between utility, convenience and beauty.