HEPBURN, Alexander (1830-1902), a remarkably prolific architect who lived and worked in Stratford, Ontario from 1855 until his death in 1902. He was a dominant force in the architectural profession in Perth County for more than thirty years, and his prodigious output included more than 120 buildings throughout the region. This included commissions for commercial, industrial, institutional, ecclesiastical and residential works in Perth County. The legacy of the Hepburn family of architects included his son Thomas J. Hepburn, who trained under his father, and it was Thomas who became the successor to his father’s practise after 1902.
Born in Dufftown, Co. Banffshire, Scotland in 1830, Alexander Hepburn was educated there and was trained as an architect in the city of Aberdeen. He later emigrated to Canada in 1854, and by December 1855 he had settled in Stratford, Ontario where he worked as a carpenter in the building trades. He began to style himself as an architect in December 1867, and a local paper commended Hepburn for having proven himself to be “...as good with the pencil as at the [carpenter's] bench” (Stratford Beacon, 8 Dec. 1867, 2 & 3). In 1868, he had taken on new architectural commissions but was still sought after by other architects for his carpentry skills. The London, Ont. architect William Robinson secured Hepburn for the woodwork contract on St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Beacon [Stratford], 24 Jan. 1868, 2), and the Toronto firm of Gundry & Langley obtained Hepburn's services on the interiors of the new St. James Episcopal Church (Beacon [Stratford], 31 Jan. 1868, 2).
Within one year, Hepburn had gained a professional reputation as “...a thoroughly practical and tasteful architect” who was “....well-grounded in the profession, as the numerous buildings in town erected from his plans and specifications fully attest” (Beacon [Straford], 22 Oct. 1869, 2, and with business card and advert. p. 3). His major commissions in Stratford include the Royal Canadian Bank (1868), Romeo Ward School (1873-74), and the Phoenix Block (1875). In nearby Mitchell, Ontario, his significant works include The Royal Block of stores and hotel (1872-74), the Hicks House Hotel and stores (1872-73), and the Oddfellows Hall Block (1875). After 1880, Hepburn obtained the position of City Engineer for Stratford, and he was joined in his architectural office by his son Thomas J. Hepburn.
Hepburn died in Stratford on 2 April 1902 (obituary Stratford Evening Herald, 2 April 1902, 1; inf. Kent Rawson, Architect, Toronto; inf. Carolynn Bart-Riedstra, Stratford-Perth Archives). A major collection of original architectural drawings by Hepburn has survived, and is now held by the Stratford-Perth Archives. This collection includes over 120 projects dating from 1867 to 1892. A detailed Finding Aid to the collection was prepared in 1995 by Kent Rawson, OAA, architect of Toronto, Ont. A photographic portrait of Hepburn taken c. 1880 can be found at the Stratford=Perth Archives, Acc. 72.28.576 (B).
Alexander HEPBURN (Ecclesiastical works in Stratford)
WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH, Erie Street, major addition, 1869 (Stratford Beacon, 29 April 1870, 2, descrip.; Christian Guardian [Toronto], 11 May 1870, 73, descrip.)
KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Ontario Street at Waterloo Street, 1871, alterations and improvements, 1898; burned 1913; rebuilt by Lindsay, Brydon & Greig of Toronto (Globe [Toronto], 24 Feb. 1871, 3, t.c.; C.R., ix, 9 Nov. 1898, 2, t.c.; A. W. Fisher, Knox Church Stratford: A History 1844-1931, 29-31, illus. & descrip.)
NORMAN STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, conversion of the old church into two dwellings, 1872 (Stratford Beacon, 10 May 1872, 3, t.c.)
ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH, Mornington Street, a rectory for the church, 1876 (Stratford Beacon, 25 Aug. 1876, 3, t.c.)
HOME MISSION ANGLICAN CHAPEL (later Home Memorial Church), Gore Street at Home Street, 1876 (Stratford Beacon, 15 Sept. 1876, 3, t.c.)
CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH, Erie Street, rebuilding of the church after a fire, 1897 (C.R., viii, 15 April 1897, 2)
ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, alterations and improvements, 1899 (C.R., x, 22 March 1899, 2)
Alexander HEPBURN (Institutional works in Stratford)
ROMEO WARD SCHOOL, Grange Street, 1873; demol. (Stratford Beacon,17 Jan. 1873, 3, t.c.; 5 Sept. 1873, 3, t.c.)
AVON WARD SCHOOL, Hibernia Street, 1873 (Stratford Beacon, 11 July 1873, 3, t.c.; 5 Sept. 1873, 3, t.c.; 8 Jan. 1875, 2)
SHAKESPEARE WARD SCHOOL, 1873-74 (Stratford Beacon, 11 July 1873, 3, t.c.; 8 Jan. 1875, 2)
FALSTAFF WARD SCHOOL, 1874 (Stratford Beacon, 22 May 1874, 3, t.c.)
TOWN HALL, interior alterations, 1874; addition of mansard roof and clock tower, 1876 (Stratford Beacon, 12 June 1874, 3, t.c.; 24 March 1876, 2, descrip.)
PERTH COUNTY COURT HOUSE, addition for offices and council chamber, 1874; burned 1887 (Stratford Beacon, 19 June 1874, 3, t.c.)
MARKET SQUARE, public fountain, 1877 (Stratford Beacon, 5 Oct. 1877, 2)
QUEEN'S PARK, park pavilion, 1897 (Beacon-Herald [Stratford], 7 Feb. 1969)
OLD CITY HALL, alterations and rebuilding, 1898 (C.R., ix, 29 June 1898, 2, t.c.)
STRATFORD COLLEGIATE, St. Andrew Street, addition of a Domestic Science & Manual Training Building, 1901 (C.R., xii, 22 May 1901, 3)
Alexander HEPBURN (Commercial & Industrial works in Stratford)
COMMERCIAL HOTEL, Market Square, 1867-68; addition of mansard roof, 1879; stables, 1880 (Stratford Beacon, 3 April 1868, 2; 11 April 1879, 3, t.c.; 30 Jan. 1880, 2)
ROYAL CANADIAN BANK, Market Square, 1868 (Stratford Beacon, 13 March 1868, 2, descrip.; Globe [Toronto], 20 March 1868, 2, descrip.)
G. KERR LTD., woolen factory and tannery 'on the grounds adjacent to the Albion Hotel, Ontario Street', 1868-69 (Stratford Beacon, 4 Dec. 1868, 2)
W. & F. WORKMAN CO., warehouse for William and Frederick Workman, Ontario Street, 1868-69; reconstruction, 1883 (Stratford Beacon, 4 Dec. 1868, 3; 8 June 1883, 3, t.c.)
MARKET STREET, pair of stores for Henry Gibson, 1872 (Stratford Beacon, 9 Feb. 1872, 3, t.c.)
CARRALL BLOCK, Albert Street fronting on Market Square, 1873 (Stratford Beacon, 7 Feb. 1873, 3; 27 June 1873, 2, descrip.)
ARGYLE BLOCK and ODBERT BLOCK, two adjoining commercial blocks for D. Campbell and John Odbert, Ontario Street at Church Street, 1874 (Stratford Beacon, 27 Feb. 1874, 3, t.c.)
ERIE STREET, at Patrick Street, hotel for James Dunn, 1875 (Stratford Beacon, 26 Feb. 1875, 3, t.c.)
JEFFREY & McLENHAN LTD., warehouse behind existing store adjacent to the Phoenix Block, Ontario Street, 1875 (Stratford Beacon, 12 March 1875, 3, t.c.)
PERTH FURNITURE WAREHOUSES, in the Argyle Block, Ontario Street at Church Street, 1875 (Stratford Beacon, 9 April 1875, 3, t.c.)
J. & R. FORBES, Ontario Street, livery stables, 1875 (Stratford Beacon, 23 April 1875, 2)
ALBION BLOCK, Ontario Street, conversion of the former Albion Hotel into three stores, 1874-75 (Stratford Beacon, 21 May 1875, 2)
PHOENIX BLOCK (also called Regent Hall) and NAYSMYTH'S DRUG STORE, Ontario Street, 1875 (Stratford Beacon, 21 May 1875, 2)
CROWN HOTEL, new facade and interior alterations, 1876 (Stratford Beacon, 5 May 1876, 3, t.c.)
CARTWRIGHT'S BATH HOUSE, Ontario Street at Nile Street, 1877 (Stratford Beacon, 22 June 1877, 3, t.c.)
MARKET STREET, hotel and store for Thomas Holliday, 1880 (Stratford Beacon, 30 Jan. 1880, 3, t.c.)
ALBERT STREET, hotel for John W. Kastner, 1880 (Stratford Beacon, 20 Feb. 1880, 3, t.c.)
MARKET STREET, commercial block for F.X. Graber, 1880 (Stratford Beacon, 30 Jan. 1880, 2)
ONTARIO STREET, block for four stores for Joseph Kneitl, Gilbert Horne and S.M. Byrne, 1880 (Stratford Beacon, 26 March 1880, 2, descrip.)
WINDSOR HOTEL, Albert Street at Market Street, for William Gordon, 1880-81 (Stratford Beacon, 5 Nov. 1880, 2, descrip.)
MYERS BLOCK, Downie Road opposite Market Square, for Robert Myers, 1883 (Stratford Beacon, 19 Jan. 1883, 3, t.c.; Stratford Times, 12 Sept. 1883, 2, descrip.)
BRITISH MORTGAGE LOAN CO., Market Street, bank and offices 'next to Mr. Hesson's store', 1884 (Stratford Beacon, 4 July 1884, 1)
ROFFEY BROTHERS, Ontario Street, a block of three stores for William R. Roffey and E.T. Roffey, 1883 (Stratford Times, 12 Sept. 1883, 2, descrip.)
WALSH BROS. LTD., Ontario Street, new facade and alterations to existing store adjacent to the Central Hotel, 1886 (Stratford Beacon, 13 Aug. 1886, 1)
ST. PATRICK STREET, office and store for Daniel W. Burt, 1887 (Stratford Beacon, 22 July 1887, 8, t.c.)
McEWIN BLOCK, Wellington Street, 1888 (Stratford Beacon, 9 March 1888, 1)
WELLINGTON STREET, at Market Square, store for Harry Ubelacker, 1888 (Stratford Beacon, 23 Nov. 1888, 1)
BRUNSWICK STREET, three stores for T. Hagarty, 1889 (Stratford Beacon, 22 Feb. 1889, 1)
CALDER HOUSE HOTEL, Erie Street, a conversion of the former Princess Hall into a hotel, 1889 (Stratford Beacon, 22 Feb. 1889, 1)
VICTORIA HOTEL, Downie Street at George Street, addition of mansard roof and tower, 1890 (Stratford Beacon, 16 May 1890, 1)
DOWNIE STREET, store and office for Dr. W.N. Robertson, 1890 (Stratford Beacon, 10 Oct. 1890, 1)
Alexander HEPBURN (Residential works in Stratford)
CHURCH STREET, for James Corcoran, 1869 (Stratford Beacon, 22 Jan. 1869, 3, t.c.)
BRUNSWICK STREET, for Dr. Shaver, 1872-73 (Stratford Beacon, 12 Jan. 1872, 3, t.c.)
BRITANNIA STREET, for George Scott, 1872 (Stratford Beacon, 5 July 1872, 3, t.c.)
CAMBRIA STREET, opposite Shrewsbury Street, for William McGuigan, 1872-73 (Stratford Beacon, 13 Dec. 1872, 3, t.c.)
ERIE STREET, row of four houses for Thomas M. Daly, 1873 (Stratford Beacon, 7 March 1873, 3, t.c.; 8 Jan. 1875, 2)
JOHN STREET, addition of one storey and alterations to house for Robert Moderwell, 1873 (Stratford Beacon, 25 April 1873, 3, t.c.)
ST. DAVID STREET, mansion for James G. Smith, 1873 (Stratford Beacon, 25 April 1873, 3, t.c.; 27 June 1873, 2, descrip.)
CHURCH STREET, for Alexander Smith, 1874 (Stratford Beacon, 24 April 1874, 3, t.c.)
HIBERNIA STREET, on Farm Lot No. 3, First Concession, Ellice Township, for Joseph Sharman, 1874 (Stratford Beacon, 8 May 1874, 3, t.c.)
HURON STREET, for John Sharman Jr. 'on the lot next to the Catholic church', 1875 (Stratford Beacon, 19 Feb. 1875, 3, t.c.)
CENTRE STREET, for B. McEvoy, 1875 (Stratford Beacon, 25 June 1875, 3)
NILE STREET, two houses for John Cooper, 1875 (Stratford Beacon, 10 Sept. 1875, 3, t.c.)
DOWNIE ROAD, office and surgery for Dr. D.M. Fraser 'adjoining his private residence', 1876 (Stratford Beacon, 21 April 1876, 3, t.c.)
CAMBRIA STREET, for John Buchan, 1876 (Stratford Beacon, 23 June 1876, 3, t.c.)
JAMES STREET, at Elizabeth Street, mansion for John Idington, 1877 (Stratford Beacon, 9 Feb. 1877, 2, descrip.; dwgs. at Stratford-Perth Archives)
COBOURG STREET, for Thomas Tobin, 1877 (Stratford Beacon, 23 Feb. 1877, 3, t.c.)
NILE STREET, at Falstaff Street, for James Weir, 1877 (Stratford Beacon, 20 April 1877, 3, t.c.)
WATER STREET, for P.R. Jarvis, 1878 (Stratford Beacon, 15 March 1878, 3, t.c.)
ONTARIO STREET, facing Queen's Park, for James Trow Jr., 1884 (Stratford Beacon, 11 July 1884, 5, t.c.)
ST. GEORGE STREET, for Johnston Abraham, 1887 (Stratford Beacon, 3 June 1887, 1)
STRATFORD STREET, for Angus Johnston, 1890 (Stratford Beacon, 16 May 1890, 1)
ONTARIO STREET, for James Gadsby, 1890 (Stratford Beacon, 16 May 1890, 1)
BRUNSWICK STREET, near Nile Street, for D.J. O'Connor, 1890 (Stratford Beacon, 16 May 1890, 1)
VINCENT STREET, at Centre Street, for Duncan Stewart, 1890 (Stratford Beacon, 16 May 1890, 1)
VINCENT STREET, at Huron Street, for George J. Waugh, 1890 (Stratford Beacon, 16 May 1890, 1)
WATER STREET, at Nile Street for Charles Stock, 1890 (Stratford Beacon, 16 May 1890, 1)
CHURCH STREET, block for three tenements for Ald. Alex Smith, 1890 (Stratford Beacon, 16 May 1890, 1)
CHURCH STREET, for Joseph Dufton, 1890 (Stratford Beacon, 30 May 1890, 1)
GORE STREET, for H. Paull, 1891 (Stratford Beacon, 15 Oct. 1891, 1)
CHURCH STREET, at Cambria Street, for R.R. Lang, 1891 (Stratford Beacon, 15 Oct. 1891, 1)
MILTON STREET, for F. Bloxam, 1891 (Stratford Beacon, 15 Oct. 1891, 1)
ALBERT STRET, for J.M. Beuter, 1892 (Stratford Beacon, 2 June 1892, 8, t.c.)
Alexander HEPBURN (works elsewhere in Ontario)
MORNINGTON TOWNSHIP, school for S.S. No. 1, 1870 (Stratford Beacon, 4 March 1870, 2)
SEBRINGVILLE, ONT., a church, 1872 (Stratford Beacon, 19 July 1872, 3, t.c.)
ELLICE TOWNSHIP, school for S.S. No. 9, on Lot 20, Concession 11, 1872-73 (Stratford Beacon, 11 Oct. 1872, 2, descrip.)
MITCHELL, ONT., The Royal Block, Huron Street at St. Andrew's Street, 1872-74 (Stratford Beacon, 11 Oct. 1872, 2 descrip.)
MITCHELL, ONT., Hicks House, a hotel and stores on the site of the old Commercial Hotel, Main Street, 1873 (Stratford Beacon, 29 Nov. 1872, 2, descrip.; 24 Jan. 1873, 3, t.c.)
DOWNIE TOWNSHIP, school for S.S. No. 5, 1873 (Stratford Beacon, 31 Jan. 1873, 3, t.c.)
SEBRINGVILLE, ONT., houses for Dr. Eby, on lots in '..Grant's New Survey', 1873-74 (Stratford Beacon, 19 Dec. 1873, 3, t.c.)
MILLBANK, ONT., residence for J.C. McLachlan, 1874 (Stratford Beacon, 20 Feb. 1874, 3, t.c.)
DOWNIE TOWNSHIP, ward school for the Gore of Downie Twp., on lots 52 and 53, Part of Lot 1, 2nd Concession, 1874 (Stratford Beacon, 20 March 1874, 3, t.c.)
ST. MARY'S, ONT., Registry Office, 1874 (Stratford Beacon, 19 June 1874, 3, t.c.)
MILLBANK, ONT., residence for William Rutherford,, 1875 (15 Jan. 1875, 3, t.c.)
MITCHELL, ONT., Oddfellow's Hall and stores, 1875 (Stratford Beacon, 26 Feb. 1875, 3, t.c.)
MILLBANK, ONT., pair of houses for Charles Benson, 1875 (Stratford Beacon, 9 April 1875, 3, t.c.)
MILVERTON, ONT., hotel and store for Valentine Kertcher, 1875-76 (Stratford Beacon, 29 Oct. 1875, 3, t.c.)
GODERICH, ONT., barn for H.Y. Attrill, 1875-76 (Stratford Beacon, 10 Dec. 1875, 3, t.c.)
NORTH EASTHOPE TOWNSHIP, school for S.S. No. 4, 1877 (Stratford Beacon, 16 Feb. 1877, 3, t.c.)
TAVISTOCK, ONT., warehouse for Krug & Falk, 1877 (Stratford Beacon, 20 July 1877, 3, t.c.)
MORNINGTON & ELMA TOWNSHIPS, school for United S.S. No. 1, Lot 1, Concession 5, 1878 (Stratford Beacon, 1 March 1878, 3, t.c.)
PERTH COUNTY, residence for P.R. Jarvis, Lot 179 in the Canada Co. Survey, 1878 (London Free Press, 18 March 1878, 2, t.c.)
SOUTH EASTHOPE & EAST ZORRA TOWNSHIP, school for United S.S. No. 3, 1879 (Stratford Beacon, 24 Jan. 1879, 3, t.c.)
USBORNE TOWNSHIP, Presbyterian Church, Thames Road near Farquhar, 1880-81 (Stratford Beacon, 3 Dec. 1880, 3, t.c.)
MORNINGTON TOWNSHIP, school for S.S. No. 3, Lot 15, Concession 4, 1881 (Stratford Beacon, 4 Feb. 1881, 3, t.c.)
MOTHERWELL, ONT., Presbyterian Church, Perth Road 163, near Line 16, 1881-82; church closed 2020, but building still standing in 2023 (Stratford Beacon, 9 Dec. 1881, 3, t.c.; St. Marys Argus, 22 Dec. 1881; inf. Larry Pfaff, Toronto; inf. Ian Mason, Sarnia)
PARKHILL, ONT., block for three stores for James Corcoran, 1882-83 (Stratford Beacon, 15 Dec. 1882, 3, t.c.)
MORNINGTON TOWNSHIP, school for S.S. No. 13, Lot 3, Concession 2, 1883 (Stratford Beacon, 16 Feb. 1883, 3, t.c.)
NORTH EASTHOPE TOWNSHIP, school for United S.S. No. 6, Lot 40, Concession 2, 1883 (Stratford Beacon, 17 Aug. 1883, 3, t.c.)
MORNINGTON TOWNSHIP, school for S.S. No. 2, Poole, 1885 (Stratford Beacon, 3 April 1885, 1, t.c.)
FULLARTON & DOWNIE TOWNSHIPS, school for United S.S. 4, 1885 (Stratford Beacon, 4 Dec. 1885, 8, t.c.)
MITCHELL, ONT., Methodist Church, Main Street at St. David Street, 1886; demol. (Stratford Beacon, 25 Dec. 1885, 1, descrip.)
MILVERTON, ONT., Burns Presbyterian Church, Main Street East near George Street, 1887; still standing in 2022 (Stratford Beacon, 11 Feb. 1887, 1, descrip.)
MILLBANK, ONT., Knox Presbyterian Church, Perth County Line 72, 1891; front entrance altered c. 1980; church still standing in 2022 (Globe [Toronto], 24 Feb. 1891, t.c.)
NORTH EASTHOPE TOWNSHIP, a church, Lot 26, Concession 5, Amulree, 1892 (Stratford Beacon, 17 Dec. 1891, 8, t.c.)
MORNINGTON TOWNSHIP, school for Lot 8, Concession 8, 1892 (Stratford Beacon, 14 April 1892, 8, t.c.)
MORNINGTON, ONT., residence for James Crim, 1892 (C.R., iii, 16 April 1892, 2, t.c.)
MILLBANK, ONT., school house, 1892 (C.R., iii, 23 April 1892, 1, t.c.)
CARLINGFORD, ONT., Methodist Church, Fullerton Township, 1892-93 (St. Mary's Argus, 14 July 1892, 3; 17 Nov. 1892, 5, t.c.; inf. Larry Pfaff, Toronto)
HAMPSTEAD, ONT., school house, 1900 (C.R., xi, 6 June 1900, 1)
COMPETITIONS
STRATFORD, ONT., High School, 1877. More than 30 architects from Canada and the United States submitted designs in this important competition. However, when the three finalists were announced in October 1877, the name of Hepburn was absent. He modified his design for the School Board, and was later awarded Second Prize (Stratford Beacon, 5 Oct. 1877, 2). The winner was the Toronto firm of McCaw & Lennox.
WOODSTOCK, ONT., High School, 1878. Hepburn was given Second Prize for the design which he submitted (Stratford Beacon, 27 Sept. 1878, 2). The commission was awarded to Matthew Sheard of Toronto.
ST. MARYS, ONT., Town Hall, 1890. Hepburn was one of four architects invited to submit a design for this project (St. Mary's Argus, 6 Nov. 1890, 3). The plan by G.W. Gouinlock was later selected as the winner.