Merrill H. Hoyt

Merrill H. Hoyt was a prominent American architect,[1] business man and leader in the building design community of Denver, Colorado from 1910 to 1933.[2]

Early years 1881 - 1899

Hoyt family residence
The Hoyt Residence located at 2849 West 23rd Avenue Denver, Colorado was the family home of Merrill and Burnham Hoyt.

Born in North Denver on May 18th, 1881,[3] Merrill H. Hoyt grew up in the house located at 2849 West 23rd Avenue Denver.[4] He was the eldest son of Lydia Tompkins Hoyt and Wallace Hoyt, a carriage designer who emigrated from New Brunswick, Canada. He is the eldest brother of Architect Burnham F. Hoyt.[3] As a boy, Merrill earned money delivering newspapers and working in the fields of local farms. After graduating from Denver's North High School, he decided to train for a career in architecture.[3]

Later years 1899 - 1933

The Fourth Church of Christ Scientist Denver, CO
The Fourth Church of Christ Scientist Denver, CO built in 1920 was designed by Merrill H. and Burnham F. Hoyt.

In 1899, he was hired by the prestigious firm of William Fisher, Architect where he learned the trade as a draftsman at first and later as a superintendent .[2] On October 4, 1907, he married Ethel Fowler in Silver Bow, Montana.[5] The couple and daughter Grace lived in his boyhood neighborhood at 2509 West 36th Avenue.[3] In 1915, he started his own architectural practice,[2] which later became M.H. and B. Hoyt, Architects when his brother Burnham joined the firm in 1919.[2][6] The firm prospered in the 1920s and is credited with the design of many of Denver's iconic buildings of the era. Their designs embraced various historical styles including Greek revival, Romanesque and Spanish revival.[6] Together they designed residential, commercial, academic and religious buildings. On February 11,1933, Architect Merrill H. Hoyt suffered a sudden heart attack at a dinner party and died at age 52.[3]

Civic and professional engagement

Denver Public Library - Park Hill Branch (1920)
Denver Public Library - Park Hill Branch (1920) was designed by Merrill H. and Burnham F. Hoyt and is designated a Denver Landmark.

Merrill H Hoyt was an active and respected member of Denver design, business and cultural community. He served as a President and vice president of the Colorado Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the secretary of the Allied Architects Association who designed the City and County Building of Denver,[7] and vice president of the Denver Building and Loan Association. He was active in his Masonic Lodge, the Denver Art Museum, Motor Club of Colorado, Issac Walton League, Lakewood Country Club and a member of the Denver Athletic Club.[2][3]

Owen Estate (1923)
The Owen Estate (1923) located at 2901 S. Gilpin St., Denver CO is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Credited buildings (partial list)[2]

Lake Junior High School
Lake Junior High Denver, CO (1926) designed by Merrill H. and Burnham F. Hoyt. It is currently the home of Lake International School.

References

  1. ↑ "Merrill Hoyt dies at party". Rocky Mountain News (February 13, 1933): Sec 5, page 10. February 13, 1933.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Colorado Architects Biographical Sketch - Hoyt, Merrill H." (PDF). HistoryColorado.org. History Colorado, Inc. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Noel, Thomas J.; Norgren, Barbara S. (1987). Denver: The City Beautiful. private collection: Historic Denver, Inc. pp. 204 – 205. ISBN 0-914628-22-4.
  4. ↑ Denver City Annual Directory 1889. Denver Public Library: Corbett and Ballanger's. 1889.
  5. ↑ "Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950". Family Search.org. State of Montana. October 4, 1907. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Burnham Hoyt - Architect of the North Wing of the Central Library". Denver Public Library. Denver Public Library. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  7. ↑ National Park Service, Historic American Building Survey. "City and County Building, Civic Center Denver, Denver County Colorado" (PDF). Library of Congress. National Park Service. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  8. ↑ saopaulo1. "Delta National Bank - Delta, Colorado - Converted Bank Buildings on Waymarking.com". Waymarking.com. saopaulo1. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  9. ↑ Noel, Thomas J.; Wharton, Nicholas J. (2016). Denver Landmarks and Historic Districts; 2nd edition. University Press of Colorado. ISBN 1607324210.
  10. ↑ "Updated District Designation -Five Points Historic Cultural District." (PDF). City and County of Denver. City and County of Denver. p. 17. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Park Hill Neighborhood History". history.denverlibrary.org. Denver Public Library. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Denver Landmarks 1-99" (PDF). Denvergov.org. City and County of Denver. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  13. ↑ "The National Register of Historic Places Digital Asset - The Owen Estate". The National Park Service. The National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  14. ↑ Fetter, Rosemary (May 21, 2014). "Colorado History – Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village: Twin cities with different destinies". Colorado Gambler. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  15. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places - Digital Asset Maitland Estate". National Park Service. National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  16. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places - Digital Asset - Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church". National Park Service. National Park Service, Department of Interior. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  17. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places - Digital Asset - St. John's Cathedral". National Park Service. National Park Service, Department of Interior. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
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