SHARON, Maurice Willliam (1875-1940), a leading architect in Regina, Sask. where he was active in the following offices:
Sharon & Tripp, Regina, Jan. 1910 to August 1910 (with Sidney J. Tripp)
Sharon & Darrach, Regina, 1911 to February 1912 (with Neil Darrach)
M.W. Sharon, Assistant Architect, Saskatchewan Dept. of Public Works, Regina, 1914-1917
M.W. Sharon, Chief Architect, Saskatchewan Dept. of Public Works, Regina, 1917-1930
M.W. Sharon, Vancouver, B.C. 1930-1935
M.W. Sharon, Chilliwack, B.C. 1936-1940
Born in Yarmouth Township near St. Thomas, Ont. on 1 November 1875, he attended the Collegiate Institute there, then moved to Toronto to study at the School of Practical Science at the Univ. of Toronto. He returned to his home town in 1896 and served an apprenticeship with John Z. Long (in 1896-99), and then worked as a draftsman in the office of Neil Darrach, the leading architect in St. Thomas. In late 1900 he moved to Seattle, Wash. where he was recorded as “Morris [sic] W. Sharon” and was working as a draftsman for Moran Brothers Co., a fabricator of machinery and boilers (Polk’s Seattle City Directory, 1901, 1058; inf. Jeanie Fisher, Seattle Municipal Archives). While living there, he worked briefly for the U.S. Navy, then moved to Ottawa, Ont. where he was recorded as a staff member in the Topographical Survey Branch of the Department of the Interior (Ottawa City Directory, 1903, 477). He moved to Regina, Sask. in early 1905 and accepted a position in the Mapping and Cartography Dept. within the newly formed Saskatchewan Provincial Government Dept. of Public Works. Confident of his skills as an architect and designer, he was one of several architects who submitted plans in the competition for a new public hospital in Regina in 1908. His scheme was initially selected as the winning design, but many local architects strongly objected to a provincial civil servant entering the competition, and his proposal was later set aside and Meyer J. Sturm of Chicago, a leading American hospital designer, was hired to carry out the commission in collaboration with Storey & Van Egmond.
Sharon remained with the Department until December 1909, then commenced practise under his name in partnership with Sidney J. Tripp. Their collaboration was brief, and ended in August 1910. Sharon persuaded his former employer and mentor, Neil Darrach, to move to Regina, and they formed a new partnership in early 1911, but again, their new arrangement was shortlived, and dissolved on 19 February 1912. In 1914 Sharon applied for the position of Assistant Architect in the provincial Dept. of Public Works, and established himself as a talented designer and efficient supervisor of construction of new public buildings for the Province. This led to his permanent appointment as Chief Architect of the Department in 1917. During the next thirteen years, Sharon made a major contribution to the architecture of Saskatchewan, designing fifteen courthouse buildings, as well as telephone exchange buildings, police headquarters buildings, hospitals and sanatoria, and several provincial Normal School buildings.
Sharon was a formidable designer, and his plans for provincial court houses prove him to be a classicist at heart, keenly aware of how to employ formal symmetry to enhance the picturesque quality and appearance of these landmarks. With steeply pitched roofs and meticulous detailing in a Georgian Revival style, his designs often draw upon the domestic tradition which seems rooted in the American Federal style, still visible today at historic sites such as Williamsburg, Va. No other Canadian architect has matched the quality and consistency of his designs for provincial court buildings from this period of 1915 to 1930, and his elevational treatment of each has a dignity and presence rarely attained by other provincial chief architects who were active at this time.
In 1930, shortly after the stock market crash, Sharon resigned from his position and went into private practise in Regina. A dearth of work during this difficult period may have hastened his decision to leave the province. He submitted his resignation to the Saskatchewan Association of Architects in late August 1931. After moving to Chilliwack, British Columbia in 1936, he continued to work as an architect, and he designed The Regina Auto Camp, an early form of highway motel which he owned and operated. On the land adjacent to the camp, he also designed his own residence. In addition, Sharon prepared the plans for the pavilion in the public park at nearby Cultus Lake Park.
Sharon died in Chilliwack on 8 September 1940 (obit. Regina Leader-Post, 9 Sept. 1940, 14; Chilliwack Progress, 11 Sept. 1940, 10; obit. R.A.I.C. Journal, xvii, Sept. 1940, 167; biog. Who’s Who in Western Canada, 1911, 339; Who’s Who and Why in Canada, 1913, 733; biog. E.J. Gilbert, Saskatchewan Assoc. of Architects: Up The Years with the S.A.A., 1969, 14-15; inf. Sask. Association of Architects). The Saskatchewan Dept. of Public Works office in Regina holds a extensive collection of original drawings prepared by Sharon and his staff in the period from 1914 to 1930. His assistants in the DPW office during this period included Charles Coxall, and John L. Smart. The Heritage Branch of the Province of Saskatchewan has produced a lengthy essay, written by Andrew T. Osborne, entitled The Architectural Heritage of Maurice W. Sharon, 2004. A copy of this document can be viewed at the offices of Saskatchewan Archives Board in Regina. Canada Post Corp. in Ottawa honoured the work of Sharon in 1989 with the release of a $1.00 high value definitive stamp featuring the elevation of his court house design in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
SHARON & TRIPP (works in Regina unless noted)
DOMINION EXHIBITION GROUNDS, exhibition building, Pasqua Street, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 4 May 1910, 23)
SMITH & FOLEY, commercial block, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 22 June 1910, 26)
SHARON & DARRACH (works in Regina unless noted)
DOMINION EXHIBITION GROUNDS, two exhibition buildings at the Fair Grounds, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 1 March 1911, 26; T. Sheffield, Official Souvenir of Regina, 1911, illus.)
R.H. WILLIAMS & SONS LTD., 11th Avenue at Hamilton Street, department store, 1911; demol. 1981 (Morning Leader [Regina], 30 Nov. 1911, Building Number, illus. & descrip.)
VICTORIA PUBLIC SCHOOL, McIntyre Street near Victoria Avenue, major addition, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 24 May 1911, 60, t.c.)
REGINA LEADER PRINTING CO., Hamilton Street, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 7 June 1911, 62; Morning Leader [Regina], 30 Nov. 1911, Building Number, illus. & descrip.)
BLACK BLOCK, Hamilton Street, for Henry Black, 1911 (dwgs. at SAB, Henry Black Fonds, Acc. R 2004-312)
WESTERN TRUST CO., 11th Avenue at Loren Street, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 31 May 1911, 61, t.c.; Morning Leader [Regina], 30 Nov. 1911, Building Number, illus. & descrip.)
DONAHUE BUILDING, McIntyre Street at 11th Avenue, 1911 (Morning Leader [Regina], 30 Nov. 1911, Building Number, illus. & descrip.)
8th AVENUE, at Toronto Street, warehouse for A. Martin, 1911 (Morning Leader [Regina], 30 Nov. 1911, Building Number, descrip.)
8th AVENUE, at Ottawa Street, warehouse for Harry A. Knight, 1911 (Morning Leader [Regina], 30 Nov. 1911, Building Number, descrip.)
SWIFT CURRENT, SASK., General Hospital, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 2 Aug. 1911, 61)
SWIFT CURRENT, SASK., theatre, possibly the Princess Royal Theatre, First Avenue East, 1911-12 (C.R., xxv, 30 Aug. 1911, 60; and xxvi, 7 Feb. 1912, 63, t.c.; Morning Leader [Regina], 16 Jan. 1912, 13, t.c.)
BYRONGATE APARTMENTS, McIntyre Street at Victoria Avenue, apartment house and residence for Richard H. Williams, 1911 (Morning Leader [Regina], 30 Nov. 1911, Building Number, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at SAB, P 1.669)
M.W. SHARON - Buildings for the Saskatchewan Dept. of Public Works
SWIFT CURRENT, SASK., Court House & Land Titles Office, 2nd Avenue West at Lorne Street, 1914-15 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1915-16, 19-20)
HUMBOLDT, SASK., Court House & Land Titles Office, 1915 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1915-16, 20)
NORTH BATTLEFORD, SASK., Nurse's Home at the Hospital for the Insane, 1919; Cottages for patients, 1919; Isolation Unit, 1919-20 (C.R., xxxiii, 12 Feb. 1919, 48; Morning Leader [Regina], 23 April 1919, 17, t,c.; Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1918-19, 19; Report for 1919-20, 20; dwgs. at SAB, P.9.44)
REGINA, SASK., major addition to the Court House, 1918 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1918-19, 19)
CANORA, SASK., Provincial Police Headquarters, 1920 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1919-20, 20)
YORKTON, SASK., Court House, Darlington Street East, 1919-21 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1919-20, 19; dwgs. at Sask Dept.of Public Works)
KINDERSLEY, SASK., Court House, 1919-20 (dwgs. at Sask. Dept. of Public Works)
KERROBERT, SASK., Court House, Manitoba Avenue, 1920 (Morning Leader [Regina], 18 Feb. 1920, 11, t.c.; and 25 Feb. 1920, 10, detailed architectural descrip.; Saskatoon Daily Star, 9 March 1920, 11, illus. & detailed descrip.; Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1921-22, 25, illus.; dwgs. at Sask. Dept. of Public Works)
SASKATOON, SASK., Normal School, Avenue A at 32nd Street, 1919-20 (C.R., xxxiii, 5 Feb. 1919, 48; Morning Leader [Regina], 10 Jan. 1920, 15, illus. & detailed architectural descrip.; Saskatoon Phoenix, 7 June 1920, 2, detailed descrip.; Sask. Assoc. of Architects, Historic Architecture of Saskatchewan, 1986, 145, illus.; dwgs. at Sask. Dept. of Public Works)
REGINA, SASK., Provincial Police Headquarters, Cornwall Street near 11th Avenue, a 3 storey office block, 1919-20 (Morning Leader [Regina], 1 March 1919, 28, descrip.; and 28 Feb. 1920, 13, illus. in advert. for Poole Construction Ltd.; C.R., xxxiii, 23 July 1919, 41, t.c.; Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1919-20, 19, illus.)
NORQUAY, SASK., a new public school, 1919 (Morning Leader [Regina], 12 April 1919, 38, t.c.)
WEYBURN, SASK., Mental Hospital, 1920-21 (Morning Leader [Regina], 3 April 1920, 34, t.c.; Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1921-22, 64-74, illus.; Morning Leader [Regina], 29 Dec. 1921, 8-10, illus. & descrip.; Const., xv, Jan. 1922, 30-3, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at SAB, P.9.51)
WOLSELEY, SASK., Home for the Infirm, 1920-21 (Saskatoon Daily Star, 7 Aug. 1920, 13, t.c.; Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1921-22; Sask. Assoc. of Architects, Historic Architecture of Saskatchewan, 1986, 91, illus.)
REGINA, SASK., electric power house on Albert Street, for the Legislative Buildings, 1921 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1921-22)
PRINCE ALBERT, SASK., Provincial Jail, 1921; addition 1923 (Morning Leader [Regina], 28 May 1921, 13, illus. and extensive descrip.; Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1921-22, 20-1, descrip.; C.R., xxxvii, 21 Feb. 1923, 58)
SASKATOON, SASK., Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Avenue K South, 1923-24; Nurse's Home, 1925-26 (C.R., xxxvii, 31 Oct. 1923, 48, t.c.; Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1924-25, 29, descrip.; illus. 32ff.; dwgs. at Sask. Dept. of Public Works)
REGINA, SASK., major addition to Telephone Exchange, Lorne Street at 12th Avenue, 1923 (dwgs. at Sask. Dept. of Public Works)
WYNYARD, SASK., Court House, 4th Street East, 1925-26 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1925-26, 29)
GRAVELBOURG, SASK., Court House, Main Street, 1925-26 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1925-26, 29)
SHAUNAVON, SASK., Court House, 3rd Street West, 1925-26 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1925-26, 29)
SASKATOON, SASK., Nutana Telephone Exchange, Dufferin Avenue near 10th Street, 1927 (C.R., xli, 23 Feb. 1927, 118; Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1926-27, 27)
GULL LAKE, SASK., Telephone Exchange, 1926 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1926-27, 28)
PRINCE ALBERT, SASK., Court House, Central Avenue, 1927 (Saskatoon Phoenix, 25 May 1927, 16, t.c.; C.R., xli, 15 June 1927, 58; Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1927-28, 25, descrip.; dwgs. at Sask. Dept. of Public Works)
REGINA, SASK., North Side Telephone Exchange, Albert Street North, 1927-28 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1927-28, 26)
SHAUNAVON, SASK., telephone exchange building, 1927-28 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1927-28, 26)
GRENFELL, SASK., telephone exchange building, 1927-28 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1927-28, 26)
WILKIE, SASK., telephone exchange building, 1927-28 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1927-28, 26)
CABRI, SASK., telephone exchange building, 1927-28 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1927-28, 26)
ROSETOWN, SASK., telephone exchange building, 1927-28 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1927-28, 26)
MOOSE JAW, SASK., Normal School, Saskatchewan Street near Algoma Avenue, 1928-29 (Saskatoon Daily Star, 7 June 1928, 3, descrip.; Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1928-29, 30-1, descrip.)
PRINCE ALBERT, SASK., Tuberculosis Sanatorium, 1928-29; with six residential houses for staff, 1928 (Saskatoon Daily Star, 14 March 1928, 7; 25 July 1928, 3, t.c.; C.R., xlii, 30 May 1928, 168; Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1928-29, 31-2, descrip.)
WEYBURN, SASK., Court House, Prairie Avenue, 1928 (C.R., xlii, 16 May 1928, 68; Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1928-29, 29-30, 29; H. Kalman, History of Canadian Architecture, 1994, 740, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at Sask. Dept. of Public Works)
MELFORT, SASK., Court House, 1928 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1928-29, 29-30; dwgs. at Sask. Dept.of Public Works)
REGINA, SASK., major addition and a new glass conservatory for Government House, 1928 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1928-29, 29-30)
ESTEVAN, SASK., Court House, 4th Avenue, 1929 (Saskatchewan, Annual Report of the Dept. of Public Works of Sask., 1929-30, 216; dwgs. at Sask. Dept. of Public Works)
ASSINIBOIA, SASK., Court House, Centre Street, 1929 (Morning Leader [Regina], 12 July 1929, 2, descrip.; C.R., xliii, 24 July 1929, 59; dwgs. at Sask. Dept. of Public Works)
M.W. SHARON (works in Chilliwack, B.C.)
CHILLIWACK, B.C., Regina Auto Court Motel, Trans Canada Highway, east of the Five Corners, c. 1936-37 (Chilliwack Progress, 11 Sept. 1940, 10, list of works in obituary article)
CHILLIWACK, B.C., new park pavilion at Cultus Park, including store, tea rooms and dance hall, 1939 (Chilliwack Progress, 29 March 1939, 1)
COMPETITIONS
REGINA, SASK., Civic Hospital, 1908. There were 8 designs sent in by architects from the United States and Canada for this major institutional project (Leader [Regina], 12 May 1908, 8, report on the competition). The design by Sharon was initially selected as the winner, but many local architects in Regina objected because Sharon was then working as a provincial civil servant, instead of in the private sector, and may have had a conflict of interest. The eventual winner was Storey & Van Egmond of Regina.
REGINA, SASK., Central Police Station, Osler Street, 1913. Sharon was one of 6 local architects who submitted designs for this project (Morning Leader [Regina], 5 June 1913, 11). His proposal was passed over in favour of the winners Clemesha & Portnall, but their scheme was never built.
REGINA, SASK., WW1 War Memorial Cenotaph, Victoria Park, 1926. Maurice Sharon was one of 51 architects and artists who submitted a design in this national competition (Morning Leader [Regina], 9 Feb. 1926, 1, full list of competitors). The winner was Robert G. Heughan of Montreal.