Charles T. Rathbun

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

Charles Theodore Rathbun
Born	February 2, 1828 Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Died	July 22, 1908 Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Nationality	United States
Occupation	Architect
Practice	C. T. Rathbun; Rathbun & Harding

Congregational Church, West Stockbridge, 1881.

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

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

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