Charles T. Rathbun

Last updated
Charles Theodore Rathbun
BornFebruary 2, 1828
DiedJuly 22, 1908
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
OccupationArchitect
PracticeC. T. Rathbun; Rathbun & Harding
Congregational Church, West Stockbridge, 1881 Congregational Church of West Stockbridge MA.jpg
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.

Contents

Life and career

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

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

YearBuildingAddressCityStateNotesImageReference
1865First Congregational Church906 Main St Williamstown Massachusetts Completely rebuilt in 1913. [7]
1868Farm complex Massachusetts Agricultural College Amherst Massachusetts Demolished. [8]
1870Chapel, First Church27 East St Pittsfield Massachusetts First Church of Christ, Pittsfield MA.jpg [9]
1870 Citizens Hall 13 Willard Hill Rd Interlaken Massachusetts Citizens Hall, Interlaken MA.jpg [10]
1872First M. E. Church55 Fenn St Pittsfield Massachusetts [11]
1873Lee Memorial Hall32 Main St Lee Massachusetts Lee Town Hall.JPG [12]
1874First Baptist Church64 North St Pittsfield Massachusetts A remodeling. Demolished in the 1920s. [13]
1879Oman Block52 Main St Lee Massachusetts [14]
1881Central Block75 North St Pittsfield Massachusetts [15]
1881 Congregational Church of West Stockbridge 45 Main St West Stockbridge Massachusetts Congregational Church of West Stockbridge MA.jpg [16]
1883First Burns Block297 North St Pittsfield Massachusetts [17]
1884Englund Block122 North St Pittsfield Massachusetts [18]
1887 Hoosac Street School 20 Hoosac St Adams Massachusetts Hoosac Street School, Adams MA.jpg [19]
1890Adams High SchoolLiberty St Adams Massachusetts Demolished. [20]
1890 John E. Parsons Estate (Stonover Farm)169 Under Mountain Rd Lenox Massachusetts [21]
1890Second Burns Block297 North St Pittsfield Massachusetts [22]
1891Buget & Lewis Block322 Main St Great Barrington Massachusetts Demolished. [23]
1893 Housatonic Congregational Church 1089 Main St Housatonic Massachusetts Housatonic Congregational Church, Housatonic, Massachusetts.jpg [2]
1894St. Charles R. C. Church89 Briggs Ave Pittsfield Massachusetts [24]
1895Rectory, St. Charles R. C. Church89 Briggs Ave Pittsfield Massachusetts [24]
1896John H. Casey House244 Main St Lee Massachusetts [25]

References

  1. 1 2 Leonard, Charles L. "Rathbun". Christian Advocate 5 Nov. 1908: 39. New York.
  2. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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.