Fred F. Willson, Architect [1877-1956]
Fred F. Willson [†], son of one of Bozeman, Montana's earliest pioneers, had a thriving architectural practice in town from about 1910 until his retirement during the early 1950's. During this period, Willson designed hundreds of buildings, including almost all of the schools, the county courthouse, a number of commercial buildings, and residences ranging from simple Craftsman Bungalows to high-style Chateauesque, Colonial Revival, and Mission Revival designs. Willson's success as an architect may be attributed to his ability to fulfill the needs and stylistic desires of his clients more than to as the inherent aesthetic quality of his designs. Fred Willson's mainstream architectural designs, found throughout the community, make an important contribution to the overall character of the city.
† Matthew Cohen, Bozeman City County Planning Office, Historic Resources of Bozeman, Montana, nomination document, 1986, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.