Reuben Harrison Hunt

R.H. Hunt “prided himself on delivering durable, fire-resistant buildings on time and within budget – buildings that were stylistically current, that have lasted, and are still much admired today. He designed just about every type of building, too: trolley car barns, creameries, fire houses, skyscrapers, schools, churches, courthouses, auditoriums, and dormitories. No fewer than 39 of his structure are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. His importance to Chattanooga in particular cannot be overstated. Every major public building built in Chattanooga between 1893 and 1933 bears his stamp. So do many of the city’s tall buildings, churches and schools. His office proved vital to the training of many of the city’s mid-20th century architects, including William Sears, William Crutchfield, and Selmon T. Franklin. No single architect has had a greater influence on Chattanooga than R. H. Hunt. For that matter, no designer has had a greater impact on the development of architecture in the South.”

- Gavin Townsend