Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Verus Taggert RITTER
Verus Taggert, youngest child of William L. and Amelia (Spangler) Ritter, was born June 27, 1883, at Muncy, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. He received his earliest education in the public schools of his native place, passing thence to the Bloomsburg high school, and afterward attending a private school for two years. He then spent three years in the office of his brother, Meade B. Ritter, who was a prominent architect of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He went later to Philadelphia to take special work in his chosen profession, subsequently returned to his brother's office and remained there until the death of the latter, which occurred March 11, 1906. Mr. Ritter then took charge of the office, in which he still maintains an interest.
In January, 1911, Mr. Ritter came to Huntington, and opened his present office in the Ritter building. He has been successful in being chosen the architect upon the most important structures erected in Huntington and that vicinity, as indicated by the following commissions: Johnson Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, South; the Westmoreland Country Club; Swan Printing Company; the new twelve-story fireproof bank and office building for the First National Bank of Huntington; "The Virginian," a six-story fireproof hotel at Lynchburg, Virginia; the residence of Mr. C. L. Ritter, and the fireproof residence and adjacent buildings for the estate of Mr. C. H. Freeman. In addition to the above buildings Mr. Ritter is designing the new city building for the city of Huntington. His office is equipped with all modern fixtures, and he maintains a corps of efficient architectural draftsmen, engineers and superintendents, and the services rendered have warranted the confidence which he has gained. Mr. Ritter is a Knight Templar and a thirty-second degree Mason, and also affiliates with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
He married, January 30, 1912, in New York City, Edith, daughter of the late E. H. Keller, and who is a native of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
The career of Mr. Ritter as an architect has been fruitful in accomplishment; but he is still a young man, and a past so rich in results gives promise of even greater achievement in the future.
Verus T. Ritter was born in Muncy, PA, the son of William L. and Amelia (Spangler) Ritter. He received his early education in Bloomsburg, PA, and his early architectural training in his brother's office. He launched an independent practice in Williamsport, PA, in 1908 but moved to Philadelphia in 1917. By 1920 Ritter had established a partnership with Howell L. Shay under the name Ritter & Shay, a firm which designed commercial, office and school buildings in and around Philadelphia. Chief among their wards are the U.S. Customs House at 2nd and Chestnut streets and the Francis Drake Hotel, both in Philadelphia. In 1925 the Philadelphia Chapter of the AIA awarded the gold medal for theeir design of the Packard Building at 111 South 15th Street.
Ritter & Shay dissolved around 1936, and Ritter continued in independent practice; but during his last years he was chiefly known for his activities as president of the Delaware Tunnel Corporation, an organization which assertively lobbied for the construction of a tunnel beneath the Delaware River connecting South Philadelphia with New Jersey. This scheme occasioned considerable debate around 1940, but ultimately was rendered moot by the construction of the Delaware River Bridge.
Written by Sandra L. Tatman.
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