BLACKWELL, William (1850-1937) dominated the architectural scene in Peterborough County for nearly forty years. Born in nearby Lakefield, Ont. on 24 July 1850 he articled with Walter Strickland of Toronto (in 1872-75) then worked in Winnipeg and New York City from 1875 to 1879. He opened his own office in Peterborough in 1880 and practiced successfully until 1919 when he invited his son Walter R.L. Blackwell to join him in a new partnership. He was among the first architects to introduce the Romanesque Revival style to central Ontario. Significant examples of his work executed in this style include the Academy of Music at Lindsay, Ont. (1892) and the facade of the Y.M.C.A., Peterborough (1895-96). Blackwell continued to take an active interest in professional activities until 1930 when he retired, leaving the practice in the hands of his son. He died in Peterborough on 30 December 1937 (obit. Peterborough Examiner, 30 Dec. 1937, 9; R.A.I.C. Journal, xv, Feb. 1938, 44; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects). A photographic portrait of Blackwell can be found in C.A.B., ii, Dec. 1890. The Ontario Archives in Toronto holds a collection of architectural drawings prepared by W. Blackwell between c. 1890 and 1919, and by W. & W.R.L. Blackwell between 1919 and 1950.
W. BLACKWELL (works in Peterborough)
ST. LUKE'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Ashburnham, Sunday School, 1885; extension to chancel of the church, with alterations, 1886 (Daily Examiner [Peterborough], 23 Oct. 1885, 1, descrip.; 4 Dec. 1886, 4, descrp.)
GEORGE STREET, at Dublin Street, commercial block for Richard Hall, 1886 (Daily Evening Review [Peterborough], 23 Oct. 1886, 4, descrip.)
DICKSON STREET, residence for A. Brodie, 1886 (Daily Evening Review [Peterborough], 23 Oct. 1886, 4, descrip.)
RUBIDGE STREET, pair of houses for William Lech, 1886 (Daily Evening Review [Peterborough], 25 Oct. 1886, 3)
ROBINSON STREET, Ashburnham, mansion for John C. Sullivan, 1886 (Daily Evening Review [Peterborough], 26 Oct. 1886, 4, descrip.)
BENSON STREET, residence for William Blackwell, architect, 1887 (Daily Evening Review [Peterborough], 5 Nov. 1887, 1)
WATER STREET, at Charlotte Street, hotel for the Chamberlain Estate 'to be occupied by T. Cavanagh', 1887 (Daily Evening Review [Peterborough], 5 Nov. 1887, 1, descrip.)
NICHOLLS HOSPITAL, Argyle Street, 1888 (Daily Evening Review [Peterborough], 30 Nov. 1888, 3, descrip.; 25 Jan. 1890, 3, descrip.)
WATER STREET, residence for John B. McWilliams, 1888 (M. Kidd, Peterborough's Architectural Heritage, 1978, 171, illus.)
AYLMER STREET, at Dalhousie Street, residence for W.H. Law, 1888 (Daily Evening Review [Peterborough], 30 Nov. 1888, 3, descrip.)
AYLMER STREET, two houses for B. Shortly, 1889 (Daily Examiner [Peterborough], 26 Oct. 1889, 4)
TOWN HALL & MARKET BUILDING, Elizabeth Street, Ashburnham, 1889 (Daily Examiner [Peterborough], 28 Oct. 1889, 2)
WATER STREET, residence for Dr. Carmichael, 1890 (Daily Examiner [Peterborough], 7 Jan. 1891, 4, descrip.)
CHARLOTTE STREET METHODIST CHURCH, new Sunday School Hall, 1891 (Daily Examiner [Peterborough], 19 Sept. 1891, 4, descrip.)
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, George Street at Murray Street, 1896; restored and converted to residential use, 2021-23 (Daily Examiner [Peterborough], 28 April 1896, 5, descrip.; dwgs. at OA; Globe and Mail [Toronto], 22 March 2024, H3, illus. & descrip.)
GEORGE STREET METHODIST CHURCH, parsonage for the church, 1897 (C.R., viii, 27 May 1897, 2)
MURRAY STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, major addition, 1900 (C.R., xi, 3 Oct. 1900, 3)
SOUTH CENTRAL SCHOOL, 1901 (C.R., xii, 29 May 1901, 3, t.c.)
CANADIAN CORDAGE & MFR. CO., factory, offices, heating plant, 1901; major additions, 1903 (C.R., xii, 4 Sept. 1901, 2, t.c.; xiv, 23 Sept. 1903, 2, t.c.)
OPERA HOUSE, for Mr. Bradburn, 1902 (C.R., xiv, 18 Feb. 1902, 2)
ST. PAUL'S PRESBYTERIAN MISSION CHURCH, Wolfe Street at Reid Street, 1902-03 (Daily Examiner [Peterborough], 2 Feb. 1903, 4, descrip.)
GEORGE STREET, at Charlotte Street, commercial block for W.J. Taylor, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 11 March 1903, 2)
CENTRAL MILLING CO., grain elevator, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 27 May 1903, 2, t.c.)
YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, Aylmer Street at Simcoe Street, 1904-05 (Evening Examiner [Peterborough], 26 April 1905, 5 & 8, illus. & descrip.)
WATER STREET, residence for J.J. McBean, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 3 May 1905, 4)
STEWART STREET, residence for Mrs. Campbell, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 3 May 1905, 4)
FIRE HALL, Aylmer Street, 1906 (C.R., xvi, 24 Jan. 1906, 5)
KING EDWARD SCHOOL, Aylmer Street, 1906 (dwgs. at OA)
ISOLATION HOSPITAL, 1910 (C.R., xxiii, 25 Aug. 1909, 21)
KING GEORGE SCHOOL, Hunter Street East, 1911 (dwgs. at OA)
QUEEN MARY SCHOOL, Monaghan Road, 1912 (dwgs. at OA)
COUNTY COURT HOUSE, Water Street, extensive repairs after fire at Quaker Oats Plant, 1917 (M. Kidd, Peterborough's Architectural Heritage, 1978, 166)
W. BLACKWELL (works elsewhere)
LINDSAY, ONT., Opera House, Lindsay Street at Kent Street, 1892 (Canadian Post [Lindsay], 30 Dec. 1892, 5, descrip.; Lindsay Watchman, 12 Jan. 1893, 1, descrip.; dwgs. at OA)
GUELPH, ONT., Opera House, Upper Wyndham Street at Woolwich Street, 1893 (C.R., iv, 8 June 1893, 2)
OTTAWA, ONT., Ottawa Porcelain & Carbon Co., Isabella Street, factory, 1895 (C.R., vi, 2 May 1895, 2)
PORT HOPE, ONT., alterations and remodeling of St. Lawrence Hall, Walton Street, 1896 (C.R., vii, 10 Sept. 1896, 1)
MADOC, ONT., Methodist Church, 1899-1900 (North Hastings Review [Madoc], 13 July 1899, 1; dwgs. at OA)
BOBCAYGEON, ONT., Knox Presbyterian Church, Joseph Street at Queen Street, 1900-01; still standing in 2022 (C.R., xi, 15 Aug. 1900, 2, t.c.; dwgs. at OA)
BURLEIGH FALLS, ONT., hotel for Thomas Darcy, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 31 May 1905, 2)
LINDSAY, ONT., a chapel and vault at Riverside Cemetery, Lindsay Street South near Highway 7, 1908-09 (Lindsay Post, 23 Oct. 1908, 5)
BETHANY, ONT., Manvers Township Hall, 1912 (Manvers Twp., Minutes of Council, 10 Feb. 1912; Watchman-Warder [Lindsay], 29 Feb. 1912, 9, t.c.)