George F. Miller House

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In his "Cabell County Annals and Families" respected local historian George S. Wallace described
George Frederick Miler Jr. (1848 - 1910) as the most constructive businessman
of his generation. "  The description was a fitting one.

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HUNTINGTON -- In his "Cabell County Annals and Families," respected local historian
George S. Wallace described George Frederick Miller Jr. (1848-1910) as
 "easily the most constructive businessman of his generation."
 The description was a fitting one.

Miller's father, George F. Miller Sr., was born in Germany in 1816, immigrated to this country
 and ultimately settled in Barboursville. He was a tanner by trade and later became a
merchant. He was elected Cabell County sheriff in 1876 and served four years.

His son, George Jr., entered business at an early age and rose rapidly. In 1884, he was elected
executive vice president of the newly organized First National Bank. Later he partnered with
 Charles Lloyd Ritter in creation of the Frederick Hotel. Opened in 1906, the grand hote
l then the largest in West Virginia - was named in his honor. He had extensive
real estate interests and worked with J.L. Caldwell
 to develop the Huntington, Kenova Land Co.

When Miller set about building a new home on the northwest corner of 6th Avenue and
11th Street, he hired architect James B. Stewart to prepare a design for it. One of
 Huntington's best known architects of the day, Stewart designed the First
 Presbyterian Church (1895), was supervising architect for construction
of the Cabell County Courthouse (1896-1901) and later would
 partner with Edwin Alger in designing Huntington's
Carnegie Library and the Frederick Hotel.

Miller approved Stewart's charming Queen Anne design for the new home.
Built in 1897 and enlarged in 1900, the house stood on the busy corner
for more than 60 years before it was demolished in 1959.

Today, the site is a parking lot. Only the former Miller carriage house
survives. Located across from Trinity Episcopal Church,
 it housed the Bunch Realty Co. for a number of years.

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Note:  This Article and picture appeared in the Herald-Dispatch Newspaper on Aug. 7, 2017.

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