McBRIDE, Hubert Carroll (1860-1943), a remarkably prolific architect in London, Ont. who can be credited with over one hundred commissions for buildings in that city and throughout southwestern Ontario, and as far away as Buffalo, N.Y., Lansing, Mich., and in Toronto. He was active in the following partnerships and firms in London, Ont.:
Peters, Jones & McBride, 1885-91 (with S. Frank Peters and Charles A. Jones)
McBride & Jones, 1891-92 (with Charles A. Jones)
McBride, Jones & Farncombe, 1892-93 (with Charles A. Jones and Frederick W. Farncomb)
McBride & Farncombe, 1894-1906 (with Frederick W. Farncomb)
H.C. McBride, 1908-1912
McBride & Fairfield, 1912-13 (with Harry B. Fairfield)
McBride & Gilbert, 1914-16 (with H. Bryan Gilbert)
H.C. McBride 1916-28
Born in London on 5 November 1860, he was educated at London Collegiate Inst. and trained in the office of Samuel Peters & Son from 1877 until 1882. He moved to Akron, Ohio and worked in the office of Frank O. Weary, a prominent architect there, before returning to London in 1884. In November 1885 he was invited to join in a new partnership with S. Frank Peters and Charles A. Jones (see list of works under Peters, Jones & McBride). With the departure of S.F. Peters for Winnipeg in 1891, McBride became the lead architect in a succession of partnerships in London that were active over the next two decades. He and Jones were joined by Frederick W. Farncomb in 1892, and McBride later operated an office in London under his own name, or in brief partnerships with others, and remained active in the profession until the age of 70 years. McBride retired in 1930 and died in London, Ont. on 21 February 1943 (obit. Free Press [London], 22 Feb. 1943, 2; Contract Record [Toronto], 3 March 1943, 28). A biography and photographic portrait of McBride can be found in W. Cochrane, The Canadian Album: Men of Canada, Vol. 1, 1891, 478. His son Thornton C. McBride was also an architect, and held the position of City Architect in London from 1925 onward.
McBRIDE & JONES (works in London, Ont. unless noted)
ROBINSON, LITTLE & CO., Richmond Street, major extension, 1892; additions, 1896 (Free Press [London], 29 May 1891, 3; 2 Oct. 1896, 3)
KING STREET, at Wellington Street, residence for Robert Hueston, 1891 (Free Press [London], 29 May 1891, 3)
AGED PEOPLE'S HOME, Richmond Street at Victoria Street, 1891 (Daily Advertiser [London], 2 Oct. 1891, 6, descrip.)
EAST END METHODIST CHURCH, Ontario Street at Dundas Street, opposite Queen's Park, 1891 (Free Press [London], 20 Oct. 1891, 3, descrip.)
WHARNCLIFFE ROAD, South London, residence for John Taylor, 1892 (Daily Advertiser [London], 6 Feb. 1892, 2, t.c.)
EXETER, ONT., Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church, Main Street South at Gidley Street, addition of a new Sunday School and Rectory, 1892 (Daily Advertiser [London], 28 March 1892, 2, t.c.)
McBRIDE, JONES & FARNCOMBE (works in London, Ont. unless noted)
PARK AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, new tower, additions and alterations, 1892 (Daily Advertiser [London], 15 April 1892, 5)
CENTRAL AVENUE, pair of houses for Edward Shea, 1892 (Daily Advertiser [London], 28 May 1892, 2, t.c.)
LITTLEWOOD, ONT., Methodist Church, Westdel Bourne opposite Little Church Drive, 1893; still standing in 2022 (Daily Advertiser [London], 3 Feb. 1893, 2, t.c.)
ST. GEORGE'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Wharncliffe Road, London West, new Rectory, 1893 (Daily Advertiser [London], 20 April 1893, 2, t.c.)
ST. THOMAS, ONT., store for W.R. Jackson, Talbot Street, 1893 (Free Press [London], 12 Aug. 1893, 16)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, residence for Murray Anderson, 1893 (C.R., iv, 17 Aug. 1893, 2)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, residence for Robert Watson, 1893 (Daily Advertiser [London], 9 Sept. 1893, 6)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, residence for Fred W. Coles, 1893 (Daily Advertiser [London], 9 Sept. 1893, 6)
HYMAN STREET, residence for R.H. Morrison, 1893 (Daily Advertiser [London], 9 Sept. 1893, 6)
EXETER, ONT., brick store for R. Pickard & Son, Main Street South, 1893; and residence for R. Pickard, 1895 (Daily Advertiser [London], 23 Sept. 1893, 6; C.R., vi, 14 March 1895, 2)
RIDOUT STREET SOUTH, residence for Arthur S. Emery, 1893 (Daily Advertiser [London], 25 Sept. 1893, 2, t.c.)
McBRIDE & FARNCOMBE (Ecclesiastical works in London, Ont. unless noted)
KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Bruce Street at Wortley Road, new transept and additions, 1895 (Free Press [London], 17 July 1895, 5, descrip.)
CREDITON, ONT., German Methodist Church, Victoria Avenue East at King Street North, 1896; still standing in 2022 (Free Press [London], 8 Feb. 1896, 7; Centennial Souvenir -Zion Church, Crediton 1851-1951, illus.)
WORTLEY ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH, 1896 (Daily Advertiser [London], 7 March 1896, 6, descrip.)
ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Queen's Avenue, new Sunday School, with alterations to church, 1899 (Daily Advertiser [London], 18 July 1899, 8, descrip.)
WINGHAM, ONT., Methodist Church, Minnie Street, 1901-02 (C.R., xi, 5 Dec. 1900, 1; Historical Sketch of Wingham Methodist Church 1863-1924, 12)
HARRISTON, ONT., Methodist Church, Young Street West at John Street South, 1903; still standing in 2022 (C.R., xiii, 4 Feb. 1903, 1)
MARKDALE, ONT., Annesley Methodist Church, Toronto Street, 1903-04 (inf. from Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee, Markdale)
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Dufferin Avenue at Park Street, new Sunday School, 1903 (Free Press [London], 16 Feb. 1903, 3)
WATERLOO, ONT., German Evangelical Church, Cedar Street, 1905-06 (C.R., xvi, 29 March 1905, 4; Daily Telegraph [Kitchener], 9 Aug. 1905, 6; and Chronicle-Telegraph [Waterloo], 24 May 1906, 3, illus. & descrip.)
MAITLAND STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, 1905-06 (Life of Maitland St. Baptist Church, 1937, 8)
KITCHENER, ONT., Trinity Methodist Church, Frederick Street, 1905-06 (Daily Telegraph [Kitchener], 8 Feb. 1905, 1, detailed descrip.; and 15 Aug. 1905, 1 and 6, descrip.; and Daily Telegraph [Kitchener], 17 April 1906, 1; ACORN - The Journal of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario [Toronto], xliii, No. 2, Fall 2018, 18-21, illus. & descrip.)
KITCHENER, ONT., St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Queen Street at Weber Street, 1906-07 (Daily Telegraph [Kitchener], 7 Sept. 1907, 11)
POPLAR HILL, ONT., Christian Church, 1905 (Free Press [London], 11 April 1905, 7, t.c.)
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, Richmond Street at Sherwood Avenue, new Parsonage, 1907 (Free Press [London], 2 Oct. 1907, 3)
McBRIDE & FARNCOMBE (Institutional works in London, Ont. unless noted)
WATFORD, ONT., Public School, 1894 (C.R., v, 10 May 1894, 1)
TECUMSEH PARK, new Grandstand, 1895 (Daily Advertiser [London], 21 June 1895, 2, t.c.)
VICTORIA JUBILEE HOSPITAL, South Street at Colborne Street, 1898-99 (Free Press [London], 25 Dec. 1897, 16, illus. & descrip.; 16 Nov. 1899, 5, descrip.; Daily Advertiser [London], 13 April 1898, 6, descrip.)
LIBERAL CLUB, Dundas Street, 1898 (Daily Advertiser [London], 7 Feb. 1898, 7, descrip.)
THAMESFORD, ONT., School House, 1899 (Daily Advertiser [London], 3 June 1899, 1, t.c.)
BUFFALO, N.Y., USA, the Canadian Pavilion at the Pan-American Exposition, 1901 (Victoria Daily Times, 11 April 1901, 8; Free Press [London], 31 July 1901, 6, illus. & descrip.)
LIBERAL CLUB, Queen's Avenue at Park Street, for local members of the Liberal Party of Canada, 1903 (Free Press [London], 3 Feb. 1903, 10)
CLINTON, ONT., large addition to the Huron County House of Refuge, 1903 (Free Press [London], 10 Oct. 1903, 16)
THOMAS ALLOWAY HOME FOR CHILDREN, Wharncliffe Road, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 25 Nov. 1903, 2, t.c.)
STRATFORD, ONT., Armoury Building, Waterloo Street at Albert Street, 1904-05 (Canada, Sessional Papers, 1906, Report of the Chief Architect, No. 19, 28, descrip.)
PETROLIA, ONT., Central School, 1906 (Free Press [London], 15 June 1906, 10)
McBRIDE & FARNCOMBE (Commercial & Industrial works in London unless noted)
PETROLIA, ONT., store for D. McMillan, 1894 (Daily Advertiser [London], 23 June 1894, 2, t.c.)
HURON & ERIE LOAN AND SAVINGS CO., Richmond Street, office block, 1894 (Free Press [London], 17 Nov. 1894, 3, descrip.)
DUKE OF YORK HOTEL, Dundas Street near Adelaide Street, addition, 1895 (Daily Advertiser [London], 20 Nov. 1895, 1)
HISCOX BUILDING, for the Bank of Toronto, Richmond Street at King Street, 1896; addition 1903 (Free Press [London], 3 Oct. 1896, 5, illus. & descrip.; 8 Aug. 1903, 6, illus.; C.A.B., x, Aug. 1897, 147, descrip. and illus.)
HIGGINS BLOCK, Dundas Street near Clarence Street, 1896 (Free Press [London], 7 March 1896, 3, descrip.)
THOMAS ROBINSON & CO., Bathurst Street near Adelaide Street, warehouse, 1896 (Free Press [London], 27 Aug. 1896, 8)
GORMAN, ECKERT & CO., Clarence Street at York Street, warehouse, 1898 (Daily Advertiser [London], 29 June 1898, 6; 24 Oct. 1898, 6)
SANITARY DAIRY CO., Wellington Street, 1901 (Free Press [London], 27 Dec. 1900, 5, illus.)
BANK OF TORONTO, Dundas Street at Adelaide Street, 1901 (C.R., xii, 13 Feb. 1901, 4)
CLARENCE STREET, warehouse for Martin O'Meara, 1901 (C.R., xii, 5 June 1901, 6)
ALBERT STREET, new offices for Adam Beck, 1901 (C.R., xii, 24 April 1901, 2)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., commercial block for Hon. James Sutherland, for Canadian Express Office and the Masonic Hall, Dundas Street, 1901 (Free Press [London], 26 June 1901, 8)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., store for Dr. Field, Dundas Street, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 12 Feb. 1902, 2)
FROST & WOOD CO., Pall Mall Street at Richmond Street, warehouse, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 26 March 1902, 2)
LONDON ADVERTISER OFFICE, Dundas Street, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 30 April 1902, 2)
PEOPLE'S BUILDING & LOAN CO., Richmond Street near Dundas Street, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 28 May 1902, 2)
LONDON ROLLING MILLS, Philip Street, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 16 July 1902, 2)
TORONTO, ONT., John D. Ivey Co., Wellington Street West, warehouse, 1903; demol. 1964 (C.A.B., xvii, May 1904, 87, descrip. & illus.)
LAWSON & JONES CO., Clarence Street, office and printing plant, 1903 (Free Press [London], 13 March 1903, 3)
THISTLE CLUB CURLING RINK, Piccadilly Street at Richmond Street, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 17 June 1903, 2)
WILCOX HARDWARE CO., Chelsea Green, 1905 (Free Press [London], 17 Feb. 1905, 6)
COOK-FITZGERALD SHOE CO., Carling Street, factory, 1905 (C.R., xv, 8 March 1905, 6)
WILLIAM DAVIES & CO., Dundas Street, retail store, 1903-04 (C.R., xvi, 16 Dec. 1903, 2, t.c.)
INGERSOLL, ONT., Trader's Bank, Thames Street at King Street, 1905 (Free Press [London], 12 April 1905, 10)
FORT ERIE, ONT., Trader's Bank, 1906 (dwgs. at Royal Bank Archives, Montreal)
W.J. REID & CO., Dundas Street, commercial block, 1907 (Free Press [London], 3 Sept. 1907, 1)
McBRIDE & FARNCOMBE (Residential works in London, Ont. unless noted)
DUNDAS STREET EAST, near Ontario Street, for John Agar, 1894 (Daily Advertiser [London], 31 Aug. 1894, 6)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, near Peter Street, for Malcolm H. Rowland, 1895 (Free Press [London], 20 March 1895, 8)
COLBORNE STREET, near Princess Avenue, for William Strongman, 1896 (Daily Advertiser [London], 26 Aug. 1896, 5, t.c.)
RICHMOND STREET, near Oxford Street, two houses for George Robinson, 1896 (Daily Advertiser [London], 26 Aug. 1896, 5)
ALBERT STREET, for John Jones, 1896 (Daily Advertiser [London], 13 Oct. 1896, 1, t.c.)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, at Park Avenue, terrace of five houses for Dr. Kingsmill, 1897 (Daily Advertiser [London], 30 March 1897, 6, descrip.)
ST. JAMES STREET, for Arthur E. Garden, 1897 (C.R., viii, 14 Oct. 1897, 2)
TALBOT STREET, near Albert Street, for James L. Johnston, 1897 (C.R., viii, 18 Nov. 1897, 2)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, for J.D. Clarke, 1898 (Daily Advertiser [London], 19 Aug. 1898, 1)
KING STREET, near Waterloo Street, for A.E. Crouch, 1899 (Daily Advertiser [London], 23 Sept. 1899, 6)
RIDOUT STREET SOUTH, near Victoria Bridge, for Andrew Durand, 1900 (Free Press [London], 12 May 1900, 3)
DUFFERIN AVENUE, near Colborne Street, for Samuel N. Sterling, 1901 (C.R., xii, 3 April 1901, 4)
DUFFERIN AVENUE, near William Street, for Mrs. L. Howard Ingram, 1901 (C.R., xii, 15 May 1901, 3)
INGERSOLL, ONT., for C.P. Wilson, 1901 (C.R., xii, 26 June 1901, 2)
COLBORNE STREET, at Queen's Avenue, mansion for John B. Smallman, 1901 (C.R., xii, 26 June 1901, 2)
KING STREET, near Burwell Street, for Alfred Tyler, 1901 (Free Press [London], 10 July 1901, 7)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., 'Altadore', a mansion for Hon. James Sutherland, 1901-02 (C.R., xii, 24 July 1901, 6; Daily Sentinel-Review [Woodstock], 1 Nov. 1902, 2, illus.)
RICHMOND STREET, for Caleb Stockwell, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 16 April 1902, 3)
TILLSONBURG, ONT., for W.A. Dowler, Harvey Street, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 16 April 1902, 3)
BURWELL STREET, for Robert W. Kidner, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 4 June 1902, 3)
INGERSOLL, ONT., 'Rokeby', for H.J. Hollindrake, 1902 (Free Press [London], 24 June 1902, 3)
PRINCESS AVENUE, for Charles H. Tune, 1903 (Free Press [London], 16 Feb. 1903, 3)
INGERSOLL, ONT., for Thomas Nagle, Charles Street, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 6 May 1903, 4)
ALBERT STREET, for William Bernard, c. 1904 (dwgs. at Univ. of Western Ontario, D.B. Weldon Library, Moore Coll.)
HYMAN STREET, for Edward Shea, 1904 (Free Press [London], 21 June 1904, 3)
DUFFERIN AVENUE, at Colborne Street, three houses for Benjamin V. Hole, 1905 (Free Press [London], 12 April 1905, 6)
H.C. McBRIDE (works in London, Ont. unless noted)
LUCAN, ONT., Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Main Street at Frank Street, 1908; still standing in 2023 (Free Press [London], 25 June 1908, 3, illus.; Canadian Churchman [Toronto], 28 Jan. 1909, 59)
RIDOUT STREET SOUTH, residence for John K.H. Pope, 1909 (dwgs. at Univ. of Western Ontario, D.B. Weldon Library, Moore Coll.)
MURRAY SHOE CO., Richmond Street at Piccadilly Street, 1909 (Free Press [London], 21 Jan. 1909, 2)
CHARLES S. HYMAN & CO., Richmond Street at Mill Street, warehouse, 1909-10 (C.R., xxiii, 15 Dec. 1909, 22; Canadian Engineer, xxxviii, 27 May 1920, 495-7, illus. & descrip.)
JOHN GARVEY & SONS, King Street near Clarence Street, warehouse, c. 1910 (NAC, MG30, B86, Vol. 16, item 8, Catalogue for the Fenestra Steel Sash Co., 44, list of works)
TRAVELLER'S CLUB, Richmond Street, major extension, 1912 (Free Press [London], 5 April 1912, 1, descrip.)
ST. MICHAEL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Cheapside Street at Maitland Street, 1912; Sunday School and Rectory, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 14 Feb. 1912, 62)
MOLSON'S BANK, Dundas Street near Richmond Street, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 14 Feb. 1912, 68; dwgs. at Univ. of Western Ontario, D.B. Weldon Library, Moore Coll.)
(with Harry B. Fairfield) ARENA RINK, York Street, 1912 (Free Press [London], 28 Sept. 1912, 20, illus.)
(with Harry B. Fairfield ) HURON COLLEGE, St. George Street near St. James Street, new Chapel, 1913 (Canadian Churchman [Toronto], 18 Dec. 1913, 833-4, descrip.)
ST. MICHAEL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL, Maitland Street, 1913-14 (London & Middlesex County Roman Catholic Separate School Board, Minute Book, 13 May 1913, 8 Aug. 1913)
(with H. Bryan Gilbert) OTTERVILLE, ONT., St. John's Anglican Church, Dover Street at Mill Street, 1916 (inf. Charles Addington, London)
(with H. Bryan Gilbert and Arthur E. Nutter) LORD ROBERTS SCHOOL, Princess Avenue, 1916 (Const., xi, July 1918, 228, 230, illus. & descrip.)
(with H. Bryan Gilbert) LANSING, MICHIGAN, U.S.A., a large residence for George Thomas, East Mount Hope Avenue at Teel Street, 1918 (Lansing State Journal, 20 July 1918, 1, illus. & descrip.; inf. Theresa R. Nanasy, Lansing, Mich.)
LONDON HOUSING COMMISSION, a tract of 54 detached houses, based on 6 plan variations, with 12 houses located on Spartan Street and 42 houses on Pine Lawn Street, 1920 (Brantford Expositor, 27 Feb. 1920, 3, descrip.)
LORD DUFFERIN APARTMENTS, Dufferin Avenue near Waterloo Street, 1928 (C.R., xlii, 18 April 1928, 73)
REX THEATRE, Hamilton Road, 1928 (C.R., xlii, 27 June 1928, 63)
SARNIA, ONT., Phillips Brothers Funeral Home, Victoria Street, 1928 (C.R., xlii, 4 July 1928, 53)
COMPETITIONS
EDUCATION DEPT., PROVINCE OF ONTARIO, 1900. McBride was one of 111 architects and draftsmen who submitted a design in the competition for a prototype of four different Public Schools, to be built in various towns throughout the province (Daily British Whig [Kingston], 20 April 1900, 5). He won First Prize of $125 for this design of a Three Room School. His winning design was published in C.A.B., xiii, June 1900, illus. with plans and elevations.
SMITH’S FALLS, ONT., Carnegie Library, 1902. McBride submitted two different designs in the competition, but both sets were rejected because the cost of each was far in excess of the grant provided by Andrew Carnegie (C.R., xiii, 18 June 1902, 2; M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 143). The winner was G.M. Bayly.
LONDON, ONT., Masonic Temple, 1910. McBride was one of several competitors who submitted plans for this building on Queen’s Avenue, but his design was “...thought to be too costly”. An elevation of his scheme was published in the Free Press [London], 6 Dec. 1910, 1, illus.