PEDEN, Frank (1877-1969), active in Montreal in partnership with Thomas McLaren from 1907 to 1916. Born in Dalhousie, N.B. on 8 September 1877, he was educated at the Montreal High School. His interest in architecture developed from the early age of 16 years when he worked as an assistant in the Montreal office of Dunlop & Heriot in 1893-94. He enrolled in the Dept. of Engineering at McGill University in 1895 and graduated with a B.Sc. in the course of Architecture in 1899, and served an apprenticeship with Hutchinson & Wood in 1899-1902. Peden joined the Engineering Inst. of Canada in 1899, and the following year became a member of the Province of Quebec Assoc. of Architects. He moved to Boston, Mass. in 1902 and spent a year in the office of Peabody & Stearns, a leading American architectural firm, then returned to Montreal in 1903 to work as assistant Engineer for the Dominion Bridge Co. in Lachine. In September 1904 he took a post as an assistant architect in the Premises Dept. of the Bank of Montreal, and was soon appointed Director of that department, supervising a staff of eight architects and draftsmen, designing bank branches and manager's residences in several provinces. Their team was joined by the young Scottish architect Thomas McLaren, with whom he was to later form the partnership of Anglin, Peden & McLaren in 1905. When James P. Anglin departed in December 1906, Peden saw the opportunity to leave the Bank and form an independent practise with his colleague Thomas McLaren. The firm became Peden & McLaren, and they thrived on commissions for new institutional, residential, and ecclesiastical buildings, as well as for new branches for the Bank of Montreal which were then being established across Canada.
After the dissolution of his partnership with McLaren in December 1916, Peden joined the Steel Company of Canada as a staff architect and remained with the company until early 1920 (Const., xiii, June 1920, 200; C.R., xxxiv, 23 June 1920, 620). He then opened an office in Montreal in May 1920 under his own name, and remained active in Montreal until July 1940. During WWII, he worked as an architectural engineer for Canadian Car Munitions Ltd., and for Defense Industries Ltd. In 1948 he moved to Nanaimo, B.C. and opened an architectural office there. By July 1951, however, he had relocated to nearby Victoria, B.C. and was working for Birley, Wade & Stockdill as a staff architect. He opened his own office in Victoria in March 1952, but this was closed in December 1953, and Peden moved back to Montreal where he took on contract work for Gratton & Thompson, for A. Leslie Perry, for Greenspoon, Friedlander & Dunn, and for Archibald, Illsley & Templeton.
Peden resigned from the P.Q.A.A. in 1947, but later rejoined that organization in 1955, and his final resignation as a member of that provincial organization was submitted in February 1960. He died in Montreal on 11 July 1969 (death notice Gazette [Montreal], 12 July 1969, 51; biog. Who’s Who & Why in Canada, 1912, 375; biog. NAC, Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, MG 28 I 277, Vol. xi, Application by Frank Peden dated 16 May 1918; inf. Province of Quebec Assoc. of Architects; inf. R.I.B.A., London, Application for Membership dated 9 March 1911; F. Ritchie Peden, Corbyville, Ont.; inf. Marjorie J. Peden, Ottawa)
PEDEN & McLAREN (Bank buildings in Canada)
BRANDON, MAN., Bank of Montreal, 940 Rosser Avenue at 10th Street, 1907, still standing in 2024 (R.I.B.A., Membership Application from Frank Peden, 10 May 1911)
TORONTO, ONT., Bank of Montreal, Yonge Street at Roselawn Avenue, 1907; demol. 2017 (C.R., xviii, 17 July 1907, 6)
MONCTON, N.B., Bank of Montreal, Main Street at Botsford Street, 1907 (C.R., xxiii, 4 Aug. 1909, illus. & descrip.)
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I., Bank of Montreal, Grafton Street, 1907 (Province of Quebec Association of Architects, Membership application for Thomas McLaren, 15 May 1939)
KELOWNA, B.C., Bank of Montreal, 1908 (R.I.B.A., Application from Thomas M. Forrest, draftsman for Peden & MacLaren, dated 29 Sept 1910)
HULL, QUE., Bank of Montreal, Main Street at Bridge Street, 1908 (R.I.B.A., Membership Application from Frank Peden, 10 March 1911)
STIRLING, ONT., Bank of Montreal, 1908; demol. (C.R., xxii, 23 Sept. 1908, 25, t.c.)
TRENTON, ONT., Bank of Montreal, 1908-09 (C.R., xxii, 18 Nov. 1908, 27)
LUNENBURG, N.S., Bank of Montreal, 1908 (dwgs. at PANS, Dumaresq Coll.)
RIVIERE-DU-LOUP, QUE., Bank of Montreal, 1908 (C.R., xxii, 1 July 1908, 28; dwgs. at Bank of Montreal, Premises Dept., Montreal)
SUDBURY, ONT., Bank of Montreal, Durham Street South, 1908 (R.I.B.A., Membership Application from Frank Peden, 10 March 1911)
VERNON, B.C., Bank of Montreal, Barnard Avenue at Seventh Street, 1909-10 (C.R., xxiii, 21 April 1909, 22; Vernon News, 8 December 1910, 16, illus. & descrip.)
SASKATOON, SASK., Bank of Montreal, Second Avenue North at 22nd Street, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 5 May 1909, 21, t.c.)
WEYBURN, SASK., Bank of Montreal, Main Street at Railway Avenue, 1909; still standing in 2023 (C.R., xxiii, 11 Aug. 1909, 23)
ST. JOHN'S, NFLD., Bank of Montreal, Water Street at McBride's Hill, extensive alterations to the Gazette Building for new bank premises, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 2 Feb. 1910, 24; Trade Review & Commercial Annual [St. John's], 31 Dec. 1910, 4, descrip.)
PENTICTON, B.C., Bank of Montreal, 1910 (Architectural Inst. of British Columbia, Membership application for Frank Peden, June 1948)
BRANTFORD, ONT., Bank of Montreal, 1911, but erroneously credited to "Mr. Pedler [sic], architect of Montreal" (Brantford Daily Expositor, 17 Jan. 1911, 1)
CORNWALL, ONT., Bank of Montreal, Pitt Street, 1911; and residence for bank manager, 1911 (C.R., xxiv, 10 Aug. 1910, 27; dwgs. at Bank of Montreal Premises Dept., Toronto)
SHERBROOKE, QUE., Bank of Montreal, Wellington Street North, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 14 June 1911, 61)
MOOSE JAW, SASK., Bank of Montreal, Main Street North, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 15 Nov. 1911, 44, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at Bank of Nova Scotia Archives, Toronto)
PEDEN & McLAREN (Institutional & Ecclesiastical works in Montreal unless noted)
PICTON, ONT., Carnegie Library, Main Street opposite Ross Street, 1906-07; still standing in 2022 (Const., i, July 1908, 44-5, illus. & descrip.; Tom Cruickshank, The Settler's Dream: A Pictorial History of the Older Buildings of Prince Edward County, 1984, 216, illus. & descrip.)
VICTORIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Conway Street at Menai Street, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 15 June 1910, 27)
NOTRE DAME DE GRACE, Kensington Public School, Sherbrooke Street West at Mayfair Avenue, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 18 May 1910, 27)
MONTREAL WEST, City Hall, Westminster Avenue at Easton Avenue, 1910 (The Standard [Montreal], 21 Jan. 1911, Supplement, 2, illus.; Montreal, Les Edifices Publics, 1981, 120-21, illus.)
SHAWINIGAN FALLS, QUE., Public School, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 1 June 1910, 26)
MONTREAL WEST, St. Philip's Anglican Church, Ainslie Road, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 19 July 1911, 59)
SHAW MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH, Beaubien Street at Christopher Columbus Street, 1911-12 (The Standard [Montreal], 11 Nov. 1911, 1, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xxv, 6 Dec. 1911, 44-5, illus. & descrip.)
DELORIMIER METHODIST CHURCH, Simard Street near St. Joseph Boulevard, 1911-12 (C.R., xxv, 6 Dec. 1911, 45, illus.)
OAKVILLE, ONT., Appleby Private School [later renamed Appleby College], Lakeshore Road West near Fourth Line, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 19 April 1911, 56)
OTTAWA, ONT., Plymouth Brethren Church, MacLaren Street at Bank Street, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 20 March 1912, 66)
(with Walter J. Murray) LOYOLA COLLEGE, Sherbrooke Street West near Belmore Avenue, Administration Building, Junior Building, dormitories and refectory, 1913-16 (T.P. Slattery, Loyola and Montreal: A History, 1962, 136, illus. & descrip.; Montreal, Les Couvents, 1984, 216-27, illus.)
MONTREAL WEST FIRE HALL, Westminster Avenue, 1914 (inf. from Miss M.J. Peden, Ottawa)
VILLE ST. PIERRE, Public School, possibly William Trenholme School, Maple Avenue, 1914 (C.R., xxviii, 8 April 1914, 77)
PEDEN & McLAREN (Residential works in Montreal and area)
WESTMOUNT, residence for Kenneth Thom, Grosvenor Avenue, 1908-09 (C.R., xxii, 2 Dec. 1908, 27)
MONTREAL WEST, residence for George E. Templeman, Ballantyne Avenue, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 29 Sept. 1909, 24)
WESTMOUNT, two houses for J.T. Fisher, Grosvenor Avenue, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 5 May 1909, 20)
OUTREMONT, residence for Daniel Bonner, McDougall Avenue, 1911 (Outremont b.p. 449, 27 April 1911)
WESTMOUNT, residence for William Borbridge, Clarke Avenue, north of Montrose Avenue, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 17 April 1912, 67; inf. Scott Edwards)
MONTREAL WEST, residence for Howard Murray, Strathearn Avenue at Nelson Street, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 29 May 1912, 68; 5 June 1912, 70; inf. from Miss M. J. Peden, Ottawa; inf. Scott Edwards)
MONTREAL WEST, residence for Rev. John G. Fulcher, Brock Avenue North, south of Northview Road, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 19 June 1912, 69; inf. Scott Edwards)
MONTREAL WEST, residence for Dr. T.H. Taylor, Westminster Avenue North, near Curzon Avenue, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 17 July 1912, 72; inf. Scott Edwards)
MONTREAL WEST, residence for John A. Fulton, Brock Avenue North near Curzon Avenue, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 7 Aug. 1912, 74; inf Scott Edwards)
MONTREAL WEST, residence for H.E. Stephenson, Brock Avenue North, 1915 (inf. from Miss M.J. Peden, Ottawa)
PEDEN & McLAREN (Commercial & Industrial works)
ST. REMI, QUE., warehouse and packing plant for William Clark Co., 1911 (C.R., xxv, 19 April 1911, 57)
F. PEDEN (works in Montreal unless noted)
STEEL CO. OF CANADA, Notre Dame Street West, addition to factory, 1919 (C.R., xxxiii, 19 Nov. 1919, 51)
WESTMOUNT, a new Sunday School for an existing church, Lansdowne Avenue at Western Avenue, 1920 (Montreal Daily Star, 9 Sept. 1920, 24)
MONTREAL WEST, residence for Frank Peden, architect, Ballantyne Avenue North, 1921 (inf. from Miss M.J. Peden, Ottawa)
WESTMOUNT, residence for W. Godbee Brown, Sydneham Avenue, 1922 (C.R., xxxvi, 25 Oct. 1922, 49)
CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER, Anger Street at Galt Avenue, in Cote St. Paul, 1923 (Gazette [Montreal], 16 June 1923, 4, descrip.)
LACHINE, QUE., Grovehill Golf & Country Club, clubhouse, 1923-24 (Le Prix Courant, lvi, 7 Dec. 1923, 58)
ST. ALBAN'S CHURCH COMMUNITY HALL, St. Zotique Street East at Chateaubriand Street, 1925 (Gazette [Montreal], 4 Aug. 1925, 3, descrip.; inf. Scott Edwards)
COTE DES NEIGES UNITED CHURCH, Tremblay Street near Decelles Avenue, 1926-27 (Gazette [Montreal], 7 Oct. 1926, 7, descrip.; Montreal Daily Star, 8 Jan. 1927, 8; inf. Scott Edwards)
SHAWBRIDGE, QUE., Boy's Correctional School, addition of a gymnasium and chapel, 1926 (inf. from Miss M.J. Peden, Ottawa)
THE ST. JAMES BUILDING, Ste. Catherine Street West at St. Alexandre Street, commercial 3 storey commercial block of retail stores and offices surrounding St. James United Church, 1926; stores partly demol. in 2005 to restore views of the facade of the church (Montreal Star, 4 May 1926, illus.; Gazette [Montreal], 10 July 1926, 4, descrip.; and 1 Sept. 1926, 19, advert for bond issue; Montreal, Les Eglises, 1981, 240-5, illus.)
TRINITY UNITED CHURCH, Pius IX Boulevard near Adam Street, 1927 (Gazette [Montreal], 24 Sept. 1927, 4, descrip.; City of Montreal, Building Permit Records; inf. Scott Edwards)
HOWICK, QUE., United Church, Bridge Street at Lambton Street, 1928; still standing in 2022 (Gazette [Montreal],11 June 1928, 3; Historical Sketch and Souvenir of Howick United Church, 1928; inf. Scott Edwards)
DRUMMONDVILLE, QUE., Trinity United Church, Lindsay Street, 1928 (inf. from Miss M.J. Peden, Ottawa)
LACHINE, QUE., Rockfield United Church, St. Jacques Street at Richardson Avenue, 1929 (Gazette [Montreal], 12 Aug. 1929, 5, but lacking attribution; inf. from Rockfield Church website (online); inf. Scott Edwards)
BANK OF OTTAWA, Park Avenue at Fairmount Avenue, new facade and alterations, 1929 (Montreal, Les Banques, 1980, 2-3, illus.)
CRESCENT PRIVATE HOSPITAL, Crescent Street near Ste. Catherine Street West, 1930 (C.R., xliv, 12 March 1930, 123)
VERDUN, QUE., Verdun United Church, Woodland Avenue near Verdun Street, 1930-31 (Gazette [Montreal], 12 March 1931, 11, descrip.; Golden Anniversary of Verdun United Church, 1949, 6)
MADISON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, Madison Avenue at Monkland Avenue, major addition, 1933; with another large addition and alterations, 1939 (Gazette [Montreal], 2 May 1933, 4; Const., xxvi, May-June 1933, 62; Montreal Daily Star, 22 Aug. 1939, 23)
ST. JAMES UNITED CHURCH, Ste. Catherine Street West at City Councillors Street, extensive interior alterations to the church, 1937, originally designed by Alexander F. Dunlop as St. James Methodist Church in 1887-89 (Gazette [Montreal], 1 May 1937, 3, descrip.; inf. Scott Edwards)
PINES BOWLING ACADEMY, Park Avenue at Pine Avenue West, 1938 (C.R., li, 1 June 1938, 32)
SNOWDEN BAPTIST MISSION, Decarie Boulevard near Queen Mary Road, designed 1941, but construction delayed to 1945 (C.R., liv, 28 May 1941, 28; Montreal Daily Star, 3 Jan. 1945, 10)
COMPETITIONS
HAMILTON, ONT., Carnegie Library, 1910. Peden & McLaren were one of 20 architects from Canada and the United States who submitted a design in this important competition. They were not one of three finalists, and the winners were Stuart Pavey of London, Ont. with Harold E. Shorey and Atwell J. King of Montreal. However, their winning design was rejected because it was mistakenly assumed they were American architects who had submitted their entry from a New York City address. The commission was later awarded to A.W. Peene of Hamilton (inf. Robert Hamilton).