Ernest Rucker Gilbert, Jr.
(“ERG” 3/1921 and 3/1924)
Ernest R. Gilbert, Jr. (9/19/1901 to 6/16/1990 (Maury Cemetery)) is one of three Charles M. Robinson employees that David Robinson met in 1977, the others being Richard L. Mays, Jr. and Thomas O. Black. Mr. Gilbert had extensive clipping files of Richmond Architecture and History. Mr. Gilbert only appears on two sets of architectural plans – (Main Infirmary Building at Blue Ridge Sanitarium (3/1921) and a Stock Dormitory Building for County Training Schools (3/1924)) but David Robinson is confident that “ERG” is Ernest R. Gilbert.
Mr. Gilbert was the son of Ernest Rucker Gilbert, Sr. (1870-9/8/1901) and Elise Carter Taylor Gilbert Skinner (1874-1933). He was born twelve days after his father died of typhoid fever at home. An article in the Times-Dispatch stated “He was a man of great energy and determined to stick it out, but about a week or two ago he was compelled to take his bed. He grew steadily worse, and for four or five days all hope of his recovery had been abandoned…He had been a railroad man ever since he began his business career nearly twenty years ago…He came to Richmond about ten years ago…and [eventually] was made chief clerk to the division freight agent for the Richmond & Petersburg Rail Road. He is survived by his widow and one young child, one sister and one brother and his mother.”
Mr. Gilbert became the stepson of Richmond Independent Architect Isaac T. Skinner. The 1920 Census shows him living in a blended family as “stepson.” He attended Jon Marshall High School.
A September 15, 1924 article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch states that he is returning to the University of Pennsylvania to continue his studies. An August 5, 1924 article states that he is leaving his home on Forest Hill Avenue to move to Miami to perform architectural work and that he is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. He was Class of 1905.
Returning to Richmond, he worked for Baskervill & Sons and Marcellus Wright Cox & Smith.
Though Mr. Gilbert claimed (when David Robinson met him in 1977) to have worked for Charles M. Robinson in the 1920s, not much evidence cooperates the initials on the two sets of plans, except that the dates of when he was a student at the University of Pennsylvania match. Perhaps Mr. Gilbert had limited roles at the office of Charles M. Robinson Architects as a student – an internship, perhaps – and was allowed to initial two low-tier sets of plans.
In the mid-1930s, Mr. Gilbert began producing artwork for Aristocrat First Day Cover Cachets and produced between 1,200 and 1,500 illustrated stamped envelopes for stamp collectors to use to obtain “first day” cancellations for new stamps. He engaged in architecture in Richmond in the 1930s as a sole proprietor. A September 1936 article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch states that he has been engaged by Judge Charlton E. Jewitt to design a residence at 41st and Spring Hill Avenue to duplicate the John Marshall House. A rendering appeared with the article. His 1942 WWII draft card states that he is married and living at 1508 West 41st Street and is an Architect and works for the Richmond City School Board “at John Marshall High School.” His obituary stated that he was an architect for the Richmond Public Schools and retired in 1967.
Mr. Gilbert died on June 16, 1990 after being in Chippenham Hospital for 10 days. He died of Pneumonia and heart disease. His wife – Lelia Snellings Gilbert of Salisbury, NC (7/16/1903 to 4/19/1986) – died of a heart attack four years earlier. She is also buried at Maury Cemetery.
Unfortunately, there are no obituaries for either Ernest R. Gilbet, Jr. or his wife.