Marcellus E. Wright Sr.
| Marcellus Eugene Wright Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born |
April 8, 1881 Hanover County, Virginia |
| Died | December 8, 1962 (aged 81) Richmond, Virginia |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) | Ritta Stovall |
| Children | Marcellus Eugene Wright Jr., Frances Wright |
| Parent(s) | A. W. Wright, Isebella Wright |
| Buildings | Altria Theater, The Chamberlin, Hotel John Marshall |
| Projects | Colonial Williamsburg |
Marcellus Eugene Wright, Sr. (April 8, 1881 – December 8, 1962) was an American architect. He was active in Richmond, Virginia and the surrounding region during the first half of the 20th century. In addition to his work on hotels, Wright was a pioneer of the Moorish Revival architectural style in his design for the Altria Theater (formerly known as the Mosque), which is a key component of the Monroe Park Historic District.
Marcellus E. Wright was born on April 8, 1881, in Hanover County, Virginia, the son of A. W. Wright and Isebella Wright.
In 1906, Marcellus Wright married Ritta Stovall at a ceremony which took place in Henrico County, Virginia. The marriage resulted in two children: Marcellus E. Wright Jr. and Frances Wright. They lived for years in Richmond with two of Wright's sisters-in-law and at least one boarder. Wright died on December 8, 1962, of what were reported to be natural causes, and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery.
Multiple members of the Wright family went on to make a name for themselves in architecture. Marcellus E. Wright Jr. would join his father's firm of Marcellus Wright & Son, and later became a leading light of Virginia architecture as member of Marcellus Wright Cox & Smith. Oscar Pendleton Wright, brother to the senior Wright, entered into partnership with noted Richmond firm Carneal & Johnston, where he worked on St. Joseph's Villa.
During his life, Marcellus Wright Sr. served as an active member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and from 1939-1940 was President of its Richmond Chapter. He was also a Freemason, having attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite.
At the age of sixteen, Wright began work for Richmond architecture firm Noland & Baskervill, where he stayed for five years before moving to the Philadelphia firm Cope & Stewardson. He took courses in architecture at the Philadelphia School of Applied Art and the University of Pennsylvania, the latter of which he graduated from in 1905. After graduating, Wright swiftly rose to prominence in the Richmond architecture scene; he was one of the eleven founding members of the Richmond Association of Architects, which was established in 1911. By 1922, he had attained sufficient stature to have been elected a member of the American Institute of Architects.
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