Wilson was born in Massachusetts and arrived in California at the age of 17 to visit his sister, a schoolteacher in
Placerville. There, he worked as a log-driver on the
American River and then as a surveyor for the
Southern Pacific Railroad. He moved to San Francisco in the early 1890s, becoming a draftsman for the firm of Pissis and Moore, where he was instructed by architect
Albert Pissis. Wilson studied at the San Francisco chapter of the
American Institute of Architects and took a grand tour of Europe before establishing his own firm in Santa Barbara in 1895.[1][2]
Santa Barbara Railway Station
Shortly after arriving in Santa Barbara, Wilson designed homes for Dr. C.C. Park and General Henry J. Strong.[3] He built up a practice designing homes for the wealthy, as well as designing, building and selling speculative houses. His connections with the wealthy led to an interest in polo and amateur horse racing, and to commissions for the Santa Barbara Club, the Central Savings Bank, the Santa Barbara library, post office, and railroad station. A friendship with
Edward Payson Ripley, president of the Santa Fe Railway, led to commissions for the railway and for the Fred Harvey Company, as well as a commission to design Ripley's winter home. His most extravagant residential commission, Las Tejas in the suburb of
Montecito, was built in 1917 for
Oakleigh Thorne.[2]
Wilson married Julia Redington, sister of Wilson's friend and fellow
Santa Barbara Polo Club member Lawrence Redington, in 1905.[2]
Hopkins Home, Santa Barbara, 1897; Francis W. Wilson. At least two renovations since, one of which likely restored it close to its original look
Works
Charles H. Hopkins Home ("El Nido") (1897), Santa Barbara, California[4]
Santa Barbara Club (1903), Santa Barbara, California[3][5]
Bellosguardo (1904), the Graham home in Santa Barbara, California, demolished 1933 and replaced by a new Bellosguardo, the estate of [William A. Clark].[6]
Oakleigh Thorne House ("Las Tejas") (1917), Montecito, California, redesign/remodel of estate originally built in 1868)[22]
Alexander Gardens, Santa Barbara, 1906; Francis W. Wilson. Currently a senior living facility
Gallery
El Garces Hotel, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, Needles, California
Grand Canyon Station, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, Grand Canyon, Arizona
"Las Tejas," Oakleigh Thorne House, Montecito, California. View from swimming pool pavilion to house.
Home of
Seth Cook Rees, Pasadena, 1908; Francis W. Wilson. Prime example of Arts and Crafts period residential architecture, this property has been designated as an historic landmark by the City of Pasadena.[23]
References
^Michelson, Alan.
"Francis W. Wilson". Pacific Coast Architecture Database. University of California at Los Angeles. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
^
abcStarr, Kevin (1991). Material Dreams: Southern California Through the 1920s. Oxford University Press. p. 260.
ISBN978-0-19-507260-0.