American architect From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Reuben Harrison Hunt (February 2, 1862 – May 28, 1937), also known as R. H. Hunt, was an American architect who spent most of his life in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[1] He is considered to have been one of the city's most significant early architects.[2] He also designed major public building projects in other states. He was a principal of the R.H. Hunt and Co. firm.
Hunt also designed churches throughout the South. This included well-known Chattanooga churches such as Second Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church,[4] as well as The Tabernacle in Atlanta.[5] Numerous works by Hunt are preserved and listed on the National Register of Historic Places,[6] 21 of which are covered in one 1979 survey study.[7]
The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee, built 1932–1933, was 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.[8] 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.[8]
Projects credited to Hunt or his firm include (with attribution):
North Alexander School, North Alexander Avenue, Washington, GA 30673
Northside Presbyterian Church, 923 Mississippi Ave., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt, Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed, the one known Greek Revival work by Hunt in Hamilton County[6][7]
Old Library Building, 200 E. 8th St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt, Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed[6]
Polk County Courthouse, Bounded by US 411 and Ward, Commerce and Main Sts., Benton, TN (Hunt, R.H. & Co. et al.) NRHP-listed[6]
Polk Street Methodist Church, 1401 S. Polk St., Amarillo, TX (Hunt, R.H., Co.) NRHP-listed[6]
University Baptist Church, 102 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC (Hunt, Reuben H.)[19]
Wisteria Hotel, Central Ave., Winona, MS (Hunt, R.H. & Co.) NRHP-listed[6]
Wyatt Hall, 865 E. Third St., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt, Reuben H.) NRHP-listed[6]
One or more works in Missionary Ridge Historic District, N. and S. Crest Rd. from Delong Reservation to 700 S. Crest Rd., Chattanooga, TN (Hunt, Reuben Harrison) NRHP-listed[6]
One or more works in 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[6]
One or more works in South Main Street Historic District, 200–422 S. Main St., Pikeville, TN (Hunt, R. H.) NRHP-listed[6]
One or more works in Winona Commercial Historic District, Roughly bounded by Magnolia St., Central Ave., Carrollton St. and Sterling Ave., Winona, MS (Hunt, R. H.) NRHP-listed[6]
"GSA - Find a Building". Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Chattanooga, TN: Building Overview. U.S. General Services Administration. 2009-08-24.
Schnorrenberg, John M. (2000). Aspiration: Birmingham's historic houses of worship. Richard Payne, Philip A. Morris, Marjorie Longenecker White, Birmingham Historical Society. Birmingham, Ala.: Birmingham Historical Society. ISBN0-943994-26-8. OCLC45381812.