SMITH, Henry Patrick (1865-1913) spent his entire career in Kingston, Ont. where he devoted much of his professional practise to works for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston and the surrounding countryside of eastern Ontario. Born in Kingston on 15 December 1865, he was the son of Patrick Smith, a prominent merchant in that city. He trained under William Newlands, and may have later worked as his assistant in the period after 1890. The lengthy obituary article on Smith published in 1913 also states that he “… took a course at the Art Institute in New York City”, and it may be assumed that his architectural education there allowed him to see first-hand some of buildings designed by leading architects in that city. In 1897, at the age of 32 years, he left the Newlands office and opened his own professional business in Kingston under his own name (C.A.B., x, Aug. 1897, 154).
Smith was a lifelong member of the Roman Catholic church, and was active in local societies including the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. His loyalty to the Church was rewarded by the Diocese, who gave major commissions to him for a variety of ecclesiastical and institutional buildings including churches, convents, hospitals, rectories, schools, an orphanage, as well as enhancements to the main Catholic cemetery in Kingston. Smith was one of the few non-governmental architects to obtain commissions for work on federal buildings in Kingston including work at Royal Military College (on the east side of the Cataraqui River), and at Fort Frontenac (on the west side of the Cataraqui River).
He was an avid yachtsman and longstanding member of the Kingston Yacht Club, and was the logical choice to design their new Clubhouse (1907), and to design the boat houses for the club. He was also the designer of his own unique architectural office and residence building which is one of few remaining 20th C. architect-owned commercial offices still to be found in Canada. Located at 258 King Street East, this highly eclectic work combines stylized Corinthian columns, Spanish roof tiles, Greek dentils, Edwardian rustication, and a Gibbs surround of alternating large and small blocks of stone which frame the main windows facing the street. This amalgam of elements is unlike any other residential or commercial building to be found in Kingston. Smith died in Kingston, Ont. after a short illness on 19 March 1913 at the age of 48, and was later buried at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Kingston (obituary Daily Standard [Kingston], 19 March 1913, 1; obit. Daily British Whig [Kingston], 19 March 1913, 8; biog. & works in Jennifer McKendry, Architects Working in the Kingston Region 1820-1920, 2019, 102-04, illus.).
(works in Kingston unless noted)
Ecclesiastical works
CUSHENDALL, ONT., Holy Name Roman Catholic Church, Old Kingston Mills Road at Code Street, a series of carved oak pedestals for statuary inside the church, 1898; and new vestry with interior alterations, 1900; still standing in 2022 (C.R., ix, 20 July 1898, 2; Daily British Whig [Kingston], 21 April 1900, 8; C.R., x, 17 Jan. 1900, 2; and xi, 2 May 1900, 2; Catholic Record [London], 12 May 1900, 8)
WOLFE ISLAND, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, new tower and major addition to the church, for Rev. Thomas J. Spratt, 1900; and a new Rectory, 1902 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 15 Feb. 1900, 2, descrip.; C.R., xi, 21 Feb. 1900, 2; xiii, 21 May 1902, 2, t.c.)
WOLFE ISLAND, plan and layout of the Roman Catholic Cemetery on 15 acres, for Rev. T.J. Spratt, 1900 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 23 May 1900, 6)
ERINSVILLE, ONT., Church of the Assumption (Roman Catholic), County Road 41, addition of a new bell tower and stone porch, 1900; and new rectory, chancel and vestry, 1901; church burned in October 1936, then rebuilt; still standing in 2022 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 12 April 1900, 3; and Weekly British Whig [Kingston], 10 Jan. 1901, 3; C.R., xi, 4 July 1900, 2, t.c.; xii, 24 April 1901, 3)
ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL, Johnson Street at Clergy Street, reconstruction of buttresses and turrets, with additional restoration work, 1901 (C.R., xii, 31 July 1901, 2, t.c.)
MARMORA, ONT., Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Bursthall Street at Mary Street, 1904; still standing in 2022 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 5 Jan. 1904, 1, t.c.)
CHIPPEWA, ONT., (north of Newburgh, Ont.), a presbytery for the Roman Catholic Church, 1905 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 25 Jan. 1905, 1, t.c.)
BELLEVILLE, ONT., St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, Church Street, reconstruction of the church after a fire, 1905-06 (C.R., xv, 15 Feb. 1905, 1)
DESERONTO, ONT., new Rectory for St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church, Dundas Street at Brant Street, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 15 March 1905, 9)
McDONALD'S CORNERS, ONT., Knox Presbyterian Church, McDonalds Corners Road near Cameron Road, 1906; still standing in 2022 (C.R., xvii, 21 March 1906, 1; Lanark Era, 11 July 1906, 4, descrip.)
TOLEDO, ONT., St. Philip's Neri Roman Catholic Church, County Road 8, 1907; still standing in 2022 (C.R., xvii, 23 Jan. 1907, 2)
SHARBOT LAKE, ONT., reconstruction of the St. James Major Roman Catholic Church "...recently destroyed by fire", on Highway 38, 1907 (C.R., xviii, 15 May 1907, 4)
WOLFE ISLAND, Trinity Anglican Church, County Road 96, near Hillcrest Street, a new rectory for the church, for Rev. William Cox, 1909 (Daily Standard [Kingston], 26 April 1909, 4)
NAPANEE, ONT., St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, West Street at Thomas Street West, addition of a new chancel & vestry, 1912 (Daily Standard [Kingston], 22 May 1912, 4, t.c.; and 11 Feb. 1913, 9, descrip.)
Institutional works
NOTRE DAME ROMAN CATHOLIC CONVENT, Bagot Street at Johnson Street, new tower, with chapel and classroom extension, 1897; major 3 storey addition facing Johnson Street, 1912 (C.A.B., x, Aug. 1897, 154; Daily British Whig [Kingston], 17 Sept. 1897, 2, descrip.; Catholic Register [Toronto], 23 Sept. 1897, 4, descrip.;; Catholic Record [London], 25 Sept. 1897, 5, descrip.; Daily Standard [Kingston], 26 March 1912, 8; and 31 May 1912, 4, detailed descrp.; dwgs. at NAC, Power Coll.; inf. Jennifer McKendry)
HOTEL DIEU ROMAN CATHOLIC HOSPITAL , Sydenham Street at Brock Street, a new 2 storey Operating Amphitheatre Building, 1899-1900; and later extension to Hotel Dieu Hospital, 1909 (C.R., x, 19 April 1899, 3; xxiii, and 23 Sept. 1909, 22; Daily British Whig [Kingston], 31 Jan. 1900, 2, descrip.; Daily Standard [Kingston], 10 Sept. 1910, 8; and 16 Sept. 1909, 1, descrip.)
ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY, improvements to the grounds, 1899; new fence and entrance gateways, 1902 (C.R., x, 17 May 1899, 2; xiii, 21 May 1902, 2)
WOLFE ISLAND, Roman Catholic Separate School, Section 7, 1900-01; addition 1903 (Catholic Record [London], 13 Oct. 1900, 5; C.R., xiv, 30 Sept. 1903, 8)
PERTH, ONT., Roman Catholic Convent for the Sisters of Charity, adjacent to St. John's Roman Catholic Church, 1904 (Perth Courier, 6 Nov. 1903, 5; C.R., xv, 6 April 1904, 1)
KINGSTON YACHT CLUB, Club House, at the foot of Maitland Street, 1906-07; a group of 18 houses [perhaps boat houses] for the Kingston Yacht Club, 1907-08 (C.R., xvi, 24 Jan. 1906, 4; xvii, 6 Feb. 1907, 2; Const., i, Nov. 1907, 70)
FORT FRONTENAC, Tete du Pont Barracks, major addition and alterations to Barracks Block "A", "C" and "E", Ontario Street at Barrack Street, 1907-08 (Engineering & Construction [Chicago], xxviii, 4 Sept. 1907, 26, t.c.; Daily Standard [Kingston], 17 Jan. 1910, 5)
FORT FRONTENAC, new Hospital for "A" Battery and "B" Battery, 1908-09 (Daily Standard [Kingston], 17 Jan. 1910, 5)
FORT FRONTENAC, a large new Gun Shed, 1908-09 (Daily Standard [Kingston], 17 Jan. 1910, 5)
ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE, Servant's Quarters, 1907-08; large stables building, 1908-09 (Const., i, Oct. 1907, 63; C.R., xviii, 27 Nov. 1907, 18, t.c.; C.R., xxii, 16 Dec. 1908, 27; Daily Standard [Kingston], 17 Jan. 1910, 5)
HOUSE OF PROVIDENCE, Montreal Street, Roman Catholic Orphanage and Novitiate Building, 1908 (C.R., xix, 19 Feb. 1908, 16)
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL, King Street at Union Street, extensive alterations to the building formerly owned by the Dr. Strange estate, 1909 (Daily Standard [Kingston], 30 March 1909, 1)
ST. MARY'S OF THE LAKE ROMAN CATHOLIC ORPHANAGE, a large 3 storey block, King Street West, facing Lake Ontario, 1908-10 (Weekly British Whig [Kingston], 3 Feb. 1908, 3; Daily Standard [Kingston], 27 Aug. 1910, 6, illus. and detailed descrip.)
Commercial and Industrial works
FRONTENAC MILLING CO., Gore Street, flour warehouse, cooper shops, and stables, 1900 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 18 Jan. 1900, 2, descrip.; C.R., x, 17 Jan. 1900, 2)
CLARIFIED MILK CO., Bagot Street at Brock Street, a large 3 storey office and factory, 1901 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 14 Feb. 1901, 9, descrip.; C.R., xii, 20 Feb. 1901, 2; J. McKendry, Architects Working in the Kingston Region, 2019, 104, illus.)
JOHN W. OLDFIN CO., King Street East near Johnston Street, major alterations to commercial block, 1901 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 7 March 1901, 6)
JOHNSTON STREET, at Division Street, large addition to, and conversion of, an existing building into retail store for E.W. Mullen, 1901 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 8 May 1901, 1, t.c.)
SWIFT'S WHARF, at the foot of Johnson Street, Terminal Building, with offices and waiting room, for the Lake Ontario & Bay of Quinte Steamboat Co., 1901; addition 1905 (C.R., xii, 14 Aug. 1901, 3; xvi, 11 Oct. 1905, 2, t.c.)
CLARENCE STREET, office building for Arthur B. Cunningham, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 21 May 1902, 2)
HOWLAND BROS., Wellington Street, a retail store, 1904 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 20 May 1904, 1, t.c.)
KING STREET EAST, near Johnson Street, office and residence for Henry P. Smith, Architect, 1909 (Kingston, Buildings of Architectural & Historic Significance, 1980, 198-200, illus; J. McKendry, Modern Architecture in Kingston, 2014, 11, illus. & descrip.; J. McKendry, Architects Working in the Kingston Region, 2019, 103, illus. & descrip.)
Residential works
ALFRED STREET, near Brock Street, terrace of houses for Bernard J. Howland, 1897 (C.R., viii, 18 Nov. 1897, 2)
KING STREET EAST, at Maitland Street, addition to residence for Andrew Maclean, 1898 (C.R., ix, 6 July 1898, 4)
WILLIAM STREET, remodelling two houses for Edward T. Steacy, 1898 (C.R., ix, 20 July 1898, 2)
WEST STREET, at Wellington Street, two houses for George S. Oldrieve, 1899 (C.R., x, 24 May 1899, 2, t.c.; 28 June 1899, 3, t.c.)
JOHNSON STREET, residence for Capt. Abraham H. Malone, 1899 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 16 Aug. 1899, 2; C.R., x, 23 Aug. 1899, 2, t.c.)
UNIVERSITY AVENUE, addition and alterations to residence for Arthur B. Cunningham, 1900 (C.R., x, 3 Jan. 1900, 3)
QUEEN STREET, a two storey brick residence for William Parker, located "...opposite St. Paul's Church", 1900 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 26 Feb. 1900, 6; C.R., xi, 7 March 1900, 2)
SYDENHAM STREET, extension to Clyde Terrace, a row housing block for Mrs. James Davis, 1900 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 8 March 1901, 5; and 21 March 1900, 1; and 27 March 1900, 8; C.R., xi, 21 March 1900, 2)
KING STREET WEST, extension of the residence of the late Thomas Briggs estate, 1900 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 11 June 1900, 3)
JOHNSON STREET, near Bagot Street, residence for Miss Hickey, 1900 (C.R., xi, 1 Aug. 1900, 2)
WELLINGTON STREET, major addition to residence at No. 7 Wellington Street, near West Street, for G.S. Oldrieve, 1900 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 25 April 1900, 1, t.c.)
WILLLIAM STREET, major addition and alterations to residence at No. 64 William Street, near Wellington Street, for Mrs. Elizabeth Yates, 1901 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 29 Jan. 1901, 1; and 30 Jan. 1901, 1, t.c.)
WELLINGTON STREET, at William Street, terrace of four houses for Dr. Isaac Wood, 1901 (C.R., xii, 24 April 1901, 3)
BAGOT STREET, near Ordnance Street, residence for James Eves, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 23 Sept. 1903, 4, & 6)
WOLFE ISLAND, summer residence for Edward T. Steacy, 1910 (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 26 April 1910, 3, t.c.)