Christian Gottlieb Reuter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christian Gottlieb Reuter | |
|---|---|
| Born | Philip Christian Gottlieb Reuter[1] 5 September 1717 Steinbach, Germany |
| Died | 30 December 1777 (aged 60) U.S. |
Philip Christian Gottlieb Reuter (5 September 1717 – 30 December 1777) was a German architect. He became an influential member of the Moravian community in the Wachovia Tract of today's North Carolina by developing the appearance of towns and the usage of land. He mapped said tract and drew the town plans for Bethania, Bethabara and Salem.[2]
Career
In 1732, Reuter became an apprentice to the surveyor Count Franz, then Count Erpach. Upon obtaining his certificate, he went to work for Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel. Aged 21, he was appointed royal surveyor.[2]
He emigrated to Bethlehem, Province of Pennsylvania, in 1756. Shortly after arriving, he designed the Sun Inn, and also laid out the town plan of Lititz.[2]
Within two years, he had moved south to Bethabara, Province of North Carolina, and set about surveying the near-100,000 acres (40,000 ha) of the Wachovia Tract.[4] His "Great Map of 1762", which is believed to have been over 9 feet (2.7 m) long and 7 feet (2.1 m) high, has since been lost.[2]
In 1759, Reuter laid out the town plan of Bethania, and played a major role in the layout of today's Old Salem.[2]
After moving to Salem, in 1774 he established a drawing school for young Single Brethren.[2]