F. Mason Gilbert was a prominent Evansville architect whose work helped shape the city’s architectural landscape during the early 20th century. Gilbert designed commercial buildings, residences and other structures throughout Evansville, several of which remain standing today.
Gilbert worked during a period of considerable growth in Evansville and became known for designs incorporating classical and revival architectural styles.
Evansville Architecture
One of Gilbert’s most prominent commissions was the William Hughes Department Store building, constructed at 508–514 Main Street in Downtown Evansville in 1911.
Designed in the Neoclassical style, the building originally housed the William Hughes department store and later became home to J.C. Penney. After the department store era ended, the historic structure was eventually renovated for new uses. The building remains standing on Main Street and is now home in part to the headquarters of Anderson Capital Partners.
Gilbert also designed the Gerke Building, constructed at 2303 W. Franklin Street in 1914. The two-story commercial building featured a classically inspired façade with Corinthian pilasters and other decorative details and remains a recognizable historic building along Franklin Street.
Residential Work
Gilbert designed a number of prominent Evansville residences, particularly during the 1910s.
His work included homes along Sunset Avenue and Southeast Riverside Drive, areas containing some of Evansville’s most significant early 20th-century residential architecture.
Among his documented designs were his own residence at 700 Sunset Avenue, built around 1912, and the James Nugent residence at 1301 S.E. Riverside Drive, constructed around 1913–14 in the Mission Revival style.
Other surviving buildings attributed to Gilbert include the Riviera Apartments at 636 Sunset Avenue, built in 1916, and several additional residences throughout the city’s historic neighborhoods.
Legacy
Gilbert’s surviving buildings provide a lasting record of an important period in Evansville’s development. His work can still be seen in Downtown Evansville, the West Franklin Street area, Riverside and other historic neighborhoods.
More than a century after many of his buildings were constructed, Gilbert’s designs remain part of Evansville’s architectural identity and make F. Mason Gilbert one of the notable architects in the city’s history.