Robert W. Hill

Robert Wakeman Hill

Robert W. Hill, 1895
Born September 20, 1828
Waterbury, Connecticut
Died July 16, 1909
Waterbury, Connecticut
Nationality United States
Occupation Architect
Buildings Ansonia Opera House; Waterbury City Hall; Bronson B. Tuttle House; New Britain Opera House; Thomaston Town Hall; Litchfield County Courthouse; Soldiers' Memorial Tower

Robert W. Hill (20 September, 1828 16 July, 1909) was an American architect from Waterbury, Connecticut. He was one of Connecticut's most important 19th century architects.

Life and career

Robert Wakeman Hill was born in Waterbury of September 20, 1828, to Samuel and Polly (Brackett) Hill. He attended the public schools, after which he went to New Haven to study architecture. He first attended the Young Men's Institute, where he learned architectural drawing. He obtained a position in the office of Henry Austin, during which he also taught at the YMI.[1] At one point he was also employed by Sidney Mason Stone.[2] He then worked in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for Albert C. Nash, a former Connecticut architect. In 1858 he returned to Connecticut, establishing himself as an architect in the town of Naugatuck. In 1863 he relocated to Waterbury, where he would quickly become the city's most prominent architect, a position he retained for the rest of his career.[1]

Legacy

Hill trained several other Waterbury architects, including Joseph A. Jackson, Wilfred E. Griggs, and Theodore B. Peck.[1] At least five buildings designed by him have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and many others contribute to listed historic districts.

Works

Waterbury City Hall, Waterbury, 1869. 
Hall Memorial Chapel, Riverside Cemetery, 1883. 
Griggs Building, Waterbury, 1884. 
County Courthouse, Litchfield, 1888. 
Soldiers' Memorial, Winsted, 1890. 
Berlin Free Library, Berlin, 1891. 
Conley Inn, Torrington, 1891. 
Fire Station, Litchfield, 1891. 

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 The Town and City of Waterbury, Connecticut. Ed. Joseph Anderson. 1896.
  2. "Robert Wakeman Hill". Bronson Library.
  3. John Kendrick House NRHP Nomination. 1982.
  4. 1 2 Bethlehem Green Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1982.
  5. Wiehn, John and Mark Heiss. Postcard History Series: Waterbury 1890-1930. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2003.
  6. Sterner, Daniel. "Chapin Park (1871)". http://historicbuildingsct.com/. 30 March 2010.
  7. Cothren, William. History of Ancient Woodbury, Connecticut. Vol. 2. 1872.
  8. Hughes, Sarah E. History of East Haven. New Haven: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, 1908.
  9. Woodbury (CT) Reporter 19 Sept. 1878.
  10. Bronson B. Tuttle House NRHP Nomination. 1990.
  11. New Britain Opera House NRHP Nomination. 1977
  12. American Architect and Building News 10 April 1880: 160.
  13. Water Street Historic District NRHP Nomination. 2003.
  14. American Architect and Building News 28 Oct. 1882: 212.
  15. Sanitary Engineer 21 June 1883: 67. Chicago.
  16. Thomaston Opera House NRHP Nomination. 1972.
  17. Sterner, Daniel. "Walker Hall (Former Watertown Library) (1883)". http://historicbuildingsct.com/. 16 July 2013.
  18. Bank Street Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1983.
  19. American Architect and Building News 7 Nov. 1885 : 228. Boston.
  20. American Architect and Building News 14 Nov. 1885 : 240. Boston.
  21. American Engineer 10 June 1886: 235-236. New York.
  22. Sterner, Daniel. "New Britain Armory (1886)". http://historicbuildingsct.com/. 1 Nov. 2013.
  23. American Architect and Building News 1886: 206. Boston.
  24. Naugatuck Center Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1999.
  25. Building 6 Oct. 1888: 3. New York.
  26. Municipal Register of the City of Waterbury for the Year 1889. Waterbury: Malone & Cooley, 1890.
  27. "Soldiers' Memorial Tower". Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper: 155. 4 April 1891. New York.
  28. Library Journal Sept. 1891: 282.
  29. Sterner, Daniel. "The Yankee Pedlar Inn (1891)". http://historicbuildingsct.com/. 15 Feb. 2012.
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