Irving in Dallas County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Joffre-Gilbert House
Photographed by Kayla Harper, May 23, 2020
1. Joffre-Gilbert House Marker
The additional marker notes that:
Joffre-Gilbert House
309 South O'Connor Road
Built in 1919
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior
Joffre-Gilbert House
309 South O'Connor Road
Built in 1919
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior
One of Irving's best known early builders, A. Fred Joffre, and his wife built this airplane bungalow in 1919 in the original Irving townsite. Their daughter sold the home in 1936. Pioneer doctor Franklin Monroe Gilbert and his wife Dorothy, a nurse, purchased it in 1939. For nearly thirty years, patients came here night and day as they knew help was available for examination, medication and emergency treatment. At least one baby was delivered here. The Gilberts had Perma Stone applied to the house between 1947 and 1949 while retaining the character and defining features of the bungalow, such as the unusual stacked porch posts.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1999
Erected 1999 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 11829.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Science & Medicine.
Location. 32° 48.687′ N, 96° 57.012′ W. Marker is in Irving, Texas, in Dallas County. It is on South O'Connor Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 309 S O'Connor Road, Irving TX 75060, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Schulze House (within shouting distance of this marker); First United Methodist Church
this page online
Photographed by Kayla Harper, May 23, 2020
2. Additional Joffre-Gilbert House Marker
Irving Texas Centennial
Joffre-Gilbert House
Fred Joffre (1884-1954), an early Irving contractor/carpenter/architect, designed and built this California-style Airplane bungalow in 1919 as his home. Joffre was the son of Joseph and Matilda Lanotte Joffre, who emigrated from France in 1856 to the La Reunion Colony near Dallas. Joffre was associated with C.P. Schulze in the Irving Lumber Company. He personally selected all the materials he used to build his home. Dr. and Mrs. Franklin Monroe Gilbert bought the house in 1939, and it has remained in their family for over sixty years. Their son, Dr. Clay Gilbert, bought the property in 1977 and restored the house. He has carefully maintained it over the ensuing years.
Joffre-Gilbert House
Fred Joffre (1884-1954), an early Irving contractor/carpenter/architect, designed and built this California-style Airplane bungalow in 1919 as his home. Joffre was the son of Joseph and Matilda Lanotte Joffre, who emigrated from France in 1856 to the La Reunion Colony near Dallas. Joffre was associated with C.P. Schulze in the Irving Lumber Company. He personally selected all the materials he used to build his home. Dr. and Mrs. Franklin Monroe Gilbert bought the house in 1939, and it has remained in their family for over sixty years. Their son, Dr. Clay Gilbert, bought the property in 1977 and restored the house. He has carefully maintained it over the ensuing years.
Photographed by Kayla Harper, May 23, 2020
3. Additional Joffre-Gilbert House Marker
Irving Heritage Society Landmark
Gilbert House
This is the home of the Gilbert family. While living here, this second generation pioneer doctor, Franklin Monroe Gilbert (1887-1982), and his wife, Dorothy Bald/Brandon Gilbert (1901-1990), were identified with almost every important event in the Irving area. Dr. Gilbert practiced medicine for fifty-nine years. Much of that time, he was the only doctor in a town that had no local hospital. An English teacher before he became a physician, Dr. Gilbert served as secretary of the Irving School Board for ten years and as mayor of Irving, 1932-1937. The E.M. Gilbert Elementary School is named for him. He was a director of the Irving State Bank and its successors for fifty years and serve as its president from 1988-1954.
Dorothy, a pioneer nurse, managed Dr. Gilbert's appointments, went with him on house calls, and assisted in delivering babies. She was actively involved in Irving's First Baptist and First Methodist Churches, the Garden Clubs, and the Irving Heritage Society. Together they were bulwarks of the community.
In 1977, Dr. Clay W. Gilbert, their son, restored the house and it is now furnished with original items from his childhood and the early days of Irving.
City of Irving
Irving Preservation & Redevelopment
Irving Heritage Society
2000
Gilbert House
This is the home of the Gilbert family. While living here, this second generation pioneer doctor, Franklin Monroe Gilbert (1887-1982), and his wife, Dorothy Bald/Brandon Gilbert (1901-1990), were identified with almost every important event in the Irving area. Dr. Gilbert practiced medicine for fifty-nine years. Much of that time, he was the only doctor in a town that had no local hospital. An English teacher before he became a physician, Dr. Gilbert served as secretary of the Irving School Board for ten years and as mayor of Irving, 1932-1937. The E.M. Gilbert Elementary School is named for him. He was a director of the Irving State Bank and its successors for fifty years and serve as its president from 1988-1954.
Dorothy, a pioneer nurse, managed Dr. Gilbert's appointments, went with him on house calls, and assisted in delivering babies. She was actively involved in Irving's First Baptist and First Methodist Churches, the Garden Clubs, and the Irving Heritage Society. Together they were bulwarks of the community.
In 1977, Dr. Clay W. Gilbert, their son, restored the house and it is now furnished with original items from his childhood and the early days of Irving.
City of Irving
Irving Preservation & Redevelopment
Irving Heritage Society
2000
Photographed by Kayla Harper, May 23, 2020
4. Joffre-Gilbert House Marker
Photographed by Kayla Harper, May 23, 2020
5. Joffre-Gilbert House
Photographed by Kayla Harper, May 23, 2020
6. Joffre-Gilbert House
Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2020, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. This page has been viewed 992 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 27, 2020, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
