PRACK, Bernard Herman (1881-1962), a member of the Prack family of industrial architects and engineers who operated offices in Pittsburgh, Hamilton and Toronto. Together with his brothers Arthur E. Prack, Frederick Prack, and Walter Prack, he helped to establish the two Canadian branches of this American firm. Born in Pittsburgh in 1881 he began work there as Engineer of Works with the Westinghouse Electric & Mfr. Co. in 1903, and formed a partnership in 1911 with Ren B. Perrine (1873-1938), an engineer from Cleveland, Ohio. They opened an office in Hamilton in that year and succeeded in completing more than twenty large commissions for industrial buildings, many of them constructed with newly developed reinforced concrete techniques, and clad in wide expanses of industrial glazing to provide natural daylight to the manufacturing and warehouse spaces within. Perrine left the firm in late 1917, and Prack lived and worked in Hamilton for the next decade, taking up residence in the city and building his own house there. He opened a branch office in Toronto in 1919, and continued to work under his own name until 1927 when he and his brother Frederick created a new partnership of Prack & Prack. Bernard H. then moved back to Pittsburgh and continued to supervise the activities of the American office, and the Canadian operation was left in the hands of his brother Frederick. His best known work in Canada was the Pigott Building, an 18 storey stepped skyscraper modelled on the American Radiator Building in New York City (designed by Raymond Hood in 1924). It was the tallest building in Hamilton at the time of its completion in 1929.
Bernard Prack remained active in Pittsburgh until after 1950 and died there on 17 October 1962 (obit. Pittsburgh Press, 18 Oct. 1962, 24; biog. and port. Contract Record [Toronto], xxvii, 1 Jan. 1913, 61; biog. & list of works C.R., xxxi, 19 Dec. 1917, 1036; inf. from Alvin R. Prack, Hamilton, Ont.). The National Archives of Canada holds an extensive collection of architectural drawings prepared by the firms of Prack & Perrine, B.H. Prack, and by Prack & Prack from 1911 to 1980 (NAC Acc. 86703/1). A photographic portrait of B.H. Prack, with a biography and list of works, was published in the Pittsburgh Press, 13 Jan. 1952, Section Two, page 25.
PRACK & PERRINE (works in Hamilton unless noted)
TORONTO, ONT., office and warehouse for Glidden Varnish Co., Wallace Street, 1911-12 (C.R., xxv, 29 Nov. 1911, 66)
INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER CO., major addition to factory, 1911 (Spectator [Hamilton], 7 July 1911, 1)
OLIVER CHILLED PLOW WORKS CO., foot of Hillyard Street, 3 new large warehouses, 1911-12 (Spectator [Hamilton], 7 July 1911, 1; and 15 Jan. 1912, 1, descrip.; C.R., xxvi, 13 March 1912, 73)
HAMILTON BRIDGE WORKS, Waterbury Street, factory, 1911 (Spectator [Hamilton], 7 July 1911, 1; and 1 May 1912, 11; and 28 Jan. 1913, 1; C.R., xxv, 30 Aug. 1911, 62)
STANDARD UNDERGROUND CABLE CO., Sherman Avenue North, office and factory, 1911 (Spectator [Hamilton], 21 June 1911, 1, descrip.; C.R., xxv, 5 July 1911, 61; Canadian Municipal Journal [Montreal], viii, July 1912, 272-3, illus. & descrip.; Canadian Electrical News [Toronto], xxi, Aug. 1912, 75, illus. & descrip.)
BROWN-BOGGS CO., Sherman Avenue North, large factory, 1912 (Spectator [Hamilton], 15 March 1912, 15; and 28 Jan. 1913, 1, descrip.)
NATIONAL RAIL CAR CO., in East Hamilton near Oggs Inlet, large factory and shops, 1912 (Spectator [Hamilton], 18 July 1912, 1, descrip. and 25 July 1912, 16, descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
TORONTO, ONT., Russell Motor Car Co., Weston Road at McCormack Street, 1912; addition, 1916 (Toronto b.p. 36243, 24 July 1912; Const., ix, Sept. 1916, 313)
TORONTO, ONT., Cowan Co. Ltd., Sterling Road, factory, 1912-13; addition, 1919 (Toronto b.p. 1506, 21 Dec. 1912; and b.p. 26620, 3 Oct. 1919)
HAMILTON MALLEABLE IRON CO. LTD., foundry, and 4 other buildings, 1913 (Spectator [Hamilton], 28 Jan. 1913, 1, descrip.; C.R., xxvii, 29 Jan. 1913, 70)
STEEL COMPANY OF CANADA , now called Stelco Co. of Canada, Burlington Street East, 3 new buildings, 1913 (Spectator [Hamilton], 28 Jan. 1913, 1)
ANCASTER, ONT., Tamahaac Golf Club House, Filman Road, 1913; still standing in 2022 (Spectator [Hamilton], 28 Jan. 1913, 1; C.R., xxvii, 12 Feb. 1913, 74, t.c.)
TORONTO, ONT., National Drug Co., Phoebe Street at Beverley Street, factory, 1913 (Toronto b.p. 2517, 19 March 1913)
DOMINION STEEL FOUNDRY CO., Depew Street, major addition to factory, 1913 (C.R., xxvii, 4 June 1913, 70)
WINNIPEG, MAN., National Drug & Chemical Co., Princess Street, warehouse, 1913 (C.R., xxvii, 18 June 1913, 70)
FORT WILLIAM, ONT., nail plant for the Steel Co. of Canada, Montreal Street, 1913 (Spectator [Hamilton], 8 Sept. 1913, 11; C.R., xxvii, 24 Sept. 1913, 72; inf. Robert Hamilton)
CANADIAN WESTINGHOUSE CO. LTD., Aberdeen Avenue at Paradise Road, foundry, 1913; brass foundry and chemical lab by B.H. Prack, 1927 (Spectator [Hamilton], 17 Sept. 1913, 1, descrip.; C.R., xxvii, 8 Oct. 1913, 71; and xli, 14 Sept. 1927, 55)
TORONTO, ONT., George R. Gregg Co., York Street opposite Piper Street, 1914 (Toronto b.p. 12219, 5 June 1914)
TORONTO, ONT., William Wrigley Jr. Co., Carlaw Avenue north of Queen Street East, two separate factory buildings listed as:
South Building (Phase 1), 1914-15; still standing in 2023 (Toronto b.p. 14594, 8 Oct. 1914; and b.p. 23049; Const., ix, April 1916, 112-15, illus. & descrip.) and
North Building (Phase 2), 1916-17; still standing in 2023 (C.R., xxx, 16 Aug. 1916, 72; American Architect [New York], cxi, 21 Feb. 1917, plate illus., 116 ff.); and
small addition of a garage or outbuilding, located to the south of Phase 1, 1919 (Toronto b.p. 23049, 28 May 1919)
HAMILTON STEEL WHEEL CO., factory, 1916 (C.R., xxx, 18 Oct. 1916, 42)
CANADIAN WESTINGHOUSE CO. LTD., Sanford Avenue North at Myler Street, a 7 storey office building, 1917; restored 2018; still standing in 2023 (C.R., xxxi, 10 Jan. 1917, 50, t.c.; and xxxii, 26 June 1918, 512, illus. & descrip.; Const., xi, Aug. 1918, 240-48, illus. & descrip.; Globe & Mail [Toronto], 22 March 2019, H6, illus. & descrip.)
TORONTO, ONT., Palmolive Soap Co., Carlaw Avenue at Natalie Street, factory, 1917; addition, 1923 (Toronto b.p. 12645, 13 June 1917; Const., xi, May 1918, 160-61, illus.; Toronto b.p. 58103, 13 March 1923)
WESTON, ONT., Canada Cycle & Motor Co., Eagle Avenue, factory, 1917 (Const., xi, Jan. 1918, 25-7, illus. & descrip.)
B.H. PRACK
(works in Hamilton unless noted)
DOMINION POWER & TRANSMISSION CO., power station, 1917 (Const., xi, March 1918, 89-93, illus. & descrip.)
STEEL CO. OF CANADA, Burlington Street East, office building, 1918 (Const., xii, May 1919, 158-60, illus. & descrip.)
TORONTO, ONT., Dunlop Tire Co., Queen Street East at Booth Avenue, factory, 1919-20 (Toronto b.p. 27690, 18 Nov. 1919; Const., xiii, Dec. 1920, 382-7, illus. & descrip.; Canadian Engineer, xl, 3 March 1921, 259-63, illus. & descrip.)
KINGSTON, ONT., Richardson Bath House, MacDonald Park near Lake Ontario, 1919 (Kingston, Building of Architectural & Historic Significance, v, 1980, 123-4, illus.; dwgs. at NAC, Power Coll. 81203/19)
OSHAWA, ONT., five factory buildings for Pedlar People Ltd., Simcoe Street South at First Avenue, 1919-20 (C.R., xxxiii, 31 Dec. 1919, 46, t.c.)
WOODSTOCK, ONT. Brunswick-Balke Callender Co., factory, 1920 (C.R., xxxiv, 19 May 1920, 59, t.c.)
TORONTO, ONT., Pure Food Exhibit Building, Canadian National Exhibition, 1920 (C.R., xxxiv, 3 Nov. 1920, 53)
WOOD, ALEXANDER & JAMES BUILDING, King William Street at Ferguson Avenue North, a large 5 storey factory, 1920 (Spectator [Hamilton], 6 Nov. 1920, 17, illus. & detailed architectural descrip., C.R., xxxv, 16 Feb. 1921, 17, illus. in advert., inf. Robert Hamilton)
OAKVILLE, ONT., residence for J. Allen Ross, 1921 (C.R., xxxv, 5 Oct. 1921, 55, t.c.)
TORONTO, ONT., Church of the Resurrection, Woodbine Avenue at Milverton Boulevard, 1922 (C.R., xxxvi, 5 April 1922, 58; The First Fifty Years: Church of the Resurrection 1912-1962, 17-18, illus.)
EMPIRE THEATRE, Barton Street East, theatre, stores and apartments for Fred Guest, 1922 (C.R., xxxvi, 1 Feb. 1922, 50)
PETERBOROUGH, ONT., Western Clock Co., Hunter Street, factory, 1922; addition, 1927 (C.R., xxxvi, 24 May 1922, 55; and xli, 30 March 1927, 50; R.A.I.C. Journal, ii, April/June 1925, xvii, illus. in advert.)
DELTA THEATRE & DELTONIA APARTMENTS, King Street East near Glendale Avenue, theatre, stores and apartments, begun 1922; completed 1925, still standing in 2024 (C.R., xxxvi, 7 June 1922, 51; Spectator [Hamilton], 5 Feb. 1925, 1, descrip.)
TRENTON, ONT., Dominion Combing Mills, wool combing and washing plant, 1922 (C.R., xxxvi, 26 July 1922, 82; Financial Post [Toronto], 1 Sept. 1922, 5, descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
MONTREAL, QUE., International Harvester Co. of Canada, De Gaspe Avenue, warehouse, 1922 (C.R., xxxvi, 11 Oct. 1922, 49)
MILTON, ONT., P.L. Robertson Co. Ltd., office and warehouse, 1922-23 (C.R., xxxvi, 13 Dec. 1922, 50)
BANK OF HAMILTON, Delta Branch, with two facades, one at 1290 King Street East, and one at 1282 Main Street East, 1922, still standing in 2024 (Spectator [Hamilton], 14 Dec. 1922, 1, detailed descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
SARNIA, ONT., Mueller Co. Ltd., 1922 (Sarnia Observer, 28 Oct. 1922, 3, illus.)
BURLINGTON, ONT., residence for E.A. Isard, Torrance Street at Harris Crescent, 1923 (dwgs. in the possession of the current owners, Burlington, Ont.)
LISTER BUILDING, James Street North at King William Street, 1923 (C.R., xxxvii, 25 July 1923, 53; and 26 Dec. 1923, 1246-49, illus. & descrip.; Spectator [Hamilton], 7 Jan. 1924, 5; Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, 80 for 80: Celebrating 80 Years of the A.C.O., 2013, 64-5, illus. & descrip.)
HAMILTON HYDRO ELECTRIC COMMISSION, Hydro Substation, Ottawa Street, c. 1925; demol. (City of Thunder Bay Archives, Port Arthur P.U.C. files, stamped photographs; inf. Robert Hamilton)
HAMILTON HYDRO ELECTRIC COMMISSION, Hydro Substation and Garage, Hughson Street, c. 1925; demol. (City of Thunder Bay Archives, Port Arthur P.U.C. files, stamped photographs; inf. Robert Hamilton, of Hamilton, Ont.)
TORONTO, ONT., Canadian Westinghouse Co. Ltd., King Street West at Peter Street, warehouse and factory, 1927; addition, 1934, all still standing in 2024 (Toronto b.p. 97064, 30 March 1927; C.R., xli, 19 Oct. 1927, 24, illus. in advert; and xlix, 13 March 1935, 211-13, illus. & descrip.)
HAMILTON STREET RAILWAY CO., ONT., King Street East at Sanford Avenue, streetcar barns and bus garage, 1927-28 (C.R., xli, 27 April 1927, 53; Spectator [Hamilton], 17 March 1928, 11-15, illus. & detailed architectural descrip.; Electric Railway Journal [New York], lxxi, 30 June 1928, 1068-71, illus. & descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
KITCHENER, ONT., Canadian Goodrich Rubber Co. Ltd., King Street at Wilmot Street, major addition to factory, 1927; another addition by Prack & Prack, 1928-29; addition, 1944; office and factory, 1948-49 (C.R., xli, 31 Aug. 1927, 56; Gazette [Montreal], 12 Oct. 1928, 3; C.R., lvii, Nov. 1944, 67, t.c.; and lxi, Dec. 1948, 111; inf. Scott Edwards)
LEAMINGTON, ONT., H.J. Heinz Co., Erie Street, factory, 1927-28 (C.R., xli, 23 Nov. 1927, 50, t.c.)
PRACK & PRACK (consisting of Bernard H Prack and Frederick Prack)
(works in Hamilton unless noted)
PIGOTT BUILDING, James Street South near King Street, an 18 storey skyscraper, 1928 (Toronto Daily Star, 4 May 1928, 8, illus., and 33, descrip.; Const., xxi, Feb. 1928, 55; and xxii, April 1929, 106-10, illus. & descrip.; R.A.I.C. Journal, vi, Oct. 1929, xxx, illus. in advert.)
HAMILTON COTTON MILL CO., Mary Street, yarn mill, 1929; and major addition to factory, 1945 (C.R., xliii, 10 April 1929, 62; and xviii, March 1945, 172; Financial Post [Toronto], 17 March 1945, 3)
WESTDALE SECONDARY SCHOOL, Main Street West at Paradise Road South, 1929-30 (Spectator [Hamilton], 30 Aug. 1930, School Supplement, 1, 3-5, 15-16, illus. and detailed architectural descrip.; and 24 Jan. 1931, 6, descrip.; C.R., xliii, 17 July 1929, 59, t.c.; Const., xxiv, March 1931, 83-6, 91-2, 108, illus. & R.A.I.C. Journal, viii, April 1931, xxxvi, illus. in advert.)
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL OF COMMERCE, Sanford Avenue West, 1932 (C.R., xlv, 2 Dec. 1931, 52, t.c.; and xlvi, 7 Sept. 1932, 1009-15, illus. & descrip.)
MARKLAND STREET, near Bay Street, residence for John A. Turner, 1932 (C.H.G., ix, July 1932, 18-19, illus.)