MATTHEWS, Herbert Edward (1867-1941), a remarkably prolific architect who was credited with the design of nearly one hundred buildings in London, Ont. and southwestern Ontario. He later moved to Winnipeg, Man. where he continued to have a successful career. He was active in the following firms:
H.E. Matthews, London, Ont., 1894-1902
Matthews & Murray, London, Ont., 1903-04, (with William G. Murray)
H.E. Matthews, London, Ont,1904
H.E. Matthews, Winnipeg, Man., 1905-10
Matthews & Le Maistre, Winnipeg, Man., 1910-11, (with Frederick F. LeMaistre)
H.E. Matthews, Winnipeg,, Man., 1910-21
H.E. Matthews, Resident Architect for the Dominion Government, Winnipeg, Man., 1921-31
Born in London, Ont. in 1867, he passed his exams and qualified as a Provincial Land Surveyor in 1885 (Free Press [London], 8 Oct. 1885, 8), and became a pupil of George P. Durand, a leading architect in London. After the untimely death of Durand in December 1889, Matthews moved to Toronto where he obtained a position with Darling & Curry, Architects (Free Press [London], 20 March 1890, 3). The opportunity to work under the direction of Frank Darling, an influential figure in Canadian architecture, left a strong impression on Matthews, as can be seen in the design of his very first commission in London, the winning entry in the competition for the Free Public Library (1894-95). Darling also likely played a part in encouraging Matthews to leave Canada in 1893 and to move to New York City to gain experience working with Charles C. Haight (1841-1917), a leading designer of ecclesiastical and educational buildings.
Matthews returned to London in early 1894 (Daily Advertiser [London], 15 May 1894, 8) and opened an office under his own name, and received a significant boost to his career when he won the competition for the London Public Library. The following year, Matthews achieved another local success when he obtained the appointment of Architect to the London Board of Education, ensuring him a steady stream of commissions for school buildings over the next four years (Free Press [London], 3 July 1895, 4). Matthews employed a variety of styles in work, ranging from the Romanesque Revival (best seen is his design for the London Public Library) to a High Victorian style (evident in his plan for the Thomas McCormick mansion, 1896).
He formed a partnership in October 1903 in London with William D. Murray, one of his pupils, but their collaboration was short-lived, and dissolved within a year. For unknown reasons, Matthews decided to close his successful London, Ont. office in 1905; his successor in London was W. Fletcher Shepherd who took over the practise (Toronto Daily Star, 27 Sept. 1905, 9). Matthews moved to Winnipeg, Man. where he was actively involved with the formation of the Manitoba Architects Association in 1906, and later served as their President in 1914. He also worked there under his own name, and was briefly in partnership with Frederick F. LeMaistre in 1910. Matthews closed his private practice there in 1921 when he was appointed Resident Architect for the Dominion Government, overseeing the construction of major federal buildings in northwestern Ontario and Manitoba. He held this position for the next decade, and resigned from the M.A.A. in March 1931. Matthews died in Winnipeg on 7 December 1941 (obit. Winnipeg Tribune, 9 Dec. 1941, 20; London Free Press, 13 Dec. 1941, 3; R.A.I.C. Journal, xix, March 1942, 50).
H.E. MATTHEWS (Institutional & Ecclesiastical works in London unless noted)
FREE LIBRARY, Queen's Avenue at Wellington Street, 1894-95 (Free Press [London], 14 Sept. 1894, 3, descrip.; 5 Dec. 1894, 5, illus. & descrip.; C.A.B., vii, Dec. 1894, illus.; dwgs. at London Public Library, Local History Room, LG-Drawer 4)
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP, ONT., School for Section No. 4, 1895 (Free Press [London], 2 March 1895, 3)
SOUTHERN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, Horton Street near Burwell Street, 1896 (Daily Advertiser [London], 9 March 1896, 6, descrip.; 27 April 1897, 6, descrip.)
ST. GEORGE'S PUBLIC SCHOOL, Waterloo Street, addition, 1896 (Daily Advertiser [London], 13 June 1896, 1, t.c.)
LORNE AVENUE PUBLIC SCHOOL, addition, 1896 (Daily Advertiser [London], 13 June 1896, 1, t.c.)
RECTORY STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL, addition, 1896 (C.R., vii, 9 July 1896, 1, t.c.)
WORTLEY ROAD PUBLIC SCHOOL, addition, 1896 (C.R., vii, 9 July 1896, 1, t.c.)
COLBORNE STREET SCHOOL, Colborne Street near Simcoe Street, 1897 (Free Press [London], 19 Oct. 1897, 3)
YORK STREET METHODIST MISSION CHURCH, 1897 (C.R., viii, 12 Aug. 1897, 2, t.c.)
COMMERCIAL SCHOOL, Princess Avenue at Waterloo Street, 1898 (London, Board of Education Annual Report, 1898, 3-4; Free Press [London], 4 May 1898, 8, descrip.)
RICHMOND STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL, Richmond Street near Sherwood Avenue, 1898 (C.R., ix, 20 July 1898, 3)
ST. JAMES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Oxford Street at Wellington Street, 1899 (Free Press [London], 18 March 1899, 3, descrip.)
LAMBETH, ONT., Methodist Church, 1900 (Free Press [London], 3 April 1900, 3)
KINGSVILLE, ONT., Public School, 1900 (C.R., xi, 21 March 1900, 2)
BROWNSVILLE, ONT., Methodist Church, 1901 (C.R., xi, 23 Jan. 1901, 1)
COLBORNE STREET METHODIST CHURCH, new Rectory, 1901 (C.R., xii, 3 April 1901, 2)
TILLSONBURG, ONT., Masonic Hall and retail stores, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 19 Aug. 1903, 4)
(with W.G. Murray) THORNDALE, ONT., additions and alterations to the Methodist Church, 1903-04 (C.R., xiv, 11 Nov. 1903, 2, t.c.)
H.E MATTHEWS (Commercial & Industrial Works in London unless noted)
PICCADILLY STREET, at Colborne Street, shop and residence for William D. Thomas, 1895 (C.R., vi, 29 Aug. 1895)
YORK STREET, warehouse for John Tanton, 1895 (Daily Advertiser [London], 3 Dec. 1895, 5)
THOMAS McCORMICK BISCUIT CO., Dundas Street at Wellington Street, additions to factory, 1898; 1902 (C.R., ix, 15 June 1898, 5; xiii, 14 May 1902, 8)
CLARENCE STREET, near King Street, factory for J.R. Shuttleworth, 1898 (C.R., ix, 24 Aug. 1898, 2)
DANIEL S. PERRIN & CO., Carling Street, factory, 1899; additions 1900, 1902 (Free Press [London], 17 April 1899, 8; 30 April 1900, 5; C.R., xiii, 12 Nov. 1902, 2)
WILLIAM WYATT & SON., Talbot Street opposite Market Square, 1899 (Free Press [London], 18 March 1899, 3)
TALBOT STREET, opposite Market Square, three stores for John McMartin, 1899 (Free Press [London], 19 May 1899, 3)
CANADIAN VENEER & LUMBER CO., Elm Street at Pine Street, 1900 (Free Press [London], 14 June 1900, 5, t.c.)
SOUTHAM PRINTING & LITHO CO., Richmond Street near York Street, factory, 1901 (C.R., xii, 24 April 1901, 2)
CHARLES R. SOMERVILLE CO., Dundas Street near Adelaide Street, factory, 1901-02 (Free Press [London], 8 Nov. 1901, 8, descrip.)
THORNDALE, ONT., commercial block for Dr. Ford, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 26 March 1902, 2)
J. DARCH & SONS, Talbot Street, warehouse, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 30 July 1902, 2, t.c.)
THOMAS F. KINGSMILL CO., warehouse, probably on Carling Street, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 29 Oct. 1902, 2)
ALWARD LAKE, MICHIGAN, U.S.A., pleasure resort buildings, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 19 Aug. 1903, 3-4)
RICHMOND STREET, at Fullarton Street, new hotel on the site of the old Western Hotel, 1903 (Free Press [London], 24 Oct. 1903, 6, illus.)
(with W.G.Murray) WORTMAN & WARD, York Street near Maitland Street, office block, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 11 Nov. 1903, 2, t.c.)
H.E MATTHEWS (Residential Works in London unless noted)
RICHMOND STREET, near Simcoe Street, three houses for Charles H. Tune, 1895 (Free Press [London], 30 March 1895, 2)
CENTRAL AVENUE, at Wellington Street, for Daniel S. Perrin, 1895 (Free Press [London], 30 March 1895, 2)
PRINCESS AVENUE, near Waterloo Street, for Joseph Smith, 1895 (Free Press [London], 30 March 1895, 2)
HORTON STREET, pair of houses for Issac Duffield, 1896 (Daily Advertiser [London], 23 March 1896, 1, t.c.)
DUFFERIN AVENUE, near Waterloo Street, for James D. Smith, 1896 (Daily Advertiser [London], 18 April 1986, 6, t.c.)
WOLFE STREET, at Waterloo Street, for Thomas B. Higgins, 1896 (Daily Advertiser [London], 16 May 1896, 6)
GRAND AVENUE, at Gerrard Street, mansion for Thomas McCormick, 1896; demol. (Free Press [London], 10 Aug. 1896, 3; C.R., vii, 13 Aug. 1896, 2)
OXFORD STREET, for Mrs. M.J. Blizard, 1897 (Daily Advertiser [London], 27 April 1897, 1, t.c.)
RIDOUT STREET SOUTH, cottage for Thomas H. Smallman, 1899 (Daily Advertiser [London], 19 April 1899, 6)
DUFFERIN AVENUE, near Maitland Street, for George Mathewson, 1900 (C.R., xi, 5 Dec. 1900, 2)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, at Adelaide Street, two houses for Verschoyle Cronyn, 1901 (C.R., xii, 20 Feb. 1901, 2)
PICCADILLY STREET, near Colborne Street, three houses for John G. Richter, 1901 (C.R., xii, 13 Feb. 1901, 2)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., for D.B. Colbeck, 1901 (Free Press [London], 28 Feb. 1901, 3)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, for Dr. Chester N. Abbott, 1901 (C.R., xii, 17 April 1901, 2)
TALBOT STREET, pair of houses for William Wyatt, 1901 (C.R., xii, 1 May 1901, 5)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, at Adelaide Street, residence for the architect, 1901 (Free Press [London], 17 May 1901, 3)
ST. GEORGE STREET, at Central Avenue, for Charles Colerick, 1901 (C.R., xii, 11 Sept. 1901, 3)
THE RIDGEWAY, for Charles L. Jeffrey, 1901-02 (C.R., xii, 23 Oct. 1901, 2)
PRINCESS AVENUE, for John H. Dazell, 1901-02 (C.R., xii, 13 Nov. 1901, 3)
ELMWOOD AVENUE, at Marley Place, South London, for John E. Smallman, 1902 (C.R., xii, 1 Jan. 1902, 3)
CENTRAL AVENUE, near St. George Street, for Hugh M. Douglass, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 19 March 1902, 2)
THE RIDGEWAY, for Miss Emma Hall, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 25 June 1902, 2)
WELLINGTON STREET SOUTH, near Wellington Crescent, South London, for Mrs. Elizabeth R. Kennedy, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 25 June 1902, 2, t.c.)
RICHMOND STREET, two houses for John Morrissey, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 24 Sept. 1902, 6)
WHARNCLIFFE ROAD, 'Craigalee', for William T. Hamilton, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 25 Feb. 1903, 3)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, near William Street, for William Heaman, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 22 April 1903, 2)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, near Clarence Street, for Dr. H. Ardagh Kingsmill, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 6 May 1903, 4)
FOREST, ONT., for John Livingstone and for Robert Scott, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 3 June 1903, 3)
TILLSONBURG, ONT., for C.H. Denton, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 12 Aug. 1903, 2)
YORK STREET, three houses for George F. Morris, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 19 Aug. 1903, 4)
OXFORD STREET, near Wellington Street, for John S. Moore, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 4 Nov. 1903, 2)
H.E. MATTHEWS (works in Winnipeg unless noted)
STRADBROOK PLACE, residence for H.P. Dwight, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 29 March 1905, 6, t.c.)
RIVER AVENUE, residence for H.P. Grundy, 1905 (Winnipeg Tribune, 29 April 1905, 2, t.c.)
D.S. PERRIN & CO., Portage Avenue East, warehouse, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 24 May 1905, 6, t.c.; Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 23 Sept. 1905, 11)
WELDON BLOCK, Donald Street at Portage Avenue, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 28 June 1905, 4, t.c.)
NORQUAY STREET, fives houses for Robert Wyatt, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 28 June 1905, 4, t.c.)
BELL BLOCK, for F.C. Bell, Princess Street at Cumberland Avenue, 1905 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 1 July 1905, 6, illus. & descrip.)
WELD BLOCK, for William Weld Co., Princess Street at Cumberland Avenue, 1905 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 1 July 1905, 6, illus. & descrip.)
ROBINSON & CO., Albert Street, major addition to store, 1905 (Winnipeg Tribune, 23 Sept. 1905, 11)
PORTAGE AVENUE, near Victoria Street, warehouse for F.C. Bell, 1905-06 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 30 Dec. 1905, 16, illus.)
BROADWAY, at Good Street, residence for L.C. Macintyre, 1907 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 8 April 1907, 7, descrip.)
MEISEL MFR. CO., 1906 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 28 April 1906, 12, illus. & descrip.)
OWENA STREET, at Henry Street, a brick factory for the manufacture of cigar boxes, for the client Hon. Adam Beck, Esq., Minister in the Ontario Government, 1907 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 8 April 1907, 7; 11 May 1907, 2)
CATHEDRAL AVENUE, near Emslie Street, residence for Douglas N. Stevens, 1907 (C.R., xviii, 17 July 1907, 4, t.c)
WINNIPEG CASKET CO., Dufferin Avenue at Parr Street, warehouse, 1907 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 18 May 1907, 27, illus. & descrip.; Building Progress Number, 21 Nov. 1907, 20, illus. & descrip.)
WESTERN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, Home Street at Preston Avenue, St. James Park, 1908 (Winnipeg b.p. 882, 1908)
ST. MATTHEW'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Ellice Avenue at Sherbrook Street, 1908 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 9 May 1908, 9, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xxii, 7 Oct. 1908, 27; Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 19 Oct. 1908, 5, descrip., but incorrectly credited to Herbert Mason [sic], Architect)
GRANITE CURLING CLUB, Ellice Avenue at Hargrave Street, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 10 March 1909, 24, t.c.; misattributed to H.B. Rugh, with corrrection and listing of the actual name of the architect Herbert Matthews, in the Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 8 March 1909, 8)
WARDLOW APARTMENTS, Nassau Street at Wardlaw Avenue, 1909 (Winnipeg b.p. 856, 1909)
FARMER'S ADVOCATE BLOCK, Cumberland Avenue at Princess Street, addition of two floors, 1909 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 5 June 1909, 6, illus.)
BOYLSTON APARTMENTS, River Avenue at Lewis Street, for John Moxam, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 9 March 1910, 23; Winnipeg Tribune, 25 Feb. 1910, 1, descrip.; Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 2 April 1910, 20, illus. & descrip.; Winnipeg, 1988-The Year Past, 1990, 55-6, illus.)
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MAN., school for the Galacian Settlement, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 6 April 1910, 26)
MATTHEWS & LEMAISTRE (works in Winnipeg unless noted)
EDWARD L. DREWERY CO., Redwood Avenue, stables for brewery, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 11 May 1910, 27)
ASSINIBOINE BOWLING CLUB, Ida Street at Walnut Street, 1910 (Winnipeg b.p. 1920, 1910)
VIRDEN, MAN., St. Mary's Anglican Church, new Parish Hall, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 18 May 1910, 27; t.c.)
SPEIRS-PARNELL BAKING CO., Higgins Avenue, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 14 Sept. 1910, 27, t.c.)
WORTMAN & WARD CO., Saskatchewan Avenue at Dublin Street, factory, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 28 Sept. 1910, 27)
H.E. MATTHEWS (works in Winnipeg unless noted)
ARLINGTON STREET, residence for James O'Donough, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 12 Oct. 1910, 25)
ROTHESAY APARTMENTS, Preston Avenue at Home Street, 1912 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 20 April 1912, 14; Winnipeg b.p. 1099, 1912; Winnipeg, 1991-The Year Past, 1993, 53-4, illus.)
ST. MATTHEW'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Maryland Street at Livinia Avenue, 1912 (Winnipeg Telegram, 19 Oct. 1912, 2, illus.; Winnipeg b.p. 3088, 1912)
YALE AVENUE, residence for Henry B. Byrnes, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 10 April 1912, 66)
FARMER'S ADVOCATE BUILDING, Notre Dame Avenue at McMicken Street, 1912 (Winnipeg Tribune, 28 March 1912, 15, descrip.; C.R., xxvi, 10 April 1912, 69)
NORTH WINNIPEG DRILL HALL, Machray Avenue at McGregor Street, 1914-15 (NAC, RG11, Vol. 3924, dwgs. prepared by Matthews in his capacity as Resident Architect for the Dept. of Public Works in Ottawa)
NORWAY HOUSE, MAN., Methodist Indian Boarding School, c. 1915 (dwgs at NAC, RG22, 77803/11; bundle 55)
NORTH TRANSCONA, MAN., Grain Inspection Building, 1914-15 (Canada, Sessional Papers, 1916, Report No. 19, 85)
ESTEVAN, SASK., Presbyterian Church, 1915, but not built (Morning Leader (Regina), 3 June 1915, 8, t.c.; inf. Frank Korvemaker, Regina)
McGREGOR STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL, 1918 (Winnipeg Tribune, 24 June 1918, 2, t.c.)
GRAIN INSPECTION BUILDING, in the C.P.R. Yards near Jarvis Avenue at McKenzie Street, for the Federal Dept. of Public Works, 1926-27 (Winnipeg Tribune, 21 Dec. 1926, 17, descrip.)
DEER LODGE HOSPITAL, Portage Avenue, major addition, 1929 (C.R., xliii, 24 July 1929, 60)
COMPETITIONS
WINNIPEG, MAN., Contagious Diseases Hospital, in Riverview, 1911. The firm of Matthews & Maistre [sic] were one of 13 Winnipeg architects who submitted a design in this competition. They were awarded 5th Prize of $150 for their effort (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 10 April 1911, 1, competition report). The winner was Herbert Rugh.