R. H. Hunt
Encyclopedia
Reuben Harrison Hunt also known as R. H. Hunt, was an American architect
who spent most of his life in Chattanooga, Tennessee
and is considered to have been one of the city's most significant early architects.
He came to that city in 1882 and within four years had established a successful architectural firm. Hunt designed a number of Chattanooga's homes and public buildings, including the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium
(1922), the Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
(1934), the Hamilton County, Tennessee
Courthouse (1912), the James (1907) and Maclellan (1924) buildings, the Carnegie Library
(1905) and the St. John's Hotel (1915).
Hunt also designed churches throughout the South
. This included well-known Chattanooga churches such as Second Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church, as well as The Tabernacle
in Atlanta. Numerous works by Hunt are preserved and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
., 21 of which are covered in one 1979 survey study.
The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee, built 1932-1933, was the Hunt's last major work. Hunt designed every major public building constructed in Chattanooga between 1895 and 1935. He was also the architect of local churches, hospitals, and private office buildings, as well as similar public and private buildings throughout the South. In 1938 the Chattanooga building was recognized by the American Institute of Architects
as one of the 150 finest buildings constructed in the previous twenty years in the United States, and it was featured in an AIA photographic exhibit in America and Europe.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who spent most of his life in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
and is considered to have been one of the city's most significant early architects.
He came to that city in 1882 and within four years had established a successful architectural firm. Hunt designed a number of Chattanooga's homes and public buildings, including the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium is an historic performance hall in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Built between 1922 and 1924 at a cost of $700,000 and designed by noted architect R. H. Hunt, the theater honors area veterans of World War I....
(1922), the Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and United States Courthouse
The Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and United States Courthouse is a historic post office and courthouse located at Chattanooga, Tennessee in Hamilton County, Tennessee. It is a courthouse for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. It is listed on the National...
(1934), the Hamilton County, Tennessee
Hamilton County, Tennessee
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It was named for Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 310,935 . Its county seat is Chattanooga....
Courthouse (1912), the James (1907) and Maclellan (1924) buildings, the Carnegie Library
Carnegie Library
Carnegie Library, Carnegie Public Library, Carnegie Free Library, Carnegie Free Public Library, Andrew Carnegie Library, Andrew Carnegie Free Library or Carnegie Library Building may refer to any of the following Carnegie libraries:- California :*Carnegie Library , listed on the National Register...
(1905) and the St. John's Hotel (1915).
Hunt also designed churches throughout the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. This included well-known Chattanooga churches such as Second Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church, as well as The Tabernacle
The Tabernacle
The Tabernacle, informally known as The Tabby, is a mid-size concert hall, in the U.S. city of Atlanta, currently managed by concert promoter Live Nation...
in Atlanta. Numerous works by Hunt are preserved and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
., 21 of which are covered in one 1979 survey study.
The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee, built 1932-1933, was the Hunt's last major work. Hunt designed every major public building constructed in Chattanooga between 1895 and 1935. He was also the architect of local churches, hospitals, and private office buildings, as well as similar public and private buildings throughout the South. In 1938 the Chattanooga building was recognized by the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
as one of the 150 finest buildings constructed in the previous twenty years in the United States, and it was featured in an AIA photographic exhibit in America and Europe.
Works
Projects credited to Hunt include:- Alexandria Hall-Louisiana CollegeAlexandria Hall-Louisiana CollegeAlexandria Hall-Louisiana College is a Classical Revival structure built in 1920, located in Pineville, Louisiana.Alexandria Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 15, 1986....
, Louisiana College, Pineville, LA (Hunt,R. H., Co.) NRHP-listed - Baylor Female College Historic District, Bounded by King, College and W. Ninth Sts., Belton, TX (Hunt,Rubin M.) NRHP-listed (is this the same?)
- Brainerd Junior High, 4201 Cherryton Dr., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed
- Cadiz Downtown Historic District, Roughly Main St. from Scott to Franklin Sts., Cadiz, KY (Hunt,R.H.) NRHP-listed
- Central United Methodist Church, 201 E. Third Ave., Knoxville, TN (Hunt, R.H. and Co.) NRHP-listed
- Chattanooga Bank Building, 8th St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed
- Chattanooga Car Barns, 301 Market St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,R.H.) NRHP-listed
- Chattanooga Electric Railway, 211-241 Market St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed
- Elbert County Courthouse, Courthouse Sq., Elberton, GA (Hunt,R.H.) NRHP-listed
- First Baptist Church, 538 Linden Ave., Memphis, TN (Hunt, R.H.) NRHP-listed
- First Baptist Church, 418 E. Bute St., Norfolk, VA (Hunt,Reuben H.) NRHP-listed
- First Baptist Church Education BuildingFirst Baptist Church Education BuildingFirst Baptist Church Education Building is a historic church at 317 Oak Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee.It was built in 1928 and added to the National Register in 1980....
, 317 Oak St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed - First Methodist Church of Greenwood, 310 W. Washington St., Greenwood, MS (Hunt,Reuben Harris) NRHP-listed
- First Presbyterian Church, AR 79B, Fordyce, AR (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed
- First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main, El Dorado, AR (Hunt,R. H., & Associates) NRHP-listed
- Fountain SquareFountain squareA fountain square is a park or plaza in a city that features a fountain. A fountain square is similar to a town square but is usually smaller and not situated in front of the town hall or county courthouse...
, 600--622 Georgia Ave. and 317 Oak St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,R.H.) NRHP-listed - Grove, E. W. Henry County High School, Grove Blvd., Paris, TN (Hunt,R. H.) NRHP-listed
- Hamilton County Courthouse, W. 6th St. and Georgia Ave., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,R.H.) NRHP-listed
- Henderson Hall, Tennessee Technological University, Dixie Ave., Cookeville, TN (Hunt,Reuben H.,& Co.)
- Henry County CourthouseHenry County Courthouse (Tennessee)The Henry County Courthouse is located on court square in Paris, Henry County, Tennessee.- Current Courthouse :The current building is the fourth to serve in this capacity and the third to occupy the current location...
, Court Square, Paris, TN (1896) - Highland Park Methodist Episcopal ChurchHighland Park Methodist Episcopal ChurchHighland Park Methodist Episcopal Church is a historic church on Bailey Avenue in Chattanooga, Tennessee.It was built in 1909 and added to the National Register in 1980....
, Bailey Ave., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed - James Building, 735 Broad St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Rueben Harrison) NRHP-listed
- Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and U.S. CourthouseJoel W. Solomon Federal Building and United States CourthouseThe Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and United States Courthouse is a historic post office and courthouse located at Chattanooga, Tennessee in Hamilton County, Tennessee. It is a courthouse for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. It is listed on the National...
(1934) - Kimsey Junior College, 244 TN 68, Ducktown, TN (Hunt,R.H.) NRHP-listed
- Lander College Old Main Building, Stanley Ave. and Lander St., Greenwood, SC (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed
- Lawrence County CourthouseLawrence County Courthouse (Mississippi)The Lawrence County Courthouse is a government building for Lawrence County, Mississippi, United States, located in the county seat of Monticello. It was built in 1913 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 4, 1993...
, N. side Broad St. between Jefferson and Washington Sts., Monticello, MS (Hunt,Reuben) NRHP-listed - Maclellan Building, 721 Broad St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,R.H.) NRHP-listed
- McFarlin Memorial AuditoriumMcFarlin Memorial AuditoriumMcFarlin Memorial Auditorium is a proscenium style theatre located on the campus of Southern Methodist University. The venue seats 2,386 on three levels. The building is the third oldest on SMU's campus and has hosted a number of notable acts.-History:...
, 6405 Hillcrest Rd., Dallas, TX (Hunt,R.H.) NRHP-listed - Medical Arts Building (Chattanooga, Tennessee), McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed
- Miller Brothers Department Store, 629 Market St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben H.) NRHP-listed
- Missionary Ridge Historic District, N. and S. Crest Rd. from Delong Reservation to 700 S. Crest Rd., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt, Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed
- Montgomery Hall, Mississippi State University campus, Starkville, MS (Hunt,R.H.) NRHP-listed
- Municipal Building, E. 11th St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed
- Nathan L. Bachman School, 281 Anderson Pike, Walden, TN (Hunt, R.H. & Co.) NRHP-listed
- Northside United Presbyterian, 923 Mississippi Ave., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed, the one known Greek Revival work by Hunt in Hamilton County
- Old Library Building, 200 E. 8th St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed
- Paris Commercial Historic District, Along sections of E. and W. Wood, W. Washington, N. and S. Poplar, N. and S. Market, Fentress and W. Blythe Sts., Paris, TN (Hunt,Rueben H.) NRHP-listed
- Polk County Courthouse, Bounded by US 411 and Ward, Commerce and Main Sts., Benton, TN (Hunt, R.H. & Co. et al.) NRHP-listed
- Polk Street Methodist Church, 1401 S. Polk St., Amarillo, TX (Hunt,R.H.,Co.) NRHP-listed
- Second Presbyterian ChurchSecond Presbyterian Church (Chattanooga, Tennessee)Second Presbyterian Church is a historic church at 700 Pine Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee.it was built in 1890 and added to the National Register in 1980....
, 700 Pine St. Chattanooga TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed - Soldiers and Sailors Memorial AuditoriumSoldiers and Sailors Memorial AuditoriumThe Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium is an historic performance hall in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Built between 1922 and 1924 at a cost of $700,000 and designed by noted architect R. H. Hunt, the theater honors area veterans of World War I....
, McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed (1922) - South Main Street Historic District, 200--422 S. Main St;. Pikeville, TN (Hunt, R. H.) NRHP-listed
- Tivoli Theater, 709 Broad St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed
- Trinity Methodist Episcopal ChurchTrinity Methodist Episcopal Church (Chattanooga, Tennessee)Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church was an historic church on McCallie Avenue in Chattanooga, Tennessee.It was built in 1899 and added to the National Register in 1980. The building suffered a catastrophic collapse on the morning of May 9, 2010. The building had been disused for some time. No one...
, McCallie Ave. Chattanooga TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed - Frances Willard House, 615 Lindsay St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed
- Winona Commercial Historic District, Roughly bounded by Magnolia St., Central Ave., Carrollton St. and Sterling Ave., Winona, MS (Hunt, R. H.) NRHP-listed
- Wisteria Hotel, Central Ave., Winona, MS (Hunt,R.H. & Co.) NRHP-listed
- Wyatt Hall, 865 E. Third St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt,Reuben H.) NRHP-listed
External links
- Cornerstones, Inc.
- R.H. Hunt's buildings at EmporisEmporisEmporis GmbH is a real estate data mining company with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. The company collects and publishes data and photographs of buildings worldwide....