Ole Bakke (1889–1925) was a Norwegian-American architect who practiced in Missoula, a city in western Montana.
Bakke, a native of Norway, arrived in Missoula in 1900. As a teenager, he worked as a draftsman for A. J. Gibson, the region's leading architect.Missoula Downtown Historic District NRHP Nomination. 2009. Upon Gibson's retirement in 1913, Bakke succeeded him in the business. However, Gibson continued to practice in a consulting position, and is thus credited with the design of the First Presbyterian Church, where he was an active member. Bakke practiced until his departure for Norway circa 1922. His office was succeeded by H. E. Kirkemo, who had joined Bakke as a draftsman in 1920."H. E. and Lillian Kirkemo papers, 1883-1998". http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/. n.d. Bakke returned to Missoula in 1924, and died there in 1925.Lincoln School NRHP Nomination. 1997.
In his time, Bakke was outside the American architectural mainstream. Many of his major works were designed in the Arts and Crafts style, embraced in England, but largely ignored in the United States. He designed a number of schools in this manner, including the Lincoln School in Missoula and the Alberton School in Alberton. He also embraced the Mission Revival, which appears in the school at Dixon (published in 1921)"School Buildings in Montana". School Board Journal Oct. 1921: 48. and the Franklin School in Missoula.
Before World War I, his few works in the mainstream were built primarily in cases where Bakke was under Gibson's influence, such as his addition to the Carnegie Public Library and the flanking wings of the Missoula County High School, both originally designed by Gibson. After the war, he turned away from his more innovative work, and to the standard revival styles of the day, resulting in the Classically-derived (though still within the Chicago School) Smead-Simons Building and the Italian Renaissance Revival Forestry Building at the University.
Architectural works 1913 - Carnegie Public Library (Addition), 335 N Pattee St, Missoula, MontanaCarnegie Public Library NRHP Nomination. 1982. 1913 - First Presbyterian Church, 235 S 5th St W, Missoula, MontanaWestern Contractor 7 Jan 1914: 22. Architect of record for A. J. Gibson 1914 - Lincoln School, 1209 Lolo St, Missoula, Montana 1914 - Agricultural (Commercial) Building, Missoula County Fairgrounds, Missoula, MontanaMissoula County Fairgrounds Historic District NRHP Nomination. 2010. 1916 - Franklin School, 1901 S 10th St W, Missoula, Montana 1917 - Missoula County High School (Addition), 900 S Higgins Ave, Missoula, MontanaEngineering and Contracting 25 April 1917: 18. 1918 - Alberton School, 306 Railroad Ave, Alberton, MontanaAlberton School NRHP Nomination. 1996. 1919 - Browning School, 112 1st Ave SE, Browning, Montana"Gibson, Kirkemo, and Bakke Architectural Drawings, 1890-1971". http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/. n.d. 1919 - Dixon School, 411 B St, Dixon, Montana 1920 - Missoula County High School (Addition), 900 S Higgins Ave, Missoula, MontanaEngineering and Contracting 25 Feb. 1920: 54. 1920 - Smead-Simons Building, 104 S Higgins Ave, Missoula, MontanaWilma Theatre NRHP Nomination. 1979. 1921 - Forestry Building, University of Montana, Missoula, MontanaArchitect and Engineer June 1921: 109. 1921 - University Congregational Church, 405 University Ave, Missoula, MontanaMathews, Allan James. A Guide to Historic Missoula. 2002. 1922 - Heating Plant, University of Montana, Missoula, MontanaAmerican Contractor 7 Jan. 1922: 68. In association with Clarence J. Forbis
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