Joseph A. Shannon, known in at least one source as John A. Shannon, was an architect in Devils Lake, North Dakota. He has been termed "the city's first true architect". He apparently had no formal degree in architecture, yet applied for and became one of North Dakota's first licensed architects in 1917. He designed 17 buildings in Devils Lake, of which 15 survived in 2001, of which the Devils Lake Masonic Temple is the "best example". Shannon was born March 21, 1859 and grew up in Edina, Missouri. In Minnesota he worked as a carpenter, then established a homestead near Bristol, South Dakota, and later worked as a carpenter at Fort Sisseton in South Dakota. For three He served as president of the North Dakota State Board of Architecture. He lived in Devils Lake until his death on January 25, 1934. A number of his works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Works include: Devils Lake Carnegie Library, 623 4th Ave. Devils Lake, ND, NRHP-listed Devils Lake Masonic Temple, 403 Sixth St. Devils Lake, ND, NRHP-listed Old Main, North Dakota School of Forestry, Alexander St. Bottineau, ND, NRHP-listed 

January 1st, 1859 in   /  Died:   Jan 21st, 2021 - cancer - aged 71