River towers (Huntington, West Virginia)

River Tower
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
River Tower, April 2010
Location	1100 Third Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia
Coordinates	38°25′22″N 82°26′28″W / 38.42278°N 82.44111°WCoordinates: 38°25′22″N 82°26′28″W / 38.42278°N 82.44111°W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1922
Architect	Mills, Wilbur T.; Moore Construction Co.
Architectural style	Early Commercial
NRHP Reference #	93000614[1]
Added to NRHP	August 26, 1993

The River Tower, (historically known as Watts, Ritter Wholesale Drygoods Company Building) is a commercial building located at 1100 Third Avenue, in Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia. It was built between 1914 and 1922 as a five story brick building.

The building is constructed of steel-reinforced concrete with yellow and orange brick facing and terra cotta trim, with an additional two stories added in 1926. It originally housed a large wholesale business with a retail store on the first floor. The Watts, Ritter Wholesale Drygoods Company occupied the building until the firm's closing in 1959. The River Tower is recognized for their Class A Office Space, including their marble and fountain lobby, chandeliers throughout, along with a multi-level deck (including two fountains) on the rooftop overlooking the Ohio River and viewing three states. The historic nature of the building is complimented throughout the seven floors with historic antique doors and office fronts on every floor. There is also a YouTube video (rivertowerelevator) of their Dover elevator, noting that is the one of the fastest elevators in the United States. The River Tower was listed in 1993 on the National Register of Historic Places.^[1]

On the corner, next to the River Tower office building, is another historic building.^[2]

References

1. National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. Nancy Recchie (March 1993). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Ritter, Wholesale Drygoods Company Building" (PDF). State of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Historic Preservation. Retrieved 2011-07-23.