George D. Mason
Born
George DeWitt Mason

(1856-07-04)July 4, 1856
Syracuse, New York
DiedJune 3, 1948(1948-06-03) (aged 91)
Detroit, Michigan
Burial placeEvergreen Cemetery
OccupationArchitect
Spouse
Ida Whitaker
​
(m. 1882)​
Children1
Signature

George DeWitt Mason (July 4, 1856 – June 3, 1948) was an American architect who practiced in Detroit, Michigan, in the latter part of the 19th and early decades of the 20th centuries.[1]

Biography

Mason in stone, Masonic Temple

George Mason was born in Syracuse, New York, the son of James H. and Zelda E. Mason. In 1870 the family moved to Detroit, where Mason received his early education.[2][3]

He began his architectural career working for Detroit architect Hugh Smith in 1875, but this only lasted a summer. After this he moved to the firm of Henry T. Brush, where he worked for the first nine months without pay. Mason started out assigned to some specific detailing work on the George O. Robinson House and the Detroit Public Library.[4] One of the first buildings in which Mason received equal billing for the design was the Ransom Gillis House.[5] In 1878 he joined with Zachariah Rice to form the firm Mason & Rice. This partnership lasted until 1898, after which time Mason continued his practice alone.[6]

From 1884 until 1896 Albert Kahn worked with Mason and Rice, and he returned to partner with Mason for a few years early in the 20th century.[7]

He married Ida Whitaker in 1882, and they had one daughter.[2]

A number of Mason's works, either by himself or as part of Mason & Rice, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[8]

Mason died on June 3, 1948, at his home in the Wilshire Apartments building, at the age of 91. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Detroit.[3]

Selected commissions

Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church (1883)
Detroit Masonic Temple (1926)
Thompson Home (1884)
First Presbyterian Church (1889)
Trinity Episcopal Church (1890)
Franklin H. Walker Residence (1896)
Hotel Pontchartrain (1907)
Charles T. Fisher Residence (1922)
Standard Savings Building (1927)
Broadway Exchange Building (1926)
Central Woodward Christian Church (1928)
All buildings are located in Detroit, unless otherwise indicated.

Works include (with attribution):

See also

References

  1. ^ Hill, Eric J.; Gallagher, John (2002). AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. p. 341. ISBN 0-8143-3120-3.
  2. ^ a b Moore, Charles (1915). History of Michigan. Vol. IV. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 1785–1786. Retrieved March 9, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b "George Mason Dies; Was Noted Architect". Detroit Free Press. June 5, 1948. p. 17. Retrieved March 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Ferry, W. Hawkins (1980). The Buildings of Detroit: A History. Wayne State University Press, Detroit, Michigan. pp. 86, 90.
  5. ^ Ransom Gillis Home Archived March 28, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Detroit1701. Retrieved on November 24, 2010.
  6. ^ Pipp, E. G. (1927). Men Who Have Made Michigan. Detroit, Michigan: Pipp's Magazine. p. 52. Retrieved March 9, 2023 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "UMichigan Architecture: Albert Kahn". Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  8. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  9. ^ "Thompson Home for Old Ladies | DPL DAMS".
  10. ^ Ferry, W. Hawkins (1980). The Buildings of Detroit: A History. Wayne State University Press. p. 130
  11. ^ Ferry, W. Hawkins (1980). The Buildings of Detroit: A History. Wayne State University Press, Detroit, Michigan. p. 140
  12. ^ "Hiram Walker's Whisky Palace".

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to George DeWitt Mason.
Architects and artisans of metropolitan Detroit
Authority control databases
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