BLAIR, William Wallace (1852-1916) was born in Stewartstown, County Tyrone, Ireland on 14 December 1852 and educated in Belfast before he joined the office of Charles Sherry, a Belfast architect, where he worked as an apprentice from 1868 until 1872. He began his career under his own name in 1873 wtih a practice in Middlesborough-on-Tees, and emigrated to Canada in 1874 and opened an office in Hamilton, Ont. By 1878 Blair had moved to Toronto and was moderately successful in obtaining commissions for commercial and residential buildings. In 1884 he left Canada to return to Ireland and was employed as resident engineer for the construction of the Londonderry & Ballymena Waterworks System until 1889. Blair then moved to Chicago, Ill. in 1890 and remained in practice there until 1905 when he moved to Winnipeg to continue his career in partnership with George W. Northwood. Their business relationship was shortlived however, and terminated in April 1907 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 30 April 1907, 2, advert.). Blair then opened his own office in that city in order to execute commissions for institutional and commercial buildings as well as to develop the plans for several early prototypes for typical Winnipeg walk-up apartment blocks.
His characteristic designs were classically inspired and most often symmetrically composed, and show Blair to be a competent though conservative architect in pre-WWI building boom in Winnipeg. His best-known design for a private residence is that of his own Tudor Revival house on Beach Drive in Oak Bay, Victoria, B.C., where he moved in 1914. He died at Duncan, B.C. on 17 July 1916 and was buried at Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria. His last will and probate records are held at the British Columbia Public Archives, GR1052, No. 833 (biography in Who's Who in Western Canada, 1911, 112; biography and portrait in Who's Who & Why in Canada, 1913, 66-7; obituary in the Daily Colonist [Victoria], 19 July 1916, 7; obituary Victoria Daily Times, 19 July 1916, 5; obit. Building News [London], cxi, 6 Sept. 1916, 237; biog. R.I.B.A. [London], Directory of British Architects 1834-1914, 2001, i, 197-8).
W.W. BLAIR (works in Ontario)
HAMILTON, ONT., villa at Main Street East at Wentworth Street South, perhaps for William Blair, 1874 (Spectator [Hamilton], 11 July 1874, 2, t.c.)
SCARBOROUGH, ONT., residence for James Taylor, 1881 (Globe [Toronto], 12 Feb. 1881, 11, t.c.)
TORONTO, ONT., Elizabeth Street Public School, Elizabeth Street at Chestnut Street, major addition, 1881 (Globe [Toronto], 4 June 1881, 11, t.c.)
MUSKOKA, ONT., Windermere House Hotel, Lake Rosseau, 1881-82; burned 1996 (Globe [Toronto], 15 Nov. 1881, 8, t.c.)
TORONTO, ONT., two houses for C.W. Woods, Rose Avenue, 1882 (Toronto b.p. 1, 3 Jan. 1882)
TORONTO, ONT., stable for Joseph Dilworth, Pembroke Street near Shuter Street, 1882 (Toronto b.p. 38, 6 March 1882)
OAKVILLE, ONT., residence for Major Lloyd 'about two miles from Oakville', 1882 (Globe [Toronto], 9 June 1882, 5, t.c.)
TORONTO, ONT., J. & J. Taylor Co., Front Street East at Frederick Street, reconstruction of factory, 1883 (P. McHugh, Toronto Architecture: A City Guide, 1985, 37)
OAKVILLE, ONT., two stores and a Public Hall for an unnamed client, 1883 (Telegram [Toronto], 19 July 1883, 1, t.c.)
TORONTO, ONT. Eglinton House, Yonge Street at Montgomery Avenue, a hotel for John Oulcott, 1883; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 28 Feb. 1883, 5, t.c.)
W.W. BLAIR (works in Chicago, Ill.)
HOLY COMFORTOR CHURCH, Kenilworth Avenue at Warwick Road, 1903 (Daily Inter-Ocean [Chicago], 4 Oct. 1903, Section Three, p. 2, descrip.)
J. TILT SHOE CO., Huron Street at Kingbury Street, large factory block, 1904 (Daily Inter-Ocean [Chicago], 14 May 1904, 10)
R. WILLIAMSON CO., West Washington Street, a six storey factory, 1904-05 (Daily Inter-Ocean [Chicago], 6 Nov. 1904, Section Four, p. 2, descrip.)
BLAIR & NORTHWOOD (works in Winnipeg unless noted)
EDMONTON, ALTA., Northern Bank, Jasper Avenue at Queen Street, extensive alterations to existing block, 1906 (Edmonton Daily Bulletin, 16 Feb. 1906,8, descrip.; Edmonton Journal, 23 Feb. 1906, 3, descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
ST. BONIFACE, MAN., Northern Bank, Provencher Avenue at Aulneau Street, 1906 (C.R., xvii, 18 April 1906, 4, t.c.; Free Press [Winnipeg], 11 April 1906, 5, descrip.; and 6 Dec. 1906, 62; Winnipeg Tribune, 26 May 1906, 11, descrip.)
ASSINIBOINE AVENUE, at Cornish Avenue, residence for Thomas Ryan, in Fort Rouge, 1906 (Free Press [Winnipeg], 16 April 1906, 17; C.R., xvii, 25 April 1906, 4, t.c.)
HENDERSON DIRECTORY CO., Garry Street, office and warehouse, 1906; with addition, 1909 (C.R., xvii, 25 April 1906, 4, t.c.; Free Press [Winnipeg], 6 Dec. 1906, 30, illus. & descrip.)
THOMAS RYAN & CO., Princess Street near Notre Dame Street, a 7 storey warehouse, 1906 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 12 May 1906, 25, illus. & descrip.; and 6 Dec. 1906, 36, illus. & descrip.)
BOYCE APARTMENT BLOCK, Lydia Street, for L. Blanchman, 1906 (C.R., xvii, 30 May 1906, 6, t.c.; Free Press [Winnipeg], 6 Dec. 1906, 55)
MELITA, MAN., a brick and stone office building, perhaps a branch of The Northern Bank, 1906 (Winnipeg Tribune, 2 June 1906, 2, t.c.)
QU'APPELLE, SASK., a brick and stone office building, perhaps a branch of The Northern Bank, 1906 (Winnipeg Tribune, 2 June 1906, 2, t.c.)
MANOR, SASK., The Northern Bank, 1906-07 (Manor Advocate, 20 July 1906, 2; and 2 Nov. 1906, 1; and 2 Aug. 1907, 5; inf. Frank Korvemaker, Regina)
STRADBROOKE PLACE, residence for S. Elswood Richards, in Fort Rouge, 1906 (Free Press [Winnipeg], 16 April 1906,17; C.R., xvii, 6 June 1906, 5)
BRANDON, MAN., additions and major alterations to Northern Crown Bank, Rosser Avenue at Eighth Street, 1906 (C.R., xvii, 8 Aug. 1906, 2, t.c.; Brandon b.p. 632, 7 Sept. 1906)
REGINA, SASK., Northern Crown Bank, Scarth Street, 1906 (C.R., xvii, 15 Aug. 1906, 7-8, t.c.; Morning Leader [Regina], 27 April 1907, 11, descrip.; Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 18 Aug. 1906, 11, illus. & descrip.; 9 Nov. 1907, 17, illlus.)
MAPLE STREET, at Higgins Avenue, a new three storey hotel on the site of the old North Side Fire Hall, 1907 (Winnipeg Tribune, 6 March 1907, 11, descrip.)
W.W. BLAIR (works in Winnipeg unless noted)
KINGSWAY AVENUE, at Harrow Street, residence for William White, 1907 (Winnipeg b.p. 1409, 1907)
NORTHERN CROWN BANK, Portage Avenue at Sherbrook Street, 1907 (C.R., xviii, 3 April 1907, 7)
WINNIPEG ROWING CLUB HOUSE, beside the Red River in Norwood, 1908 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 14 Nov. 1908, 25, illus. & descrip.; Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 19 Dec. 1908, 26, descrip.)
EMPIRE METER & ENGINE CO., Logan Avenue, factory, 1908 (C.R., xxii, 14 Oct. 1908, 26)
ROSLYN APARTMENTS, Roslyn Road at Osborne Street, for Dr. R.I. Mattice, 1909 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 21 Nov. 1908, Fourth Section, 3, illus. & descrip.; Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 13 Feb. 1909, 2, t.c.; C.R., xxiii, 17 Feb. 1909, 23, t.c.; Const., iii, Dec. 1909, 74-5, illus.; Early Buildings of Manitoba, 1973, 99, illus.)
WARWICK COURT APARTMENTS, Qu'Appelle Avenue at Carlton Street facing Central Park, 1908 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 16 May 1908, 6, illus. & descrip.; Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 23 April 1909, 8; C.R., xxii, 8 July 1908, 27, t.c.; and 19 Dec. 1908, 26 and 31, descrip.; Const., iii, Dec. 1909, 70, illus.; Winnipeg, 1983-The Year Past, 1984, 53-4, illus.)
QUEEN'S HOTEL, Notre Dame Street, addition of two storeys above existing building, with new extension, 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 3 April 1909, 21)
PRINCESS HOTEL, Main Street, north of the Empire Hotel, 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 3 April 1909, 21)
ADELAIDE BLOCK, Osborne Street, south of River Avenue, major addition, 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 13 Feb. 1909, 2, t.c.; and 3 April 1909, 21)
HENDERSON DIRECTORY CO. BLOCK, Garry Street, major addition of two storeys, "...adjacent to their present block", 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 3 April 1909, 21; and 14 June 1909, 10, t.c.)
JAMES STREET EAST, a five storey wholesale warehouse block for E.F. Hutchings ",,,adjacent to the Labour Temple", 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 3 April 1909, 21; and 10 June 1909, 3, descrip.)
NORWOOD CLUB HOUSE, on the banks of the Red River, 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 3 April 1909, 21)
ST. BONIFACE, apartment block for Mr. Brownrick, St. Mary's Street at Carlton Street, 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 23 April 1909, 8)
KENMORE HOUSE APARTMENTS, Broadway, between Hargrave Street and Donald Street, a five storey apartment block, later renamed The Strathmore Apartments, 1909 (Winnipeg Tribune, 12 June 1909, 15, descrip.; and 14 June 1909, 10, t.c.; C.R., xxiii, 28 July 1909, 22; Const., v, Dec. 1912, 38, illus. in advert.)
ACKLAND BLOCK, Osborne Street, major addition, 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 22 July 1909, 5)
CRESCENTWOOD, residence for Hugh G. Moncrieff, Kingsway Avenue near Harrow Street, 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 22 July 1909, 5)
CRESCENTWOOD, residence for Frank P. Dods, Harvard Avenue near Guelph Street, 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 22 July 1909, 5)
GAS TRACTION CO. LTD., new industrial buildings at Elmwood, 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 22 July 1909, 5)
NOTRE DAME BLOCK, Notre Dame Avenue at Frances Street, 1909 (Winnipeg b.p. 1761, 21 Aug. 1909)
NOTRE DAME AVENUE, between Gertie Street and Hargrave Street, block of stores and apartments for George Stirrett, 1909 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 24 Aug. 1909, 2, descrip.)
ROOKERY BUILDING, Smith Street, just south of Portage Avenue, 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 18 Aug. 1909, 1 & 9, descrip.; C.R., xxiii, 13 Oct. 1909, 23)
FARMER BUILDING, Main Street near Portage Avenue, on the site of the O'Connor Hotel, for T.D.J. Farmer, 1910; demol. 1980 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 11 Sept. 1909, 6, descrip.; and 18 April 1910, 2, t.c.; C.R., xxiv, 8 June 1910, 28; Winnipeg, 1979-The Year Past, 31, illus.)
GREAT WEST SADDLERY BUILDING, Market Street East, warehouse for E.F. Hutchings, 1909-10 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 3 April 1909, 16; Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 6 May 1910, 5, descrip.; C.R., xxiv, 11 May 1910, 27; Winnipeg, 1985-The Year Past, 1987, 37-8, illus.)
ARMSTRONG POINT, 'Hawthorndene', a residence for Charles S. Tupper, c. 1910 (list of works in biography in Winnipeg Saturday Post, 8 June 1912, 39)
BENSON APARTMENTS, Bannatyne Avenue, between Dagmar Street and Ellen Street, 1910 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 11 Jan. 1910, 18, descrip.; and 17 March 1910, 8, descrip.; and 15 April 1910, 2, t.c.)
ST. MARY'S COURT APARTMENTS, St. Mary's Avenue at Carlton Street, for Henry Brownrigg, 1910 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 7 June 1910, 7, t.c.; Winnipeg b.p. 1759, 27 June 1910)
EMPIRE METER & ENGINE CO., Whyte Avenue, factory, 1910 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 28 June 1910, 5, t.c.)
NOTRE DAME BLOCK, Notre Dame Avenue near Frances Street, addition of three storeys and remodeling, 1911 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 17 March 1911, 8, descrip.; C.R., xxv, 29 March 1911, 54, t.c.)
WELLINGTON CRESCENT, residence for Mark Fortune, 1910-11 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 15 April 1910, 2, t.c.; Winnipeg, 1982-The Year Past, 53-4, illus.)
W.W. BLAIR (works elsewhere in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia)
MINNEDOSA, MAN., High School, 1908 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 30 May 1908, 9, illus.; C.R., xxii, 17 June 1908, 27, t.c.)
MORRIS, MAN., Public School, 1908 (C.R., xxii, 8 July 1908, 25, t.c.)
MORRIS, MAN., Provincial Court House, 1909 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 25 June 1909, 11, t.c.)
BALFOUR, B.C., a hotel for the Canadian Pacific Railway '......near Procter, overlooking Kootenay Lake', 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 15 June 1910, 29, t.c.; Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 15 Sept. 1910, 14, illus. & descrip.)
BIRD'S HILL, MAN., school for the St. Paul's School District No. 1546, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 2 Nov. 1910, 27, t.c.)
JUSTICE, MAN., school for District No. 696, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 16 Aug. 1911, 60)
MOORE PARK, MAN., public school, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 30 Aug. 1911, 60)
BALFOUR, B.C., Kootenay Lake Hotel, for Canadian Pacific Railway, 1911 (Province [Vancouver], 30 Jan. 1911, 2)
EDMONTON, ALTA., Canadian Pacific Railway Building, Jasper Avenue near 100th Street, a ten storey office block, 1912 (The Sun [Vancouver], 26 Feb. 1912, 16, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xxvi, 28 Feb. 1912, 66, t.c.; Winnipeg Tribune, 26 March 1912, 1, illus. & descrip.; list of works in biography in Winnipeg Saturday Post, 8 June 1912, 39)
SASKATOON, SASK., Canadian Pacific Railway Building, 2nd Avenue North near 22nd. Street East, a four storey office block, 1912; facade altered 1968 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 1 June 1912, 15, t.c.; Saskatoon Daily Star, 13 June 1912, 3, descrip.; inf. Frank Korvemaker, Regina)
CLANWILLIAM, MAN., public school, 1912 (Minnedosa Tribune, 11 July 1912, 3, t.c.)
VICTORIA, B.C., residence for W.W. Blair architect, Beach Drive, Oak Bay, 1913-14 (Saturday Sunset [Vancouver], 19 July 1913, 21; S. Stark, Oak Bay's Heritage Buildings, 1986, 48-9, illus.)