MUNRO, William Lawrence (1873-1929), a partner in the Hamilton firm of Munro & Mead. Born in Caledonia, Ont. on 2 June 1870, he was a talented and precocious designer, but no information on his early career in Hamilton has been found. By 1891 he had moved to Toronto to join the firm of G.M. Miller. It was in that office that he met another young architect William R. Mead, with whom he was to later form a partnership in Hamilton in March 1905. In 1891 Munro entered a design competition sponsored by Canadian Architect & Builder magazine. He prepared a Design for a Suburban Cottage, submitted under the pseudonym 'Kata Phusin' received Second Premium (C.A.B., iv, Dec. 1891, 103, 104ff, plate illus. & descrip.). The following year the same journal published his Design for a House, in the Edwardian style, prepared as part of his OAA Exam submission (C.A.B., v, May 1892, plate illus.). In 1893 his Design for a Town Church, in the Gothic Revival style, appeared in the Presbyterian church booklet entitled Designs for Village, Town and City Churches, 1893, 24-5, illus.
Munro registered with the Ontario Association of Architects on 16 January 1895 and success came early in his career when he won the competition for the Presbyterian Church at Caledonia, Ont., a sophisticated Gothic design showing the first traces of influence of the Arts & Crafts movement in Canadian ecclesiastical architecture. In March 1905 he invited William Mead of Toronto to join him in a new partnership in Hamilton (C.A.B., xviii, March 1905, 46). They worked together in Hamilton until 1907 when the increasing number of commissions from Toronto encouraged Mead to move there and to open a branch office, while Munro remained in Hamilton overseeing the design of projects in Wentworth County and surrounding towns. Their design for Victoria Public School in Kitchener, Ont. (1912) must certainly rank as one of the finest Edwardian institutional buildings in Ontario. Their name is also linked with a number of sumptuous private residences including that for Major W.F. Eaton, Lakeshore Road, Oakville (1916), a sprawling complex in the Tudor style containing 63 rooms, with adjacent Lodge-Keepers residence, a greenhouse, stables and garage. The firm of Munro & Mead continued to operate until 1918 when it was dissolved, and both partners decided to work independently with separate offices in Hamilton and Toronto.
Munro died in Hamilton on 12 July 1929 after an illness of several months (obit. Spectator [Hamilton], 13 July 1929, 28, with port., 20; C.R., xliii, 24 July 1929, 883; biog. Dictionary of Hamilton Biography, iii, 1992, 157). A photographic portrait of Munro can be found in the journal Construction [Toronto], i, Sept. 1908, 35. An early biography of Munro was published in the Evening Times [Hamilton], 16 Feb. 1905, 1, and in the Brantford Expositor, 21 March 1905, 1, and describes the formation of the firm of Munro & Mead, Architects (inf. Robert Hamilton, of Hamilton, Ont.)
W.L.MUNRO (works in Ontario and Manitoba)
GALT, ONT., commercial block of stores and offices for David Spiers, 1895 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 15 June 1895, 8, t.c.; Spectator (Hamilton), 19 June 1895, 8, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
CALEDONIA, ONT., Knox Presbyterian Church, Argyle Street North near Orkney Street West, 1898; still standing in 2022 (C.R., ix, 4 May 1898, 2)
BRANTFORD, ONT., a group of 8 houses for employees and workers at the Brantford Meat Packing Co., 1900 (Brantford Expositor, 14 July 1900, 5)
BRANTFORD, ONT., large residence for Frank Leeming, Dufferin Avenue South, opposite Maple Avenue, 1898-99; still standing in 2023 (Brantford Expositor, 27 Jan. 1900, 4, article regarding lawsuit by architect to recover fees; Toronto Architectural Eighteen Club Catalogue, 1901, Item 189; inf. Robert Hamilton)
BRANTFORD, ONT., major addition and alterations to a commercial block at King Street at Dalhousie Street, for Jerry Dunn, to be called The Hotel Brant, 1901-02; demol. (Brantford Expositor, 3 Dec. 1900, 10, t.c.; and 23 Jan. 1902, 6, descrip.; Spectator (Hamilton), 11 Dec. 1901, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton)
ALMONTE, ONT., Canadian Pacific Railway Station, 1902; demol. 1978 (C.R., xii, 15 Jan. 1902, 1)
DUNNVILLE, ONT., residence for James Rolstone, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 23 April 1902, 3)
PLUMAS, MAN., manse for the Presbyterian Church, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 23 April 1902, 3-4)
HAMILTON, ONT., residence for Rev. Thomas Geoghegan, Ida Street (now Delaware Avenue), near Sherman Avenue, 1902; still standing at 111 Delaware Avenue in 2024 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 15 April 1902, 8, and 21 April 1902, 8; C.R., xiii, 23 April 1902, 3; inf. Robert Hamilton)
BEAMSVILLE, ONT., Public School, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 28 May 1902, 2)
BARTONVILLE, ONT., Public School for S.S. No. 3, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 15 July 1903, 2, t.c.)
(with George M. Miller, Toronto) ST. CATHARINES, ONT., Ridley College, The Upper School [also called The Senior Wing], a large new college building on the campus of Ridley College, 1903-04 (Spectator [Hamilton], 19 Nov. 1903, 1; and 16 Sept. 1911, 5; inf. Robert Hamilton). A perspective drawing showing the proposed new Upper School was published in "Acta Ridleiana", the yearbook of Ridley College, Christmas Number, 1903, p. 1-2, with illus. & descrip., but lacking attribution to the architect.
CAYUGA, ONT., Presbyterian Church, Munsee Street South at Tuscarora Street, 1904; still standing in 2022 (Spectator [Hamilton], 30 March 1904, 8)
HAMILTON BEACH, a public school at Van Wagner's Beach, near Van Wagner's Beach Road, 1904 (Spectator [Hamilton], 30 March 1904, 8; Evening Times [Hamilton], 9 May 1904, 8. t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
GRIMSBY, ONT., a joint Public & High School, "...on the Alexander site", 1904 (Spectator [Hamilton], 20 April 1904, 8)
PORT COLBORNE, ONT., large factory for Cullen & Johnson, 1904 (Spectator [Hamilton], 15 June 1904, 8)
unnamed street, residence for Alexander Cowle, 1904 (Spectator [Hamilton], 6 Aug. 1904, 3)
DUNNVILLE, ONT., House of Industry, 1905 (C.R., xv, 8 Feb. 1905, 10)
MUNRO & MEAD (works in Hamilton)
RAYMOND L. HASKINS WINE MFR. CO., Sanford Avenue South at Aikman Avenue, large warehouse and wine vaults, 1905; still standing in 2023 (C.R., xvi, 29 March 1905, 6; Evening Times [Hamilton], 18 April 1905, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
HERKIMER STREET, at Kent Street, a large 3 storey residence for Isaac G. Thomson, 1905; still standing in 2022 (Spectator [Hamilton], 9 June 1905, 10; Evening Times [Hamilton], 9 June 1905, 12; inf. Robert Hamilton)
ABERDEEN AVENUE, at Ravenscliffe Avenue, 'Gateside', a residence for Major William Hendrie, c. 1905; with major addition, 1909 (Spectator [Hamilton], 3 July 1909, 1; inf. R.I.B.A., London, application form for W. Grayson Brown; inf. Robert Hamilton)
BARTON STREET EAST, near Gibson Avenue, residence for Dr. R.Y. Parry, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 7 June 1905, 4, t.c.)
UPPER JAMES STREET, residence for A.M. Cunningham, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 7 June 1905, 4)
(attributed) FREEMAN PLACE, near Mountwood Avenue, residence for William L. Munro architect, at No. 10 Freeman Place, 1907; still standing in 2022 (inf. Robert Hamilton)
HAMILTON MOUNTAIN, a residence for L. Munroe (sic), likely for William L. Munro, at 486 Upper James Street, near Inverness Avenue West, 1905; still standing in 2023 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 6 Oct. 1905, 12; inf. Robert Hamilton)
WENTWORTH COUNTY HOUSE OF REFUGE, John Street North, 1907 (C.R., xvii, 27 Feb. 1907, 5)
HAMILTON CLUB, Main Street East at James Street South, extensive additions and alterations, 1907; still standing in 2022 (Spectator [Hamilton], 3 April 1907, 14, t.c.; and 5 April 1907, 16, descrip.; C.R., xviii, 10 April 1907, 6; Evening Times [Hamilton], 3 April 1907, 8, t.c.; and 11 May 1907, Section Two, p. 20, descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
DUNDURN CASTLE, York Boulevard at Dundurn Street North, addition of an Art Gallery, and open-air Park Pavilion, 1907; the Pavilion design was not used, and the commission for Pavilion was later handed to E.B. Patterson (C.A.B., xx, June 1907, 103; Evening Times [Hamilton], 26 Sept. 1907, 12, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
FAIRLEIGH CRESCENT, near Delaware Avenue, large residence for Charles W. Laing, but occupied by W.E. Daniel, 1907; still standing in 2022 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 23 July 1907, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
MAPLESIDE AVENUE, at Glenfern Avenue, large residence for Arthur W. Treble, 1908; still standing in 2022 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 8 April 1908, 10; inf. Robert Hamilton)
ABERDEEN AVENUE, near Bay Street, residence for Thomas W. Barry, 1908; still standing in 2022 (Spectator [Hamilton], 19 May 1908, 1; Evening Times (Hamilton) 19 May 1908, 5; inf. Robert Hamilton)
MacNAB STREET SOUTH, at Markland Street, large additions to residence for John T. Glassco, including new entrance portico, brick and stone verandah, and one storey living room, 1908; still standing in 2022 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 19 May 1908, 5; inf. Robert Hamilton)
ABERDEEN AVENUE, at Turner Avenue, residence for James MacKay, 1909 (Spectator [Hamilton], 30 March 1909, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton)
RAVENSCLIFFE AVENUE, residence for Dr. Frederick L. Williamson, 1909 (Spectator [Hamilton], 27 Sept. 1909, 1)
GLENFERN AVENUE, at Kent Street, residence for George H. Barr, 1909; still standing in 2022 (Evening Times (Hamilton), 21 Oct. 1909, 10; inf. Robert Hamilton)
MARKLAND STREET, at James Street South, residence for Harry L. Frost, c. 1910 (Spectator [Hamilton], 16 Sept. 1911, 5)
RAVENSCLIFFE AVENUE, south of Aberdeen Avenue, residence for Isaac G. Thomson, c. 1910; still standing in 2022 (Spectator [Hamilton], 4 May 1910, 4; and 16 Sept. 1911, 5; inf. Robert Hamilton )
RAVENSCLIFFE AVENUE, near Aberdeen Avenue, a mansion for W. Egerton Phin, 1911; still standing in 2022 (Brantford Daily Expositor, 21 April 1911, 1, detailed descrip.; C.R., xxv, 16 Aug. 1911, 61; Spectator [Hamilton], 19 Sept. 1911, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton)
CORONATION HOTEL, James Street South at Jackson Street, for Walter Willison, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 7 June 1911, 62)
WENTWORTH ARMS HOTEL, Main Street East at Hughson Street, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 3 Jan. 1912, 66)
ARENA RINK & GRANDSTAND, for Dr. Leeming Carr, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 17 April 1912, 65)
QUEEN STREET SOUTH, near Aberdeen Avenue, residence for J.W. Lamoreux, 1913; addition of auto garage, 1915 (C.R., xxvii, 26 Feb. 1913, 69; Spectator [Hamilton], 16 April 1915, 19; inf. Robert Hamilton)
RAVENSCLIFFE AVENUE, major alterations to residence for Sir John M. Gibson, 1913 (Spectator [Hamilton], 26 Aug. 1913, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton)
MUNRO & MEAD (works in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan)
GRIMSBY, ONT., residences for R.A. Gibson, Gibson Avenue; and W.B. Calder, Main Street; and A.R. Henry, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 12 April 1905, 6)
CALEDONIA, ONT., residence for A.W. Parrish, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 12 April 1905, 6)
BURGESSVILLE, ONT., Public School, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 3 May 1905, 5)
BRANTFORD, ONT., residence for Charles J. Watt, Lorne Crescent, c. 1905 (inf. R.I.B.A., London, application form for W. Grayson Brown)
TORONTO, ONT., residence for Edgar James, Leuty Avenue near Queen Street East, 1905 (Toronto b.p. 1635, 27 July 1905)
TORONTO, ONT., Standard Meter Co., Morrow Avenue at Silver Avenue, factory, 1905 (Toronto b.p. l622, 26 July 1905)
TORONTO, ONT., Toronto Laundry Machine Co., Dundas Street West at Sorauren Avenue, large factory, 1905-06; still standing in 2022 (Toronto b.p. 2718, 19 Dec. 1905)
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MAN., Bank of Toronto, 1905-06 (Spectator [Hamilton], 30 Dec. 1905, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton)
MILTON, ONT., Halton County House of Refuge, at the rear of the Court House & Jail, 1906 (Canadian Champion (Milton), 25 Jan. 1906, 2; inf. Robert Hamilton)
TORONTO, ONT., East Toronto High School, (C.R., xvi, 24 Jan. 1906, 2, t.c.)
BRANTFORD, ONT., The Brantford City Club, George Street, major additions and alterations to existing building, 1906 (Brantford Daily Expositor, 18 Aug. 1906, 8, illus. & descrip.)
CALEDONIA, ONT., residence for Harrison Arrell, 1907 (Spectator [Hamilton], 29 May 1907, 5)
WINONA, ONT., 'Helderleigh', a mansion for Ernest D. Smith, M.P., on Old Highway 8, 1907 (C.A.B., xx, June 1907, 103)
DUNDAS, ONT., Knox Presbyterian Church, Melville Street, addition of a new Sunday School, 1907; still standing in 2022 (C.A.B., xx, June 1907, 103)
GRIMSBY, ONT., High School, 1907; re-tendered in 1910 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 12 June 1907, 12, t.c.; C.A.B., xx, June 1907, 103; Spectator [Hamilton], 16 April 1910, 24; inf. Robert Hamilton)
BRANTFORD, ONT., proposal for the new Brantford Collegiate Institute, Brant Avenue, 1908 (Brantford Expositor, 9 Dec. 1908, 3, descrip.)
DUNNVILLE, ONT., Haldimand County House of Refuge, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 28 April 1909, 18-9, t.c.; Spectator [Hamilton], 28 April 1909, 12, and 15 May 1909, 1, illus.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
FRUITLAND, ONT., Saltfleet Township School, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 2 March 1910, 24)
TORONTO, ONT., Courcelette Public School for S.S. 13, Courcelette Road near Kingston Road,1910; demol. 1958 (C.R., xxiv, 17 Aug. 1910, 26, t.c.)
BEAMSVILLE, ONT., large addition to public school for S.S. No. 2, 1910 (Daily Standard [St. Catharines], 28 July 1910, 3, t.c.)
KITCHENER, ONT., Victoria Public School, Joseph Street at David Street, designed 1909; built 1910-11; central tower removed c. 1970; main school buildings still standing in 2022 (Berlin News Record [Kitchener], 24 Sept. 1909, 1; and 12 Jan. 1912, 1, illus.; Daily Telegraph [Berlin], 13 Jan. 1912, 2)
JERSEYVILLE, ONT., public school, Field Road near Jerseyville Road West, 1910; still standing in 2017 (Spectator [Hamilton], 1 March 1910, 12, t.c.; Engineering Record [New York City], lxi, 5 March 1910, 68, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
BRANTFORD, ONT., St. Basil's Roman Catholic School, Pearl Street near Palace Street, 1910; still standing in 2022 (Brantford Daily Expositor, 17 March 1910, 1)
TORONTO, ONT., residence for D.B. Hannah, Castle Frank Road, 1910 (Toronto b.p. 19867, 18 April 1910)
DUNNVILLE, ONT., High School, 1910-11 (Daily Standard [St. Catharines], 3 Oct. 1910, 4; C.R., xxv, 16 Aug. 1911, 60)
WHITBY, ONT., Collegiate Institute, Colborne Street, 1911; demol. c. 1970 (C.R., xxv, 9 Aug. 1911, 61, t.c.)
ALDERSHOT, ONT., Wentworth County School, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 1 Nov. 1911, 57)
BURLINGTON, ONT., Central Public School, Baldwin Street, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 28 Feb. 1912, 63, t.c.; Spectator [Hamilton], 18 Nov. 1912, 15; inf. Robert Hamilton)
COBOURG, ONT., BOWMANVILLE, ONT., PORT ROBINSON, ONT., MERLIN, ONT. and HIGHGATE, ONT., factories for the Canadian Canners Ltd. of Hamilton, 1912 (Free Press [London], 11 March 1912, 11; Daily Standard [St. Catharines], 11 March 1912, 3, t.c.)
WESTON [West Toronto], High School, College Street at MacDonald Avenue, 1912 (Engineering & Contracting [Chicago], xxxvii, 24 April 1912, 54, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
YORKTON, SASK., an outdoor grandstand, for the Yorkton Exhibition Grounds, 1913; but perhaps not built (Saskatchewan Supreme Court, lawsuit for fees to Munro & Mead, Architects, 31 Dec. 1913; inf. Robert Hamilton)
YORKTON, SASK., Municipal Power House, Power Street, near Broadway Street West and Maple Avenue, 1913; still standing 2015 (Winnipeg Free Press, 26 April 1913, 2, t.c.; commemorative brass plaque dated 1913 mounted inside the building, listing "Munro & Mead Architects"; inf. Frank Korvemaker, Regina; inf. Robert Hamilton)
YORKTON, SASK., Ruthenian Catholic Mission Church, 1914 (Yorkton Enterprise, 5 Feb. 1914, 2; inf. Robert Hamilton)
YORKTON, SASK., Fire Hall, Smith Street at First Avenue, 1914 (Yorkton Enterprise, 18 June 1914, 1, descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
ELFROS, SASK., public school, 1914 (Yorkton Enterprise, 1914 (Yorkton Enterprise, 18 June 1914, 2, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
CHURCHBRIDGE, SASK., a brick school building, 1914 (Winnipeg Pree Press, 27 June 1914, 2, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
OAKVILLE, ONT., 'Ballymena', a country mansion and estate for Maj. William F. Eaton, Lakeshore Road East, 1916 (C.R., xxx, 8 Nov. 1916, 46; Const., xi, June 1918, 185-6, illus.)
CALEDONIA, ONT., residence for Osborne T. Scott, Caithness Street East near Banff Street, 1917 (inf. Paul Grimwood, Hamilton)
HAMILTON, ONT., outdoor market shelters at the Central Market, 1919 (Spectator [Hamilton], 21 Aug. 1919, 8, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
MILTON, ONT., public school, 1920 (Spectator [Hamilton], 15 June 1920, 18, t.c.; C.R., xxxiv, 14 July 1920, 56; inf. Robert Hamilton)
COMPETITIONS
BRANTFORD, ONT., Carnegie Library, 1902. Munro was one of five architects invited to submit a design for this building (Brantford Expositor, 12 July 1902. 2; and 4 Aug. 1902, 1). The plans by Munro were set aside and Stewart, Stewart & Taylor of Hamilton were awarded the commission.