Background
He was the son of Andre and Ellen C. (née McNaughton) Matteson, grandson of Zerrubbable and Tryphena (née Whitford) Matteson and great-grandson of William Matteson.
He was the son of Andre and Ellen C. (née McNaughton) Matteson, grandson of Zerrubbable and Tryphena (née Whitford) Matteson and great-grandson of William Matteson.
Matteson attended the University of Illinois (class of 1895) and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Fraternity.
His work includes the Cardinal Hill Reservoir (1931) in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The Saginaw Water Works plant in Saginaw, Michigan. The; and the LaSalle Theater (1912) in LaSalle, Illinois.
At the 34th Annual Chicago Architectural Exhibit of 1924, Mattheson was listed in the index: "Matteson, V. A. (Hartford Building, Chicago) Entrance to Home of "Big Ben", Western Clock Works Louisiana Salle, Illinois." Matteson was employed at the firm of Graham, Anderson, Probst & White in Chicago.
At the 1933 dedication of Three Rivers Park (also site of the Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Matteson commented that there is "no more beautiful spot could be wished for than the Three Rivers Park site, affording as it does a splendid view from across the rivers in any direction" and that "The exterior design of the building is not "modernistic", but an adaptation of the spirit of the Gothic to modern requirements. Most of the pleasing architectural effect is secured by a careful study of mass and proportion, light and shade, and color… While the effect is rich and massive, befitting the purpose of so important a building to the community, the design is really one of extreme simplicity.” Matteson was known for his water plant designs.
He wrote that "it is economic to give the public beautiful, as well as useful things, especially when one considers that of all the money expended on a complete water system, only about twenty-five percent of the total is applied to works above ground and visible." including the "beautiful and functional" Saginaw Water Works plant. In a letter to the editor of American Architect and Architecture, Matteson called for engineering to be included as an integral part of architecture.
He wrote that "rchitecture should be considered as the combined Art and Science of Building." Matteson died at age 78.
Served as assistant principal engineer, of Construction Division of the Army, War Department, Washington, District of Columbia, World War I. Fellow American Insurance Architects. Member Illinois Society Architects, Sons of the American Revolution, University of Illinois Alumni Association, Burnham Astronomical Society, Illini.