Robert A. Ritterbush

FAIA Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) is a postnominal title or membership, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Fellowship is bestowed by the institute on AIA-member ...

(1891–1980) 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 ...

in practice in

Bismarck, North Dakota Bismarck () is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the state's second-most populous city, after Fargo. The city's population was 73,622 in the 2020 census, while its metropolitan popula ...

from 1920 until 1967.

Life and career

Robert Alonzo Ritterbush was born October 13, 1891 in

Oakes, North Dakota Oakes is the most populous city in Dickey County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 1,798 at the 2020 census. Oakes was founded in 1886. History Oakes was laid out in 1886. It was named for Thomas F. Oakes, a railroad official. A p ...

to William Donald Ritterbush, a contractor, and Elizabeth (Dyer) Ritterbush. He was educated at the

Ohio Mechanics Institute The University of Cincinnati College of Applied Science (CAS) was an applied science college at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Sett ...

, later part of the

University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati) is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,00 ...

, graduating in 1917. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

he served with the navy in France. In 1920 he returned to North Dakota, settling in Bismarck, where he and his brother, Clarence W. Ritterbush (1893–1990), formed a partnership with established architect Arthur Van Horn. When Van Horn died in 1931 the brothers succeeded to the practice, which they renamed Ritterbush Brothers. Clarence retired in 1953, and was replaced as partner by Robert H. Ritterbush, Robert's son.Van Horn-Ritterbush Architecture Records
State Historical Society of North Dakota. The elder Ritterbush retired as partner in 1967, but was retained as a consultant until 1973, when he fully retired."Ritterbush, Robert Alonzo" in ''American Architects Directory'' (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 766. In 1922 Ritterbush joined the North Dakota Association of Architects, of which Van Horn had been a founding member in 1917. In 1953 the association achieved its long-time goal of affiliating with the

American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to su ...

, and all of its members, including Ritterbush, became members of the AIA. From the time he joined in 1922 until 1965 he was secretary–treasurer of the North Dakota association. In 1966, following his retirement from that office, the association honored him for his "46 years of practice in architecture and outstanding service to the profession." In 1969 he was elected a

Fellow of the American Institute of Architects Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) is a postnominal title or membership, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Fellowship is bestowed by the institute on AIA-member ...

, the organization's highest membership honor.""Robert Ritterbush, Bismarck Architect" in ''Bismarck Tribune'', January 19, 1980, 8.

Personal life

Ritterbush was married in 1921 to Ruth Nichols in

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

, and they had two children, including Robert Harrison Ritterbush (1926–2019). Ritterbush died January 18, 1980 in Bismarck.

Legacy

After Ritterbush retired in 1973, his son Robert and his associate, Merlin E. Redrud, continued the practice as Ritterbush Associates. The firm was renamed Ritterbush–Ellig–Hulsing in 1997. Major projects of the successor firm include the judicial wing addition to the North Dakota State Capitol, completed in 1981, and the Bismarck North Dakota Temple of the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The c ...

, completed in 1999. The younger Ritterbush died in 2019, and in 2021 the firm was merged with EAPC Architects Engineers, a large firm from

Grand Forks Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the state of North Dakota (after Fargo and Bismarck) and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2020 census, the city's population was 59,166. Grand Forks, along with its twin city o ...

. In addition to three designed with Van Horn, two buildings designed by Ritterbush have been listed on the United States

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

. Others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works

Bismarck High School Bismarck High School (BHS) is a public high school located in Bismarck, North Dakota. It currently serves 1,197 students and is a part of the Bismarck Public Schools system. The grades offered at Bismarck High school are ninth through twelfth. The ...

, 800 N 8th St,

(1934–35 and 1962–63) *

Hettinger County Courthouse The Hettinger County Courthouse in Mott, North Dakota was built in 1934. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Its construction, during 1934–36, was barely allowed by passage of a bond issue to take advantage of a P ...

, 335 Pacific Ave,

Mott, North Dakota Mott is a city in and the county seat of Hettinger County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 653 at the 2020 census. History Mott was founded in 1904 when territory was opened to settlers. There are conflicting stories of how the c ...

(1934–36, NRHP 1985) * New England Memorial Hall, 925 Main St,

New England, North Dakota New England is a city in Hettinger County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 683 at the 2020 census. New England was founded in 1887, predating all other settlements in Hettinger County by many years. The name recognizes that many ...

(1935–36) *

Valley City Municipal Auditorium The Valley City Municipal Auditorium in Valley City, North Dakota was built in 1936. It includes Modern Movement architecture, Stripped Classicism, and other architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. It ...

, 320 Central Ave S, Valley City, North Dakota (1936–37, NRHP 2008) * P. S. Berg Elementary School, 307 3rd Ave W,

Dickinson, North Dakota Dickinson is a city in and the county seat of Stark County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 25,679 at the 2020 census. Dickinson is home to the Ukrainian Cultural Institute, which has a museum and holds events year round for the ...

(1949–50) * George Francis Will house, 112 W Ave E,

(1949–50) * Richholt Elementary School, 720 N 14th St,

(1950, demolished) * Cowan Building, 401 E Broadway Ave,

(1954–55) * Receiving and treatment center,

North Dakota State Hospital The North Dakota State Hospital, on the southern rim of the James River valley overlooking Jamestown, North Dakota, has since 1885 been North Dakota's primary institution for treating the mental illness, mentally ill and confining the criminally ...

, Jamestown, North Dakota (1954) * Bismarck Junior College (former), 900 E Boulevard Ave,

(1955) * Oakes Community Center, 124 S 5th St,

(1955) * Hughes Middle School (former), 806 N Washington St,

(1957–58) * Kenmare Community Hospital, 317 1st Ave NW,

Kenmare, North Dakota Kenmare is a city in Ward County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 961 at the 2020 census. Kenmare is part of the Minot Micropolitan Statistical Area. History Kenmare was platted in 1897. The city most likely was named after ...

(1957) * McCabe United Methodist Church, 1030 N 6th St,

(1957) * North Dakota Governor's Residence, 1131 N 4th St,

(1959–60, demolished 2018)Cathy Keating, ''Our Governor's Mansions'' (New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1997): 290–296. * Veterans Memorial Public Library, 520 Ave A,

(1963, demolished) * Terminal,

Bismarck Municipal Airport Bismarck Municipal Airport is in Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States, three miles southeast of the City of Bismarck, North Dakota, which owns it. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a ''prim ...

(1965, demolished) * Bismarck Event Center, 315 S 5th St,

(1967–69)"Ritterbush, Robert Harrison" in ''American Architects Directory'' (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 766–767. * Montana–Dakota Utilities Company Building, 400 N 4th St,

(1968) * Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 N 4th St,

(1969)

Notes

References