Triangle Modernist Houses

Compiled by George Smart, Jr.                                                          

Do you have one?

The Hunters were husband and wife architects who practiced in Hanover, New Hampshire from 1945-1966. They both taught at Dartmouth and designed several buildings on the campus.  In 1966 they relocated to Raleigh as EH and MK Hunter AIA.  In addition to their many houses, the couple designed Ridgewood Shopping Center.

EDGAR HAYES "TED" HUNTER, JR., AIA
(1914-1995)

Edgar Hunter was a competitive Alpine skier in 1930s.  He received AB and M.Ed. degrees from Dartmouth College in 1938 and 1950. He also received BA and Master if  Architecture degrees from Harvard in 1941 and 1970. He was a professor for 20 years at Dartmouth College. He was also Chapter President of both the New Hampshire and the Raleigh AIA.

MARGARET KING "PEG" HUNTER, AIA
(1919-1997)

Margaret Hunter received a BA in Botany at Wheaton College and was a member of the first class of female architects at the Harvard School of Design in 1942. 

1949 - The Maude French Residence, 7 Lewin Road, Hanover NH.   Pictured above, French (1900-1985) variously called it "Spinster's Rest," "El Rancho Bankrupto," and other things with great affection. 

1950's - The Hunter's own home on Hemlock Road in Hanover NH.  Bought in 1970 by Jean Ranc & Nathan A. Geurkink.  This remarkable glass, stone, and wood piece of sculpture was suspended like a tree house on the side of Balch Hill.  It sat unsold for some four years after the Hunters had departed in 1966 for Raleigh.  Ranc loved the house but reality struck upon the first $500 oil bill for the radiant heating in the slate and concrete floor.  Later after refinancing the house to install thermopane throughout, they were only able to reduce the heating cost 25%, even keeping the thermostat at 65 degrees and dressing in layers. 

Still, it was indeed a stunningly beautiful house stair-stepping down the hill on three levels with ledge stone foundations out of which arose a see-through fireplace which opened to the living room and the dining room on the other side.  Featured on the cover of the November 1953 Architectural Record.  It was the crown jewel of a community of Hunter-designed houses along Hemlock Road, each with 2-5 acres of woods with four of the other houses belonging to medical center physicians and their families (including Ralph Hunter, Ted Hunter's brother), Dr. Jackson, and John Kemeny.  Here is a map of the neighborhood. 

Ranc and Geurkink sold in 1979 and two subsequent owners have made extensive renovations such as enlarging the tiny pullman-type kitchen, adding grand decks and completing a separate guest house.  The Ranc's paid $58,500 for it in 1970 and sold for $92,000.

Early 1950's - The Roy P. Forster House, Hemlock Road, Hanover NH. 

1969 - Residence for Louis and Barbara O'Conner, 5009 North Hills Drive, Raleigh.   Sold in 1994 to Kristin Eldridge.  Sold in 2004 to current owners Michael and Kathleen Southern. 

1973 - Their own house at 3808 Tall Tree Place, Raleigh.  Six acres.  According to Charlie Fulton, the structure contained a small apartment where one of their parents lived for a few years.  This house on with its own pond was sold to James Stewart Carr in 1997 after the death of Margaret Hunter.  Carr developed it as Tall Tree Associates, subdivided the property into many lots, and tore down the house. 

1979 - The Marjorie Smith and Harriet Ammann Residence, 3601 Marcom Street, Raleigh.  Ammann sold her interest to Smith in 1981.  Smith sold the house to current owner Lewis Deitz in 1984.  

Addition for Mr. & Mrs. Richard E. Petersen, 3700 Corbin Street, Raleigh. 

1949 - The Maude French House, 7 Lewin Road, Hanover NH.  Two bedrooms with the living floor raised over the entrance, garage, garden storage and "breezeway", to take maximum advantage of the view of the valley of the Connecticut River.  

1977 - Solar House for Industrialized Building Systems, Raleigh.  No photo.  Do you have one?

1988 - Plants & land construction for Mr. Fred Dallas, Raleigh.  No photo.  Do you have one?

1974 - Residence for Mr. & Mrs. John V. Hunter III, Raleigh.  Never built, according to John Hunter.

1990 - Residence for Sytse and Karen Polier Douna, Louisburg.  Never built, according to Ms. Douna.