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Home My WebLink About504 S Willson MONTANA HISTORICAL AND ' ARCHITECTURAL INVENTORYI Site# -P its` Legal Description: Fairview Blk 6/Lots 16 to 20 Address: 504 South Willson Ownership:name: A'Delbert Samson f K private address: 504 South Willson Roll N 33 Frame# 2 C public - Historic Name: Unknnwn Common Name:_llrlknown ��•...�.—^ I� �� —`•- ❑ estimated - Date of Construction: 1886 documented Architect: -- --- Builder: Unknown Original Owner. General Lester Willson ---— __ , i ( i Original Use: Residence I ------1 •-- ---1- -- Present Use: Residence p�C �CCr`Srw � L� . Research Sources: — _ ❑ abstract of title ❑ city directories plat records/maps tract ❑ sewerlwaler permits ❑ lax cards ❑ obituaries ❑ building permit ❑ biographies l ❑ Sanborn maps—dates: r' �'— '� �-- --+ Bibliography: Department of Sanitation Avant-Courier-May 13, 1886 - - r- - -� November 11, 1886 Progressive Men - See attached sheet ,�p Sewer Permit, 1902, L. S. Willson yu IPHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Describe present appearance of structure/site,then contrast and compare that with it's original appearance, Inoting additions,alterations,and changes in materials.Discuss significant architectural features. This detached two-and-one-half story single-family residence has a large square plan with a shed-roofed arched entrance porch , and a decorative second floor porch on the north side. The facade is asymmetrical and consists of an off-center front entrance with 2/2 shuttered double-hung windows , and a bay windows with diagonal corner panes on one end of the house. The frame construction is finished in board and batten with imbricated shingles in the gable ends . It rests on a sandstone foundation. The gable-hipped combination roof is covered with cedar shingles and has a central brick chimney. The axis of the main roof is parallel to the street with a front-facing gable bay. Outbuildings include a barn and a garage. l i i HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Justify how the persons,important events,and/or historical patterns associated with the structure/site and surrounding area lend the property significance. This property is significant because this residence is associated with persons important to Bozeman history, the General Lester Willson family. After General Willson served successfully under General William T. Sherman, he nad his wife moved to Bozeman in 1867 . Willson established a general mercantile business (the firm continues) after several more changes. After General Willson's death in 1919 , Central Avenue was renamed in his honor. Their son Fred F. Willson, trained as an architect, designed many local buildings. The Willson family occupied this residence from its building in 1886 until 1968. Matt Cohen Revision 1985 Willsons lived in log cabin on W. Main before building this: Fred was born in the log cabin. This structure is potentially eligible for the National Register because of its historical associations and because of its architectural significance. i fl I INTEGRITY. Assess the degree to which the structure/site,and surrounding area accurately convey the historical associations of the property. The historic Integrity of this property has been retained due to the survival of original design and materials and continuity of use, setting and location. l INFORMATION VALUE: Explain how the extant structure/site may demonstrate or yield information about its historic use or construc- tion. {� None. 1 j� FORM PREPARED BY: GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: i Name DAMES R. MCDONALD ARCHITECTS P.C. Acreage: Address:P. 0. BOX 8:63 usGs Ot)ad- Oate: k'IISSOULA, MONTANA 59807 uTrn' : AUG 1984 South Central Ave. Historic District National Register nomination John N. DeHaas, 1978 44 . 504 S. Willson -- Willson iiouse This two and one-half story fr'allie house was erected in 1886. It is a stately building and has been well maintained over the years . I The house rests on a stone foundation . The channeled T & G siding is painted white. The windows are wood double-hung units whose lower sashes are divided j vertically into two lights . The upper sashes have a large square light surrounded by small rectangular panes with square panes in the corners . The windows on both floors are framed by dark gray shutters . There is a small entry porch on the west that has a shed roof and flattened arched openings . The entry door is flanked by side lights. The music room occupies the northwest corner of the house. Its outside corner- are set at a 450 angle, flanking a large red brick fireplace. There are three other j fireplaces , one in the main hallway and one each in the parlor and the dining room. These three fireplaces form a triangle . There is an open entry porch also on the north east of the projecting music room. The main staircase is located next to the north entry. A two story bay projects from the south wall . There are four bedrooms , several bathrooms and a study on the second floor. T` ornate millwork of the first floor is cherry wood and was done -in Indiana . The mus , room has a parquetry hardwood floor imported from Italy. A barn/carriage house, now a garage , is located on the northeast corner of the lot. It is a white two story frame building with tyre saine siding material as the I ' It has a steep gable roof topped with a cupola which has a pyramidal roof. The gab, walls are filled in with wood shingles , painted white. On either side of the (now) ` garage door there is a single window. Above the garage door there is a door to thr loft. r I - 44. 504 S. Willson -- Willson House One of the key buildings in the- South Willson Historic District, both architec- turally and historically, is this large white frame house built in 188G by L. S . Wil General Willson was born in Canton , New York. He enlisted in the Union army as a private in 1861 and rose through the ranks , becoming a colonel by May, 1864 . Ile was made a brevet brigadier-general after he left the service, for "gallant and irreritov ', r service under General Sherman a l: Atl air to . " Ile served at Ant i et�rin, Chancel l or;vi l l e, Lookout Mountain, i•lissionrrry Ridge, and took part in all the battles of Shermaws campaign, from Chattanooga to Atlanta , Savannah, and Raleigh. Ile was the first offi to enter Savannah at the head of his regiment , and received the surrender of the cil from its mayor. ' General Willson came to i•tontana in 1867 and established a store in Bozeman. [I,-, a member of the Territorial Legislature in 1868-69, and from 1883 to 1886 served as quarter/master-general of the territory with a rand of brigadier-general . flis wife- was an accomplished musician and contributed to the cultural life of the town , playi tt:e piano and singing. Her piano was brought by boat from St. Louis to Fort Benton I by ox team from there to Bozeman. ! One of the Willson ' s sons , Fred Fielding Willson, was educated at Columbia University, receiving a degree in architecture in 1902 . After several years of intermitt6nt study and travel abroad, he returned to Montana and worked in Butte in Link and Haire' s office. About 1910 he opened his own office in Bozeman where he practiced for the remainder of his life. Fred Willson was a practicing architect in Montana for more than 50 years and designed many of the houses in the District as well as public and private buildings throughout Bozeman and the entire state. About. 1923, after the death of his parents , Fred Willson and his wife moved into this hou, and lived there until his death in 1956. His wife continued to live there until 196� Ilk wpm 1