BARBER, Robert Banks (1836-1913), was born in Ireland and arrived in Stratford, Ont. in the 1870's to work as a carpenter and builder. From 1896 until his death he was listed in Stratford City Directories as an architect, and he completed a variety of commissions there. His design for the bell tower of St. James Anglican Church, Mornington Street, while not highly original in its conception, does indicate his sympathetic understanding of the precepts of the Gothic Revival style, and its dignified silhouette remains a landmark on the Stratford skyline. He died there on 10 April 1913 (obituary in Stratford Daily Herald, 10 April 1913, 3; Stratford Beacon, 10 April 1913, 5)
R. Banks BARBER (works in Stratford and region)
DOWNIE TOWNSHIP, ONT., residence for James Richardson, 1898 (C.R., ix, 2 March 1898, 2)
MAPLEWOOD, ONT., residence for Donald Murray, 1899 (C.R., x, 1 March 1899, 2)
LOGAN TOWNSHIP, PERTH CO., Willow Grove Methodist Church, 1900 (C.R., xi, 14 Feb. 1900, 2-3)
STRATFORD, ONT., McLagan Furniture Factory, Douro Street, 1900 (C.R., xi, 9 May 1900, 2)
STRATFORD, ONT., factory for MacDonald Manufacturing Co., Galt Street, 1900 (C.R., xi, 12 Sept. 1900, 3)
FULLARTON TOWNSHIP, PERTH CO., Mount Pleasant Methodist Church, 1900-01 (Historical Sketch of Mount Pleasant Church, n.d., illus.)
GRANTON, ONT., Presbyterian Church, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 5 Feb. 1902, 2)
STRATFORD, ONT., residence for J.L. Bradshaw, William Street, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 19 Aug. 1903, 3)
STRATFORD, ONT., bell tower for St. James Anglican Church, Mornington Street, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 9 June 1909, 22)
STRATFORD, ONT., Isolation Hospital, 1909 (Berlin News Record [Kitchener], 25 Aug. 1909, 1)
GADS HILL, ONT., Public School, Northeast Hope Township, S.S. 8, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 8 Feb 1911, 28)
COMPETITIONS
OWEN SOUND, ONT., House of Refuge, 1902. Barber was one of four architects who submitted plans for this institutional commission (Owen Sound Times, 11 Sept. 1902 1). The winner was James B. Russell of Stratford.