JAMES, Frederick Benjamin (1873-1944), of Walkerton, Ont., practised there as an architect and civil engineer from 1914 until 1940. Born in Gloucestershire, England on 28 September 1873 he was educated in Whitecroft, worked in the office of E.P. Ayres in 1894-95, and practised in England under his own name from 1895 until 1911 when he came to Canada. James settled first at Winnipeg, Man. and was employed as assistant with the firm of Woodman & Carey for three years. In 1914 he moved to Walkerton, Ont. and continued to practise there until his retirement after 1940. His works include a modest Gothic design for the Presbyterian Church, at Durham, Ont., 1926-27, as well as that for St. Mark's Anglican Church at Cape Chin, Ont. on the Bruce Peninsula, 1928. In 1937 he prepared a competent Tudor Revival design for the residence for Reuben Truax, Scott Street, Walkerton, Ont. He also prepared an ambitious plan for the Walkerton Arena, 1924, but the project was never realized. James died at Walkerton on 25 April 1944 (obituary in the Herald-Times [Walkerton], 27 April 1944, 1; inf. Dale E.A. Wilson, Walkerton; inf. from Ontario Assoc. of Architects)
WALKERTON, ONT., indoor hockey arena, 1924, but not built (Bruce Herald & Times [Walkerton], 19 June 1924, 1 & 4, descrip.)
DURHAM, ONT., Presbyterian Church, Lambton Street East at Albert Street, 1926; still standing in 2022 (Daily Sun-Times [Owen Sound], 28 May 1926, 5; Centennial History of Durham Presbyterian Church, 1855-1955, 19, illus.)
CAPE CHIN, ONT., on the Bruce Peninsula, St. Mark's Anglican Church, East Road, 1928; still standing in 2022 (inf. D.E.A. Wilson, Walkerton)
ALLENFORD, ONT. a new Community Hall, 1931 (Owen Sound Sun-Times, 26 Feb. 1931, 11, t.c.)
WALKERTON, ONT., residence for Reuben Truax, Scott Street, 1937 (inf. Eldridge Truax)