SOULE, Cornelius John (1851-1939), a talented yet underrated architect active in four provinces in Canada. He was recorded to have practised in the following locations:
Cornelius J. Soule, Port Hope, Ont., Aug. 1873- 1876
Cornelius J. Soule, Guelph, Ont, 1877-1881
Cornelius J. Soule, Denver, Colo., Feb. 1881 - early 1882
Cornelius J. Soule, Brandon, Man., April 1883-August 1883
Cornelius J. Soule, Architect & Photographer, Calgary, Alta., August 1883 to 1885
Cornelius J. Soule, Guelph, Ont., March 1886 to 1889
Cornelius J. Soule, Vancouver, B.C., 1890
Cornelius J. Soule, Victoria, B.C., February 1890 to Aug. 1891
Soule & Day, Architects, Victoria, B.C., Sept. 1891 - c. 1894 (with Robert Scott Day)
Maclure & Soule, Architects, Vancouver & Victoria, B.C., 1898 to c. 1900 (with Samuel Maclure)
Cornelius J. Soule, Edmonton, Alta., 1903 to June 1904
Cornelius J. Soule, Penticton, B.C., July 1919 - Dec. 1919
(biography in preparation).
N.B. a detailed biography of C.J. Soule in Alberta from 1883 to 1885, together with his photographic portrait, has been published in the new book by the Edworthy Park Heritage Society entitled Shaganappi Point & Edworthy Park: A New History, 2022, pp. 321-24, illus.
C.J. SOULE (works in Ontario and Manitoba)
CAMPBELLFORD, ONT., High School, Bridge Street East near Booth Street North, 1872; burned February 1889 (list of works in M. Bixby, Industries of Canada-Hamilton, 1886, 102)
PORT HOPE, ONT., Public School, Bruton Street at Bramely Street, 1873 (The Guide [Port Hope], 9 Aug. 1873, 1; 6 Sept. 1873, 3; Cobourg Sentinel, 28 March 1874, 3)
MILLBROOK, ONT., Cavan Township Hall, King Street, 1873-74 (Town of Cavan: Council Minutes, 27 Oct. 1873)
PORT HOPE, ONT., 'Terralta Cottage', a residence for Thomas Benson, Dorset Street, 1874 (dwgs. at OA, Acc. 16490)
PORT HOPE, ONT., Young Men's Christian Association, John Street, 1874 (The Guide [Port Hope], 25 July 1874, 3)
GUELPH, ONT., major additions to residence for Charles Raymond, Norfolk Street at Nelson Crescent, 1877 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 14 Nov. 1877, 2, descrip.)
GUELPH, ONT., The Herald Block, Quebec Street near Wyndham Street, 1877 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 14 Nov. 1877, 2, descrip.)
WELLINGTON COUNTY HOUSE OF INDUSTRY & REFUGE, Wellington Road 18, near Charles Allan Way, begun 1877 by Victor Stewart; completed 1877-78 by Cornelius J. Soule of Guelph; converted to Wellington County Museum & Archives, 1980; still standing in 2023 (inf. Parks Canada, Canada’s Historic Sites, designation statement)
GUELPH, ONT., St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Norfolk Street at Suffolk Street, addition of transepts and alterations, 1878 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 25 Nov. 1878, 1, descrip.)
GUELPH, ONT., 'Idylwyld', a residence for J.D. Williamson, London Road West, 1878 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 28 Nov. 1878, 3, descrip.)
GUELPH, ONT., Bank of Montreal, Upper Wyndham Street, alterations to existing block with St. George's Hall above, 1878 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 18 Nov. 1878, 3, descrip.)
ORANGEVILLE, ONT., St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Broadway near Faulkner Street, 1878-79; still standing in 2022 and now called Westminster United Church (B. Marshall, History of Westminster United Church, 1979, 32, 34, illus.)
WALKERTON, ONT., High School, Colborne Street South, 1879 (list of works in M. Bixby, Industries of Canada: Hamilton, 1886, 102)
ORANGEVILLE, ONT., Dufferin County Court House, Zina Street, 1880-81 (The Sun [Orangeville], 4 Dec. 1879, 2, detailed descrip.; M. MacRae & A. Adamson, Cornerstones of Order, 1983, 230-1, illus.)
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MAN., Grace Methodist Church, Royal Road, 1882; burned 1890 and rebuilt (Manitoba Daily Free Press [Winnipeg], 4 April 1882, 1, t.c.)
CAMPBELLFORD, ONT., a new High School, 1886-87 (Campbellford Herald, 21 April 1887, 4, Statement of Accounts, and payment $120.18 to S.C. Soule (sic) for fees to prepare plans; inf. Janice Hendy, Campbellford)
GUELPH, ONT., General Hospital, addition of the Victoria Wing, Delhi Street, 1887 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 20 July 1887, 1; 15 Oct. 1887, 1)
GUELPH, ONT., residence for Mayor Archibald A. MacDonald, Palmer Street at Queen Street, 1887 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 15 Oct. 1887, 1 & 2)
GUELPH, ONT., residence for Edgar D. Clark, Elora Road at Tiffany Street, 1887 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 15 Oct. 1887, 2)
GUELPH, ONT., residence for William H. Wardrope, Liverpool Street, 1887 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 15 Oct. 1887, 1)
GUELPH, ONT., Loretto Academy, Norfolk Street, addition, 1888, and now occupied by the Guelph Civic Museum (Guelph Daily Mercury, 15 Sept. 1888, 1, t.c.; Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, 80 for 80: Celebrating 80 Years of the A.C.O., 2013, 58-9, illus. & descrip., but lacking attribution)
C.J. SOULE (works in Victoria and Vancouver, B.C.)
VICTORIA, B.C., residence for Fred J. Claxton, Fernwood Road at Pandora Avenue, 1890 (Victoria Daily Times, 20 May 1890, 8, t.c.; Daily Colonist [Victoria], 23 May 1890, 4, t.c.)
VICTORIA, B.C., residence on Cadboro Bay Road, for an unnamed client, 1890 (Victoria Daily Times, 3 June 1890, 8, t.c.)
VICTORIA, B.C., a group of three cottages, and a 2 storey commercial building, Simcoe Street, for an unnamed client, 1890 (Victoria Daily Times, 21 Aug. 1890, 6, t.c.)
VICTORIA, B.C., residence for Bagster R. Seabrook, Gorge Road East, 1891; demol. 1937 (Victoria Daily Times, 14 April 1891, 4, t.c.; and 7 May 1891, 4)
VICTORIA, B.C., residence for Robert Jameson, Michigan Street at Superior Street, 1891 (Victoria Daily Times, 15 May 1891, 4; Victoria Heritage Foundation, This Old House - Victoria's Heritage Neighbourhoods - Vol. 2, James Bay, 2018, 161-62, illus. & descrip.)
VICTORIA WEST, B.C., St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Henry Street at Mary Street, 1891 (Victoria Daily Times, 21 May 1891, 5, descrip.; and 30 May 1891, 5, descrip.; Daily Colonist [Victoria], 31 May 1891, 2, descrip.)
VICTORIA, B.C., British Columbia Agricultural Exhibit Hall, at The Willows, 1891; a commission won in a competition against 5 other local architects; burned December 1907 (Victoria Daily Times, 15 May 1891, 5; and 13 June 1891, 5; Daily Colonist [Victoria], 1 Oct. 1891, 1, descrip.; Vancouver Daily World, 5 Oct. 1891, 2, illus. & detailed architectural descrip.; Stuart Stark, The B.C. Agricultural Association Exhibition Building, 2017, 95-142, illus. & descrip.)
VICTORIA, B.C., British Columbia Agricultural Exhibition Grounds, new Poultry House, Fences, stables and Cattle Sheds, 1891 (Victoria Daily Times, 4 Aug. 1891, 8, t.c.)
VICTORIA, B.C., a new commercial block ; likely the Lange Block, at 1308-1312 Douglas Avenue, constructed of brick, on the west side of Douglas Street, between Fort Street and Johnson Street, for an unnamed owner, 1891; still standing in 2023 (Victoria Daily Times, 17 July 1891, 5, descrip.; Parks Canada, Canada's Historic Buildings, Designation statement 25 May 2000)
VICTORIA, B.C., residence for Allan Dumbleton, Rockland Avenue, 1891; still standing in 2021 ( Victoria Heritage Foundation, This Old House: Victoria's Heritage Neighbourhoods, Vol. 3, 2021, 155, illus. & descript.)
VICTORIA, B.C., Rock Bay Hotel & Tavern, Esquimalt Road at Bridge Street, 1891; demol. 1990 (Victoria Heritage Foundation, This Old House: Victoria's Heritage Neighbourhoods, Vol. 3, 2021, 33, illus. & descrip.)
(with Robert Day) MAYNE ISLAND, B.C., Point Comfort Hotel, 1893 (Daily News Advertiser (Vancouver), 22 Oct. 1892, 5, detailed descrip.; Daily Colonist [Victoria], 1 Jan. 1893, 14, descrip.)
(with Robert Day) VICTORIA, B.C., North Ward School, Douglas Street near Hillside Avenue, a commission won in a competition, 1893 (Victoria Daily Times, 13 July 1893, 7, descrip.; and 1 Sept. 1893, 8, t.c.; Daily Colonist [Victoria], 18 July 1893, 6, descrip.; C.A.B., xi, March 1898, illus.)
VANCOUVER, B.C., 'Parkside', a mansion for Sir Charles H. Tupper, Barclay Street at Chilco Street, 1899 (Vancouver Daily World, 22 March 1899, 3, descrip.)
C.J. SOULE (works in Alberta)
WETASKIWIN, ALTA., The Driard Hotel, a three storey brick hotel for John Clegg, 1903; burned 1985 (Wetaskiwin Times, 10 Sept. 1903, 1; Edmonton Bulletin, 15 Aug, 1903, 1, descrip.; and 12 Sept. 1903, 3)
STRATHCONA, SOUTH EDMONTON, ALTA., major addition to the Windsor Hotel, 1903 (Edmonton Daily Bulletin, 18 Aug. 1903, 1, t.c.)
EDMONTON, ALTA., major addition to McDougall Methodist Church, 1903 (Edmonton Daily Bulletin, 22 Aug. 1903, 1, t.c.)
WETASKIWIN, ALTA., Town Hall, 50 Avenue at 47 Street, 1903; still standing in 2022 (Wetaskiwin Times, 3 Sept. 1903, 1; Edmonton Daily Bulletin, 8 Sept. 1903, 3)
EDMONTON, ALTA., Canadian Bank of Commerce, 1903-04 (Edmonton Daily Bulletin, 7 Nov. 1903, 1, t.c.; Edmonton Journal, 19 Jan. 1904, 2, t.c.)
EDMONTON, ALTA., Chisholm Block, Jasper Avenue at 4th Street West, a three storey commercial block, with offices for C.J. Soule, Architect, 1903-04 (Edmonton Journal, 25 Jan. 1904, 4, descrip.)
COMPETITIONS
STRATFORD, ONT., High School, 1877. There were 34 entries in this architectural competition, including one from Cornelius J. Soule of Guelph, Ont. (Stratford Beacon, 5 Oct. 1877, 2, list of competitors). He was not one of the three finalists, and the Toronto firm of McCaw & Lennox was declared as the winner.
VICTORIA, B.C., British Columbia Parliament Building, 1892. Soule was one of 65 architects from Canada and the United States who submitted a design in this important competition. His design, labeled with the nom-de-plume "Mutual", was not among the five finalists (Martin Segger, The British Columbia Parliament Buildings, 1979, 83-84, list of competitors). The winner was F.M. Rattenbury of Victoria.
VICTORIA, B.C., North Ward School, 1893. The firm of Soule & Day were one of 14 architects from the USA and Canada who submitted plans in this competition (Victoria Daily Times, 13 Jully 1893, 7, descrip. and list of competitors). The juror was R. Mackay Fripp of Vancouver. Their design, labeled No. 11, received the joint First Prize, along with that by W. Ridgeway Wilson.
VICTORIA, B.C., "Cary Castle", the Official Residence of the Lieut. Governor of British Columbia, 1901. Soule was one of nine architects from British Columbia who submitted a design, and his scheme, signed with the nom de plume "Olympian" was awarded Third Prize of $125 (Province [Vancouver], 17 Jan. 1901, 1; Peter Cotton, Vice-Regal Mansions of British Columbia, 1981, 70-72). The elevation and plan of his 3rd Prize design were published in this book, but are erroneously credited to the 5th Prize winner Thomas Hooper (inf. Donald Luxton, Vancouver). The winners of the First Premium were Byrens & Sait, but their proposal was never built, and the B.C. Government later gave the commission to F.M. Rattenbury and Samuel Maclure.
EDMONTON, ALTA., Royal Alexandra Hospital, 1907. Soule was among 23 architects from the United States and Canada who submitted a design for this civic landmark. He was awarded 4th Prize for his submission (Edmonton Daily Bulletin, 27 Feb. 1907, 6). The winner was Johnson & Lines of Edmonton.