Harry Barton (architect)

Harry Barton
Born(1876-06-17)June 17, 1876
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
DiedMay 9, 1937(1937-05-09) (aged 60)
Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
OccupationArchitect
The Guilford County Courthouse (1920) in Greensboro, designed in the Neoclassical style
The Johnston County Courthouse (1921) in Smithfield, designed in the Neoclassical style
The former Chancellor's House (1923) of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, designed in the Colonial Revival style
The Asbury United Methodist Church (1926) in Durham, designed in the Byzantine Revival style
The former Municipal Building (1926) in Reidsville, designed in the Neoclassical style
Galen L. Stone Hall (1927) of the former Palmer Memorial Institute, designed in the Colonial Revival style
The Alleghany County Courthouse (1933) in Sparta, designed in the Greek Revival style

Harry Barton (June 17, 1876 – May 9, 1937) was an American architect in practice in Greensboro, North Carolina, from 1912 until his death in 1937.

Life and career

Harry Barton was born June 17, 1876, in Philadelphia to Edmund Barton, a contractor and builder, and Emma Barton, née Goodwin. He was educated in the Philadelphia public schools and at the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades before going on to Temple University and George Washington University. He worked for several architects in Philadelphia and Washington, DC, and spent a decade working as a draftsman and architect in the office of the Supervising Architect. In 1912 he relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina, which he regarded as a "city with a future." After a brief partnership with architect Frank A. Weston he established an independent office. Within a few years Barton was awarded the commission to design the Guilford County Courthouse (1920, NRHP-listed) and in the 1920s emerged as the city's leading architect.[1][2]

As an architect Barton designed courthouses, city halls, public schools, churches and other buildings. He designed the majority of the buildings built on the campus of what is now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the 1920s. During the Great Depression, Barton maintained his practice with a focus on public projects, such as the Alleghany County Courthouse (1933, NRHP-listed) in Sparta. By this time Barton's chief local competition was Charles C. Hartmann. As the leading local architect Barton was the collaborator of choice for outside architects working in the area; for Hobart Upjohn he supervised construction of the First Presbyterian Church (1929). Barton practiced architecture until his death in 1937.[1][2]

Typically for an architect of his time, Barton designed his buildings in a wide variety of traditional revival styles, especially the Classical, Georgian and Gothic revivals. Later, he drew on more exotic styles such as the Spanish Colonial and Venetian Gothic revivals or transitional modernist styles such as Art Deco.[1]

Personal life

Barton was married to Rachel S. Phillips; they had three children, all daughters. He was a member of several local and fraternal organizations and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro and sat on the State Board of Architectural Examination and Registration.[2]

Barton died May 9, 1937, in Greensboro at the age of 60.[1]

Legacy

A number of his works, called out below, are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Architectural works

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 William B. Bushong; Adam Ronan; Catherine W. Bishir (2009). "North Carolina Architects & Builders: Barton, Harry (1876–1937)". North Carolina State University Libraries.
  2. 1 2 3 North Carolina: Rebuilding an Ancient Commonwealth, vol. 3 (Chicago and New York: American Historical Society Inc., 1928): 27.
  3. ↑ "Surry County Courthouse," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  4. ↑ Marvin A. Brown and Kaye Graybeal, College Hill Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (1993)
  5. ↑ Alice Moore, John Marion Galloway House National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form (1983)
  6. ↑ Davyd Foard Hood, Buffalo Presbyterian Church National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (2002)
  7. ↑ "Guilford County Courthouse," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Johnston County Courthouse," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Chancellor's House," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Alamance County Courthouse," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Brown Music Building," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Cone Export and Commission Building," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  13. ↑ "First Methodist Church," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Greensboro City Hall," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  15. ↑ Claudia Roberts Brown, Trinity Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (1986)
  16. ↑ "Cumberland County Courthouse," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  17. ↑ "New Curry Education Building," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Reidsville Municipal Building," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  19. ↑ Marvin A. Brown, Sigmund Sternberger House National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (1993)
  20. ↑ Davyd Foard Hood, World War Memorial Stadium National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (2001)
  21. ↑ "Aycock Auditorium," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  22. ↑ "High Point Central High School," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Piedmont Building," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  24. ↑ Laura A. W. Phillips, Palmer Memorial Institute Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (1988)
  25. ↑ "First Presbyterian Church," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  26. ↑ "First Presbyterian Church," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  27. ↑ Beth Keane and Kaye Graybeal, North Third Avenue Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (2000)
  28. ↑ "Granite Lodge No. 322," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Alleghany County Courthouse," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.