Rubush & Hunter

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Rubush & Hunter
Indianapolis City Hall, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1909.
Practice information
PartnersPreston C. Rubush
Edgar O. Hunter
Founded1905
Dissolved1939
LocationIndianapolis, Indiana

Rubush & Hunter was an architectural firm in Indianapolis, Indiana in the United States. Established in 1905 by architects Preston C. Rubush and Edgar O. Hunter, Rubush & Hunter operated until 1939.

Firm history[edit]

Preston C. Rubush and Edgar O. Hunter formed their partnership in 1905.[1] Previously, Rubush had been a member of the firms of Scharn & Rubush and P. C. Rubush & Company. Rubush and Hunter maintained their partnership until 1939, when both retired. In 1940 the firm was taken over by Philip A. Weisenburgh, chief draftsman and designer of the firm.[2] Weisenburgh retired in 1969.[3]

Partners[edit]

Preston C. Rubush, 1901.

Preston C. Rubush[edit]

Preston C. Rubush was born March 30, 1867, in Oakford, Indiana, to William G. and Marie E. (Wyrick) Rubush. His father was a general contractor. He attended public schools and completed a special course in architecture at the University of Illinois. He initially found employment in the Peoria, Illinois, branch office of architect James F. Alexander, based in Lafayette, Indiana. He worked for Alexander for two years, and then for others until 1893. In that year he came to Indianapolis and formed a partnership, Scharn & Rubush, with John H. Scharn.[4] In 1900, Scharn retired,[5] and Rubush continued the business as P. C. Rubush & Company. In 1905, he formed his partnership with Hunter. They remained together until they retired in 1939.

In 1898, Rubush married Renah J. Wilcox of Nebraska.[4] Rubush died February 4, 1947, at his winter home in Miami Beach, Florida. He was survived by his wife and other family members, but no children.[6]

Edgar O. Hunter[edit]

Edgar Otis Hunter was born in 1873 in Versailles, Indiana. He attended public schools in Indianapolis and the University of Pennsylvania. Upon his return to Indianapolis he worked for Vonnegut & Bohn before joining Rubush.[7] He became partner in the firm in 1905, and like Rubush retired in 1939.

In 1899, Hunter married Anna Blanche Lee. He died in Miami Beach, Florida, on November 20, 1949.[7]

Hunter's younger brother, Frank B. Hunter, was also an architect in Indianapolis.[8]

Philip A. Weisenburgh[edit]

Philip Arthur Weisenburgh was born in 1887 in Frankfort, Kentucky.[9] When he joined Rubush & Hunter is unknown, but he was chief draftsman by 1925. He succeeded to the practice when Rubush and Hunter retired in 1939, He himself retired in 1969. He died in Indianapolis November 12, 1972.[3]

His wife was Louise Weisenburgh, with whom he had a daughter.[3] He was a member of the American Institute of Architects from 1942 until his death.[10]

Legacy[edit]

Many of the firm's buildings in Indianapolis have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.

In addition to their work in Indiana, the firm was hired by Indianapolis developers Carl G. Fisher and Joseph Wesley Young Jr. to do extensive work at their Florida resorts, Miami Beach and Hollywood, respectively. Several of their Hollywood buildings survive, and Rubush and Hunter would both own second homes in Miami Beach.

Architectural works[edit]

Year Building Address City State Notes Image Reference
1905 Knights of Pythias Castle Hall 230 E Ohio St Indianapolis Indiana Presently the Indiana Bar Center. [2]
1906 Campus development,
Indiana School for the Deaf		 1200 E 42nd St Indianapolis Indiana Rubush & Hunter were responsible for the initial seven buildings. As of 2020 only Alumni Hall and some service buildings remain. The campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.[11] [12]
1906 Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 56 121 E Ohio St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 as a contributing property to the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District.[11] [13]
1907 House for William S. Craig 3312 N Washington Blvd Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 as a contributing property to the Meridian Park Historic District. [14]
1907 Odd Fellows Building 1 N Pennsylvania St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 as a contributing property to the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District.[11] [13]
1908 Masonic Temple 525 N Illinois Ave Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.[11] [15]
1908 Kothe, Wells & Bauer Company Building 157 E Maryland St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 as a contributing property to the Indianapolis Union Station-Wholesale District. [16]
1908 Daniel Stewart Company Building 50 S Meridian St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 as a contributing property to the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District.[11] [13]
1909 The Buckingham 3101-3119 N Meridian St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.[11] [17]
1909 Indianapolis City Hall (former) 202 N Alabama St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.[11] [18]
1910 North factory of the H. Lauter Company 35 S Harding St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. [19]
1910 Sommers Building 143-149 W Washington St Indianapolis Indiana Demolished. [2]
1911 Hume-Mansur Building 23 E Ohio St Indianapolis Indiana Demolished in 1980. [2]
1912 University Park Building 333 N Pennsylvania St Indianapolis Indiana In 1929 the building was stripped down to its structure and incorporated into the new Architects and Builders Building. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. [20]
1914 Fidelity Trust Company Building 148 E Market St Indianapolis Indiana Individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and as a contributing property to the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District in 1997.[11] [21]
1915 Henry P. Coburn Public School No. 66 604 E 38th St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.[11] [22]
1915 Oriental Lodge No. 500 2201 Central Ave Indianapolis Indiana Designed in association with Herbert L. Bass & Company and Herbert W. Foltz. The senior principals of all three firms were members of the lodge. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. Presently the Prince Hall Masonic Temple. [23]
1916 Circle Theatre 45 Monument Circle Indianapolis Indiana Individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and as a contributing property to the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District in 1997.[11] Now known as the Hilbert Circle Theatre. [24]
1919 House for Clark E. Mallery 4160 N Washington Blvd Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008 as a contributing property to the Washington Park Historic District. [25]
1920 Nebraska Cropsey School No. 22 1231 S Illinois St Indianapolis Indiana Demolished. [2]
1920 Flamingo Hotel 1500 Bay Rd Miami Beach Florida Noted hotel architects Price & McClanahan were also hired to prepare a design, but their plans were not used. The hotel was demolished in 1955. [26][9]
1920 Manufacturing facilities for the H. C. S. Motor Car Company 1402 N Capitol Ave Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. [27]
1921 Garage for the Hollywood Land and Water Company 2033-2051 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood Florida Remodeled in 1933 into the Ingram Arcade. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 as part of the Hollywood Boulevard Historic Business District.[28] [9]
1921 Hollywood Hotel Young Circle Hollywood Florida Later known as the Park View Hotel. Demolished. [9]
1921 Lincoln Hotel W Washington St and Kentucky Ave Indianapolis Indiana Demolished during the 1970s. [2]
1922 Guaranty Building 20 N Meridian St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 as a contributing property to the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District.[11] The building features architectural carving on the facade by Alexander Sangernebo. [13]
1922 Masonic Temple (former) 120 W 7th St Bloomington Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 as part of the Courthouse Square Historic District. [29]
1922 Addition to the Murat Shrine (former) 502 N New Jersey St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 as a contributing property to the Massachusetts Avenue Commercial District. [30]
1923 Stores for the Hollywood Land and Water Company 1940-1948 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood Florida Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 as part of the Hollywood Boulevard Historic Business District.[28] [31]
1924 Blue Triangle Hall 725 N Pennsylvania St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.[11] [32]
1924 Columbia Club 121 Monument Circle Indianapolis Indiana Individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and as a contributing property to the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District in 1997.[11] The building features architectural carving on the facade by Alexander Sangernebo. [33]
1924 Hollywood State Bank Building 2001 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood Florida Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 as part of the Hollywood Boulevard Historic Business District.[28] [31]
1924 Reserve Loan Life Insurance Company Building 429 N Pennsylvania St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.[11] [34]
1925 Hollywood Beach Hotel 101 N Ocean Dr Hollywood Florida Has been stripped of much of its exterior ornament. [9]
1925 Hollywood Hills Inn 4000 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood Florida Only used as a hotel for one season. Later occupied by the Riverside Military Academy. Demolished. [9]
1925 House for Joseph W. Young 1055 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood Florida Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. [35]
1926 Illinois Building 17 W Market St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 as a contributing property to the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District.[11] [13]
1927 Indiana Theatre 140 W Washington St Indianapolis Indiana Individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and as a contributing property to the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District in 1997.[11] The building features architectural carving on the facade by Alexander Sangernebo. [36]
1927 Madam C. J. Walker Building 617 Indiana Ave Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980,[11] and a National Historic Landmark in 1991. Now known as the Madam Walker Legacy Center. [37]
1928 House for Scott C. Wadley 4750 N Meridian St Indianapolis Indiana Since 1973 the house has been the Indiana Governor's Residence. [38]
1929 Architects and Builders Building 333 N Pennsylvania St Indianapolis Indiana Incorporated the structure of the firm's 1912-built University Park Building. Upon completion the building housed the offices of Rubush & Hunter as well as architects Leslie F. Ayres, Pierre & Wright, contracting firms and architectural and building organizations, among other tenants. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. [20]
1929 Circle Tower 5 E Market St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 as a contributing property to the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District.[11] [13]
1930 Indiana Garage 145 E Market St Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 as a contributing property to the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District.[11] [13]
1931 Bottling plant for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company 858-868 Massachusetts Ave Indianapolis Indiana Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 as a contributing property to the Massachusetts Avenue Commercial District. [30]
1937 H. P. Wasson & Company Building 2 N Meridian St Indianapolis Indiana Individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, and as a contributing property to the Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District in the same year.[11] [39]
1938 Remodeling of the Beth-El Zedeck Temple 3359 Ruckle St Indianapolis Indiana Originally designed in 1924 by Vonnegut, Bohn & Mueller. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. [40]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "In General," Brickbuilder 14, no. 2 (February 1905): 43.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glory-June Greiff, "Rubush and Hunter," The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, ed. David J. Bodenhamer and Robert G. Barrows (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1994)
  3. ^ a b c "P. A. Weisenburgh," Indianapolis News, November 13, 1972, 36.
  4. ^ a b Jacob Piatt Dunn, "Preston C. Rubush," Greater Indianapolis: The History, the industries, the Institutions, and the People of a City of Homes, vol. 2 (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1910): 903.
  5. ^ "Notice of Dissolution," Indianapolis Sun, November 2, 1900, 7.
  6. ^ "P. C. Rubush, Building Designer, Dies in Miami," Indianapolis Star, February 5, 1947, 32.
  7. ^ a b "Edgar Otis Hunter, Architect, Dies," Indianapolis Times, November 20, 1949, 4.
  8. ^ https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/rubush-and-hunter-architectural-firm-records.pdf
  9. ^ a b c d e f Joan Mickelson, Joseph W. Young Jr. and the City Beautiful: A Biography of the Founder of Hollywood, Florida (Jefferson, NC and London: McFarland & Company, 2013)
  10. ^ "Philip Arthur Weisenburgh", aiahistoricaldirectory.atlassian.net, AIA Historical Directory of American Architects, n. d.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  12. ^ Indiana School for the Deaf NRHP Registration Form (2008)
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Washington Street–Monument Circle Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1997)
  14. ^ Meridian Park Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1990)
  15. ^ Indianapolis Masonic Temple NRHP Registration Form (2008)
  16. ^ Indianapolis Union Station-Wholesale District NRHP Registration Form (1982)
  17. ^ The Buckingham NRHP Registration Form (1992)
  18. ^ Old Indianapolis City Hall NRHP Registration Form (1974)
  19. ^ H. Lauter Company Complex NRHP Registration Form (2015)
  20. ^ a b Architects and Builders Building NRHP Registration Form (2019)
  21. ^ Fidelity Trust Building NRHP Registration Form (1980)
  22. ^ Henry P. Coburn Public School No. 66 NRHP Registration Form (1986)
  23. ^ "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 2016-08-01. Note: This includes James A. Glass (June 2014). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Oriental Lodge No. 500" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-08-01., Site map, and Accompanying photographs
  24. ^ Circle Theater NRHP Registration Form (1980)
  25. ^ Washington Park Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2008)
  26. ^ Manufacturers Record 77, no. 21 (May 20, 1920): 141.
  27. ^ HCS Motor Car Company NRHP Registration Form (2009)
  28. ^ a b c Hollywood Boulevard Historic Business District NRHP Registration Form (1999)
  29. ^ Stone 43, no. 9 (September 1922): 476.
  30. ^ a b Massachusetts Avenue Commercial District NRHP Registration Form (1992)
  31. ^ a b Hollywood Historical Society, Hollywood (Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2008)
  32. ^ YWCA Blue Triangle Residence Hall NRHP Registration Form (1988)
  33. ^ Columbia Club NRHP Registration Form (1983)
  34. ^ Reserve Loan Life Insurance Company NRHP Registration Form (1990)
  35. ^ Joseph Wesley Young House NRHP Registration Form (1989)
  36. ^ Indiana Theatre NRHP Registration Form (1979)
  37. ^ Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company NRHP Registration Form (1980)
  38. ^ Jane R. Nolan, "Indiana Governor's Residence," The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, ed. David J. Bodenhamer and Robert G. Barrows (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1994)
  39. ^ H. P. Wasson & Company Building NRHP Registration Form (1997)
  40. ^ Beth-El Zedeck Temple NRHP Registration Form (2019)
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