Robert A. Ritterbush FAIA (1891–1980) was an American architect 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 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, graduating in 1917. During World War I 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, 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, 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, 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 The Bismarck North Dakota Temple is the 61st operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Missionary work in North Dakota began in 1914 and by 1930, there were 145 members in the state, and by 1997, those nu ...

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 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. 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. Others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works

* Bismarck High School, 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 (1934–36, NRHP 1985) * New England Memorial Hall, 925 Main St, New England, North Dakota (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. ...

, 320 Central Ave S, Valley City, North Dakota (1936–37, NRHP 2008) * P. S. Berg Elementary School, 307 3rd Ave W, Dickinson, North Dakota (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 mentally ill and confining the criminally insane. Early ...

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

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

(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