Fred F. Willson

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.

Early life 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. Willson designed buildings on campus such as Hamilton Hall, the Student Union Building, the heating plant, Herrick Hall, the Chemistry Building, and Fort Ellis Ranch House. He left Montana State as a junior to attend Columbia University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in architecture in 1902.

Between January 1910 and 1928 Willson worked as an architect under his own name. Between 1928 and 1932 he was in the partnership of Shanley, Willson & Hugenin. From 1932 until his death in 1956, Willson again was an independent architect. Many of his buildings are landmarks in downtown Bozeman—the Gallatin County Court House, the Baxter Hotel, the Hamill and Blackmore Apartments. Bozeman Sheet Metal Works, 26 S. Grand, Bozeman, Montana Bozeman YMCA, 6 W. Babcock, Bozeman, Montana Club Moderne, 811 E. Park Anaconda, Montana, (1937) Daly Gym, 400 Main St. Anaconda, Montana (1915) Dokken-Nelson Funeral Home, 113 S. Willson, Bozeman, Montana Eagle's Store, 3 Canyon St., West Yellowstone, Montana Emerson School, 111 S. Grand Ave., Bozeman, Montana First Baptist Church, 120 S. Grand, Bozeman, Montana Gallatin County Courthouse, 301 W. Main, Bozeman, Montana Gallatin County High School, 404 W. Main, Bozeman, Montana Gallatin County Jail, 317 W. Main St., Bozeman, Montana (1911) Graf Building, 219—221 W. Arthur, Bozeman, Montana Hamill Apartments, 427 E. Main, Bozeman, Montana Hotel Baxter, 105 W. Main St., Bozeman, Montana One or more works in Main Street Historic District, 100 block. W. Main-300 block. E. Main, Bozeman, Montana One or more works in Northern Pacific-Story Mill Historic District, roughly bounded by the Northern Pacific Railroad right-of-way and the Story Mill spur line from Wye to Bridger Canyon Rd., Bozeman, Montana Sacajawea Hotel, Three Forks, Montana One or more works in South Tracy-South Black Historic District, 200-600 blocks. of S. Tracy & S. Black Aves., Bozeman, Montana One or more works in South Willson Historic District, Willson Ave. between Curtiss and Arthur Streets., Bozeman, Montana Story Motor Company, 202 W. Main, Bozeman, Montana

Other notable works Lehrkind Brewery Building, Bozeman, Montana Mary Innes School, Dillon, Montana