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Frederick Parcell Hill, Architect by John C. Lathrop FREDERICK PARCELL HILL was known around Sconset, in his very mature years, during his 60's, 70's, and 80's, as a spare, graying, busy man, spry as a mouse, who moved with purpose, was interested in much and accomplished much. He was known as an architect and always signed his name with the identification or title "architect". He was known for a long period, as the architect on Nantucket, but he had always lived in Sconset; one who really knew Sconset, worked for it and loved it. He was respected; and, as an older and aloof person, few trespassed upon his time. He was born in Rahway, New Jersey, on September 9th, 1862. His parents were Jennie Van Arsdale and William R. Hill. His early educa tion was probably in Rahway and he entered Rutgers in nearby New Brunswick when he was seventeen. Rutgers granted him two degrees: Bachelor of Arts in 1883 and Master of Arts in 1886. He was able to spend a good deal of time in study in Europe, especially Italy, before 1896. He became a disciple of Charles F. McKim, head of the firm of McKim, Mead and White, and spent seventeen years working under this outstanding architect. In 1896, Fred Hill had become engaged to Miss Florence Merriam of the Middle Brick, Main Street, Nantucket. She was the granddaughter of Mrs. Matthew Starbuck who, with family members, spent summers in Sconset, Nantucket's summer resort. Some of the theatrical people known to the Hills in Sconset resided in Evelyn T. Underbill's colony on Pochick, Evelyn and Lily Streets. Other acting families were found in all parts of the village: the Frank Gillmores on the south end of the North Bluff, the Fawcetts on Main Street, Harry Woodruff, and the Robert Hilliards on Morey Lane. Joseph Jefferson and his sons William anJ Frank, Vincent Serrano, Madge Kennedy, Lillian Russell and Bertha Galland lived in other parts of the Village. Apparently, Fred Hill had shown unusual interest in vocal music from an early age. We know that he had been in the Rutgers College Glee Club and later led musical groups as a church choir director in New York, Nantucket and Bermuda. It is possible that some of his at traction for theatrical people came from mutual interest in vocal ex pression. On December 1, 1909, New York's great Pennsylvania Station, covering four city blocks, was opened. The main Post Office, across 8th Avenue, was not far behind. Other buildings on which Mr. Hill worked
