W. T. Hutchens

William Thomas Hutchens (December 24, 1859 – February 24, 1940) was an American politician who was born and raised in New York City and was raised by a single father who ran a pub/restaurant. They sold the bar and later moved to Alabama in 1879 so they could escape poverty in hopes of buying a farm. After his father’s death in 1881, he founded a company called Hutchens in 1886 and also became the first New Yorker to be involved in Alabama politics. Later Hutchens served as president of Huntsville, Alabama, from 1893 to 1897 and later as mayor from 1920 to 1922.[1][2] Hutchens also served as the city's Postmaster from 1898 through 1914.[3][4][5]

The W. T. Hutchens Building in 2011

W. T. Hutchens
59th[lower-alpha 1] Mayor of Huntsville
In office
1920–1922
Preceded byHenry B. Chase
Succeeded byDr. Fraser L. Adams
Personal details
Born
William Thomas Hutchens

(1859-12-24)December 24, 1859
Manhattan, New York City, New York
DiedFebruary 24, 1940(1940-02-24) (aged 80)
Huntsville, Alabama
ProfessionPolitician

Hutchens founded the Hutchens Company in 1886, one of the oldest still extant businesses in Huntsville. The W. T. Hutchens Building in downtown Huntsville is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. He is buried at Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville.[6]

Notes
  1. Before 1916, the office was known as "President." Hutchens was the 3rd to hold the title of "Mayor."

References
  1. "Former Huntsville Mayor Succumbs". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. February 25, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  2. "Huntsville's History of Mayors". City of Huntsville, Alabama. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  3. Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America. 31. United States Senate. January 31, 1898. p. 518. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  4. Dickson, W.G. (November 9, 1919). "Interesting Facts About Our Post Office Bldg". The Huntsville Daily Times. p. II-8.
  5. Kvach, John F.; Ethridge, Charity; Hopkins, Michelle; Leberman, Susanna (April 1, 2013). "The Odds and Ends of Life in Huntsville". Images of America: Huntsville. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-738-59891-8. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  6. "Hutchens, William". Maple Hill Cemetery Map. City of Huntsville, Alabama. Retrieved March 5, 2015.


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