Jump to content

Charles T. Rathbun

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Theodore Rathbun
BornFebruary 2, 1828
DiedJuly 22, 1908
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
OccupationArchitect
PracticeC. T. Rathbun; Rathbun & Harding
Congregational Church, West Stockbridge, 1881.

Charles T. Rathbun was an American architect who practiced in Pittsfield, Massachusetts during the second half of the nineteenth century.

Life and career

[edit]

Rathbun was born in Pittsfield in 1828.[1] His early life is unknown, but it is probable that he first trained as a carpenter. In the 1850s he went to New York, where he worked for ecclesiastical architect John W. Priest.[2] Priest is known to have worked in the Pittsfield area, possibly explaining the connection.[3] He had returned to Pittsfield by January 1858,[4] a year before Priest's death. At that time he established himself as an architect, practicing alone. He worked as such until 1894, when he established a partnership with George C. Harding, Rathbun & Harding. The two remained together until 1899, when Rathbun retired. At this time, he was noted as probably being the oldest architect in Berkshire County.[5] Harding practiced alone until 1901, when he established the notable local firm of Harding & Seaver.[6]

On February 14, 1848, Rathbun married Mary Sharp in Pittsfield. He died there on July 22, 1908.[1]

Legacy

[edit]

As least two buildings designed by Rathbun have been individually placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and several others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works

[edit]
Year Building Address City State Notes Image Reference
1865 First Congregational Church 906 Main St Williamstown Massachusetts Completely rebuilt in 1913. [7]
1868 Farm complex Massachusetts Agricultural College Amherst Massachusetts Demolished. [8]
1870 Chapel, First Church 27 East St Pittsfield Massachusetts [9]
1870 Citizens Hall 13 Willard Hill Rd Interlaken Massachusetts [10]
1872 First M. E. Church 55 Fenn St Pittsfield Massachusetts [11]
1873 Lee Memorial Hall 32 Main St Lee Massachusetts [12]
1874 First Baptist Church 64 North St Pittsfield Massachusetts A remodeling. Demolished in the 1920s. [13]
1879 Oman Block 52 Main St Lee Massachusetts [14]
1881 Central Block 75 North St Pittsfield Massachusetts [15]
1881 Congregational Church of West Stockbridge 45 Main St West Stockbridge Massachusetts [16]
1883 First Burns Block 297 North St Pittsfield Massachusetts [17]
1884 Englund Block 122 North St Pittsfield Massachusetts [18]
1887 Hoosac Street School 20 Hoosac St Adams Massachusetts [19]
1890 Adams High School Liberty St Adams Massachusetts Demolished. [20]
1890 John E. Parsons Estate (Stonover Farm) 169 Under Mountain Rd Lenox Massachusetts [21]
1890 Second Burns Block 297 North St Pittsfield Massachusetts [22]
1891 Buget & Lewis Block 322 Main St Great Barrington Massachusetts Demolished. [23]
1893 Housatonic Congregational Church 1089 Main St Housatonic Massachusetts [2]
1894 St. Charles R. C. Church 89 Briggs Ave Pittsfield Massachusetts [24]
1895 Rectory, St. Charles R. C. Church 89 Briggs Ave Pittsfield Massachusetts [24]
1896 John H. Casey House 244 Main St Lee Massachusetts [25]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Leonard, Charles L. "Rathbun". Christian Advocate 5 Nov. 1908: 39. New York.
  2. ^ a b "GBR.268". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  3. ^ Owens, Carole. Pittsfield: Gem City in the Gilded Age. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2008.
  4. ^ Berkshire County Eagle 8 Jan. 1858: 1. Pittsfield.
  5. ^ Architecture and Building 25 March 1899: 95. New York.
  6. ^ "News From the Classes: 1889". Technology Review Juny 1921: 445. Cambridge.
  7. ^ Jones, Moira. "First Congregational Church and Williamstown: 250 Years Together". Greylock Independent Jan. 2016: 3. Williamstown.
  8. ^ Sixteenth Annual Report of the Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture for 1868. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1869.
  9. ^ "PIT.42". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  10. ^ "STO.160". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  11. ^ Smith, J. E. A. The History of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, From the Year 1800 to the Year 1876. Springfield, MA: C. W. Bryan & Co., 1876.
  12. ^ "LEE.13". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  13. ^ Hosmer, F. A. History of Berkshire County. Vol. 2. 1876.
  14. ^ "LEE.10". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  15. ^ "PIT.126". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  16. ^ "WSK.55". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  17. ^ "PIT.447". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  18. ^ "PIT.45". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  19. ^ "ADA.1". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  20. ^ Engineering and Building Record 19 July 1890: 112. New York.
  21. ^ Sanitary News 24 May 1890: 45. Chicago.
  22. ^ "PIT.115". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.
  23. ^ Engineering Record 9 May 1891: 386. New York.
  24. ^ a b "Southern Berkshire: Its Early Catholic History and Present Development". Sacred Heart Review 24 Aug. 1895: 20.
  25. ^ "LEE.42". mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n.d.