Robert W. Hill

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. At one point he was also employed by Sidney Mason Stone. 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.
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, 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
Later the Taft School's main building. Demolished.
1869 - Christ Episcopal Church (Bethlehem, Connecticut) (remodeling), Main St S, Bethlehem, Connecticut
1869 - Opera House Block, 100 Main St, Ansonia, Connecticut
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
1871 - Edward M. Chapin House, 25 Church St, New Hartford, Connecticut
1871 - Soldiers' Monument, Woodbury Common, Woodbury, Connecticut
1874 - First Congregational Church Centennial Chapel, 251 Main St, East Haven, Connecticut
1878 - Albert C. Peck House, 8 Mountain Rd, Woodbury, Connecticut
1879 - Bronson B. Tuttle House, 380 Church St, Naugatuck, Connecticut
1879 - William H. Anderson House, Andover Street, [Lowell, 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
1881 - Coe Brass Office Building, 179 Water St, Torrington, Connecticut
1882 - Welton Street School (former), 36 Welton St, Waterbury, Connecticut
1882 - Thomaston Fire Station, Main St, Thomaston, Connecticut
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
Highly altered.
1885 - Rectory for St. John's Episcopal Church, 21 Church St, Waterbury, Connecticut
1886 - Ansonia Station, 40 W Main St, Ansonia, Connecticut
Demolished.
1886 - New Britain Armory (former), 10 Grand St, New Britain, Connecticut
1886 - Norwalk Armory, Connecticut Ave, Norwalk, Connecticut
Demolished.
1887 - Congregational Parish House, Division St, Naugatuck, Connecticut
1888 - Litchfield County Courthouse, 15 West St, Litchfield, Connecticut
Altered.
1889 - Police Department Headquarters, Leavenworth St, Waterbury, Connecticut
Demolished.
1890 - Soldiers' Memorial Tower, Memorial Park, Winsted, Connecticut
With George Edwin Bissell, sculptor.
1891 - Berlin Free Library (former), Worthington Ridge, Berlin, Connecticut
Demolished in 1955.
1891 - Conway (Yankee Pedlar) Inn, 95 Main St, Torrington, Connecticut
1891 - Litchfield Fire Station (former), 40 West St, Litchfield, Connecticut
Gallery
References
1828 births
1909 deaths
Architects from Waterbury, Connecticut
19th-century American architects
Burials at Riverside Cemetery (Waterbury, Connecticut)