Fred F. Willson
| Fred Fielding Willson | |
|---|---|
| Born |
November 11, 1877 Bozeman, Montana |
| Died | August 13, 1956 (aged 78) Bozeman, Montana |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Occupation | Architect |
Fred Fielding Willson (November 11, 1877 – August 13, 1956), most commonly known as Fred F. Willson, was an architect in Bozeman, Montana who designed many buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
He was born in Bozeman, Montana on November 11, 1877, the son of American Civil War general Lester S. Willson and Emma Weeks Willson. After attending Bozeman public schools and the Bozeman Academy, he studied at Montana State College, for which he later designed buildings. He left Montana State as a junior to attend Columbia University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in architecture in 1902.
After graduating from Columbia, Willson worked in Helena, Montana for architect C.S. Haire for two years. In November 1904, to broaden his architectural experiences, Willson started an extended tour of Europe, including France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. He documented his impressions of European architecture and daily life in Europe during the early 20th century in his personal diairies. While in France, he studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Willson returned to New York in 1906 to work for the architecture firm Visscher & Burley. In late 1906, took charge of the offices of architects Link & Haire in Butte, Montana where he worked until returning to Bozeman in 1910.
Fred Willson played a significant role in the architectural face of downtown Bozeman and surrounding residential areas. His European experience significantly influences his designs which include representatives of multiple architectural styles--Georgian, Mission Revival, Art Deco and Craftsman. In 1927 Willson designed a new, three-story structure for Eagle's Store on the site of the original store built in West Yellowstone, Montana, in 1908. Willson donated his expertise in order to promote the National Park Service rustic architectural style.
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