BRIDGMAN, Leonard Gordon (1888-1970), the younger brother of Charles S. Bridgman, was born in London, Ont. and articled with H.C. McBride (in 1904-09). He moved to New York City and gained valuable experience in the offices of George B. Post & Sons (in 1909-10) and with McKim, Mead & White (in 1910-11) while studying architecture in night courses at the New York Beaux-Arts School. He joined his brother in Winnipeg as a draftsman in 1911-16, and after serving during WWI he opened his own office in London, Ont. in 1919. Bridgman's best known work is the sophisticated modern design for the London Public Library (1939-40), a formally composed and impeccably detailed landmark that must rank as one of the finest public buildings in western Ontario. A similar theme of austere monumentality was evident in his later work for the Huron County Court House, located in the centre of the octagonal public square in downtown Goderich (1955-56). Bridgman died in London on 7 January 1970 (death notice Free Press [London], 8 Jan. 1970, 35; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects). The London Regional Art Gallery holds a small collection of drawings prepared by Bridgman during the period from 1934 to 1962. A photographic portrait of Bridgman, taken c. 1935, was published in the Daily Commercial News [Toronto], 20 Jan. 1936, 1.
LONDON
LITTLE THEATRE, Dundas Street, 1921 (Free Press [London], 18 June 1921, 2, illus. & descrip.)
GORDON APARTMENTS, Dufferin Avenue at William Street, 1926 (C.R., xl, 24 March 1925, 57)
ST. GEORGE STREET, residence for William L. Duffield, 1927 (C.R., xli, 23 Feb. 1927, 117, t.c.)
SUPER SILK HOSIERY MILLS LTD., Florence Street at Eleanor Street, 1928; major addition, 1929 (C.R., xlii, 4 Jan. 1928, 48; xliii, 17 April 1929, 74)
NORTH WATERLOO STREET, 'Goodholme', a residence for James D. Good, 1932 (dwgs. Univ. of Western Ontario, Moore Coll.)
HIGHLAND ROAD, 'Cleve', a residence for Hugh A. Mackenzie, 1936 (C.H.G., xiv, Jan./Feb. 1937, 47, illus.)
WATERLOO STREET, residence for Mrs. J.H. Munroe, 1937 (C.H.G., xiv, Dec. 1937, 40, illus.)
(with T.C. McBride) LONDON PUBLIC LIBRARY, Queen's Avenue, 1939-40 (Free Press [London], 30 March 1939, 3, descrip.; R.A.I.C. Journal, xix, June 1942, 134-6, illus.)
McCORMICK'S LTD., Dundas Street East, major addition to factory, 1947 (C.R., lx, Aug. 1947, 263)
VICTORIA PARK, Kiwanis Memorial Band Shell, 1950 (Free Press [London], 24 June 1950, 18, illus. & descrip.)
ELSEWHERE
DRESDEN, ONT., Canadian Canners Ltd., factory, 1947 (C.R., lx, April 1947, 94)
SARNIA, ONT., Bell Telephone Exchange & Office Building, Lochiel Street at Vidal Street, 1948 (inf. Ian Mason, Sarnia)
INGERSOLL, ONT., Alexandra Hospital, 1949-50 (C.R., lxii, Jan. 1949, 190)
GODERICH, ONT., Huron County Registry Office, 1949 (C.R., lxii, Feb. 1949, 148)
SUDBURY, ONT., Public Library, Mackenzie Street, 1950 (C.R., lxiii, May 1950, 142)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., Oxford County Registry Office, 1950 (C.R., lxiii, Nov. 1950, 118)