Frederick Ernst Ruffini

Frederick Ernst Ruffini (1851 – November 16, 1885) was a notable American architect.^[1]

Life and career[edit]

Ruffini's parents, Ernst Frederick Ruffini and Adelheit (Adelaide) Riehme, immigrated from Kamenz, Germany to Chicago in 1848 and then settled in Cleveland. Ruffini is sometimes identified as Italian, but his ancestors had emigrated to Kamenz, about five hundred years before he was born.^[2]

Ruffini apprenticed under an architect in Cleveland and worked in Indianapolis, New York City, Boston and Chicago before moving to Austin, Texas in 1877. He partnered with Jasper N. Preston for two years before working on his own. He worked some with his brother, architect Oscar Ruffini of San Angelo, Texas.

Ruffini designed courthouses and jails, commercial and public buildings, and residences which were built throughout Texas. Ruffini's extant designs in Texas include the Old Blanco County Courthouse in Blanco, the Collin County Jail in McKinney, and the Millett Opera House in Austin. Mnny of his works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[3] His non-extant buildings in Texas include the Old Main Building of the University of Texas at Austin.

Ruffini married Elise (Lizzie) Weitz and they had three children. Ruffini died in Austin in November 1885, a month after his wife died.

Extant Designs by Frederick Ernst Ruffini
Name	Image	Address	City	Additional information
Bastrop County Courthouse		803 Pine Street	Bastrop	with Jasper N. Preston; NRHP listed
Old Blanco County Courthouse		Public Square	Blanco	Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Concho County Courthouse		Public Square	Paint Rock	with Oscar Ruffini; NRHP listed
Millett Opera House		110 East 9th Street	Austin	NRHP listed
Robertson County Courthouse and Jail		Public Square	Franklin	NRHP listed
San Angelo National Bank, Johnson and Taylor, and Schwartz and Raas Buildings		20–22, 24, 26 East Concho Avenue	San Angelo	with Oscar Ruffini and Lillis