Clifford Shopbell (1871-1939) was born December 8, 1871 in Princeton, Indiana. His father, George W., was a contractor and builder, so from an early age he was exposed to architecture. After high school graduation, he worked in Indianapolis for 5 years before returning to Evansville to work with a local architect named C.J. Brehmer for several years. In 1897 he partnered with William J. Harris to open Harris & Shopbell. This partnership lasted until Harris' death in 1910, when the firm became Clifford Shopbell & Company Still later it morphed into Shopbell, Fowler & Thole. Locally he (or members of his firm) designed the Coliseum, the home at 1119 Lincoln Ave., Memorial High School, the Masonic Temple, and the East and West Branch public libraries.