Robert W. Hill (20 September 1828 – 16 July 1909) was an American

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

from

Waterbury, Connecticut Waterbury is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Waterbury had a population of 114,403 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 Census. The city is southwest of Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford and northeast of New York City. Waterbury i ...

. 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 New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is the third largest city in Co ...

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.''The Town and City of Waterbury, Connecticut''. Ed. Joseph Anderson. 1896. At one point he was also employed by

Sidney Mason Stone Sidney Mason Stone (May 8, 1803 – August 10, 1882) was a prominent Connecticut architect and builder known for designs of churches, institutional buildings and residences. His creations incorporated Greek Revival architecture, Greek Revival, Ro ...

. He then worked in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

for Albert C. Nash, a former Connecticut architect. In 1858 he returned to Connecticut, establishing himself as an architect in the town of

Naugatuck Naugatuck ( ) is a consolidated borough and town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town, part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, had a population of 31,519 as of the 2020 Census. The town spans both sides of the Naug ...

. 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.

Legacy

Hill trained several other Waterbury architects, including Joseph A. Jackson, Wilfred E. Griggs and Theodore B. Peck. At least five buildings designed by him have been placed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

, and many others contribute to listed historic districts.

Works

* 1865 - St. Margaret's School, 88 Cooke St, Waterbury, Connecticut ** Demolished. * 1866 - John Kendrick House, 119 W Main St, Waterbury, Connecticut ** Often attributed to Hill or his teacher, Henry Austin. * 1866 - Warren House, 110 Woodbury Rd,

Watertown, Connecticut Watertown is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. The population was 22,105 at the 2020 census. It is a suburb of Waterbury. The urban center of the town is the Wat ...

** Later the

Taft School The Taft School is a private coeducational school located in Watertown, Connecticut, United States. It enrolls approximately 600 students in grades 9–12. Overview History The school was founded in 1890 as Mr. Taft's School (renamed t ...

's main building. Demolished. * 1869 - Christ Episcopal Church (Bethlehem, Connecticut) (remodeling), Main St S,

Bethlehem, Connecticut Bethlehem is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,385 at the 2020 census, down from 3,607 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. The town center is a historic dist ...

Bethlehem Green Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1982. * 1869 - Opera House Block, 100 Main St,

Ansonia, Connecticut Ansonia is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. Located on the Naugatuck River, it is immediately north of Derby, and about northwest of New Haven. The city is part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. The population was ...

* 1869 - Waterbury City Hall (former), 55 W Main St, Waterbury, Connecticut ** Burned in 1912. * 1870 - Post Office Block, 1 W Main St,

New Britain, Connecticut New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately southwest of Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford. The city is part of the Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut, Capitol ...

* 1871 - Edward M. Chapin House, 25 Church St,

New Hartford, Connecticut New Hartford is a New England town, town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,658 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The town is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut, Northwest Hill ...

* 1871 - Soldiers' Monument, Woodbury Common,

Woodbury, Connecticut Woodbury is a New England town, town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut, Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. The population was 9,72 ...

* 1874 - First Congregational Church Centennial Chapel, 251 Main St,

East Haven, Connecticut East Haven is a New England town, town in New Haven County, Connecticut, New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the town population was 27,923. The town is located east of New Haven, Conne ...

* 1878 - Albert C. Peck House, 8 Mountain Rd, Woodbury, Connecticut * 1879 - Bronson B. Tuttle House, 380 Church St,

Naugatuck, Connecticut Naugatuck ( ) is a consolidated borough (Connecticut), borough and town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town, part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut, Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, had a population of ...

*1879 - William H. Anderson House, Andover Street, owell, Massachusetts** Demolished. * 1880 - New Britain Opera House, 466-468 Main St, New Britain, Connecticut ** Demolished. * 1880 - Winsted Real Estate Building, 13-17 Park Pl W,

Winsted, Connecticut Winsted is a census-designated place and an incorporated city in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of the town of Winchester, Connecticut, Winchester. The population of Winsted was 7,192 at the 2020 United States census, 2 ...

* 1881 - Coe Brass Office Building, 179 Water St,

Torrington, Connecticut Torrington is the most populated municipality and largest city in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and the Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut, Northwest Hills Planning Region. It is also the core city of Greater Torringto ...

* 1882 - Welton Street School (former), 36 Welton St, Waterbury, Connecticut * 1882 - Thomaston Fire Station, Main St,

Thomaston, Connecticut Thomaston is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. The population was 7,442 at the 2020 census. The urban center of the town is the Thomaston census-designated place, ...

* 1883 - Hall Memorial Chapel, Riverside Cemetery, Waterbury, Connecticut * 1883 - Thomaston Town Hall and Opera House, 153 Main St, Thomaston, Connecticut * 1883 - Waterbury Armory, Phoenix Ave, Waterbury, Connecticut ** Demolished. * 1883 - Watertown Library (former), 50 DeForest St, Watertown, Connecticut ** Now owned by the Taft School. * 1884 - Griggs Building, 221-227 Bank St, Waterbury, Connecticut * 1885 - Bridgeport Armory, 1494 Main St,

Bridgeport, Connecticut Bridgeport is the List of municipalities in Connecticut, most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut and the List of cities in New England by population, fifth-most populous city in New England, with a population of 148,654 in 2020. Loc ...

** Highly altered. * 1885 - Rectory for St. John's Episcopal Church, 21 Church St, Waterbury, Connecticut * 1886 -

Ansonia Station Ansonia station is a commuter rail station on the Waterbury Branch of the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line, located in Ansonia, Connecticut. Station layout This station has one low-level side platform to the east of the track. The station ...

, 40 W Main St,

** Demolished. * 1886 - New Britain Armory (former), 10 Grand St, New Britain, Connecticut * 1886 - Norwalk Armory, Connecticut Ave,

Norwalk, Connecticut Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The city, part of the New York metropolitan area, New York Metropolitan Area, is the List of municipalities of Connecticut by population, sixth-most populous city in Connecticut ...

** Demolished. * 1887 - Congregational Parish House, Division St, Naugatuck, Connecticut * 1888 - Litchfield County Courthouse, 15 West St,

Litchfield, Connecticut Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,192 at the 2020 census. The town is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are ...

** Altered. * 1889 - Police Department Headquarters, Leavenworth St, Waterbury, Connecticut ** Demolished. * 1890 - Soldiers' Memorial Tower, Memorial Park, Winsted, Connecticut ** With

George Edwin Bissell George Edwin Bissell (February 16, 1839 – August 30, 1920) was an American sculptor. Biography Bissell was born in New Preston, Connecticut, the son of a quarryman and marble-cutter. During the American Civil War he served as a private in th ...

, sculptor. * 1891 - Berlin Free Library (former), Worthington Ridge,

Berlin, Connecticut Berlin ( ) is a town in the Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut, Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,175 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It was incorporated in 1785. The geographic center of ...

** Demolished in 1955. * 1891 - Conway (Yankee Pedlar) Inn, 95 Main St, Torrington, ConnecticutSterner, Daniel
"The Yankee Pedlar Inn (1891)"
''http://historicbuildingsct.com/''. 15 Feb. 2012. * 1891 - Litchfield Fire Station (former), 40 West St, Litchfield, Connecticut

Gallery

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hill, Robert W. 1828 births 1909 deaths Architects from Waterbury, Connecticut 19th-century American architects Burials at Riverside Cemetery (Waterbury, Connecticut)