EDWARDS, William Arthur (1848-1925) was active in Hamilton, Ont. for over 30 years, and he maintained a successful practise there from 1882 onward, carrying out commissions for ecclesiastical, residential and industrial buildings in the region, and in central Ontario as far north as Collingwood, Ont. and eastward to Deseronto, Ont. Born at Latchford, England on 3 January 1848, he arrived in Canada in 1871 and settled at Dundas, near Hamilton. No information has been found on his early education or architectural training, but his name as “architect & mechanical engineer” first appears in early 1879, and again in 1882 (Spectator [Hamilton], 26 May 1882, 1, t.c.; and 22 June 1882, advert. ). He was one of the founding members of the Ontario Association of Architects, established in 1889. One of the largest residential commissions completed by Edwards was an elaborate 26 room mansion for Thomas Oliver in Hamilton (1891). A virtual copy of this High Victorian residence, with the plan reversed, was designed and constructed by Edwards seven years later in Collingwood, Ont. for Charles E. Stephens (1898). By 1911 he was overseeing a large and busy office, where he had “…several competent draftsmen steadily employed” (biography and list of works in The Spectator [Hamilton], 16 Sept. 1911, 5).
After 1900 he was joined in practise by his son William H. Edwards, who had previously studied architecture in New York City, likely with the encouragement and advice of his father (C.A.B., xii, June 1899, 115). They remained active until 1913. His son later moved to Denver, Col. where he continued to practise as an architect. W.A. Edwards died in Hamilton on 8 December 1925 (obituary The Spectator [Hamilton], 9 December 1925, 4; Const., xix, Jan. 1926, 23; biog. Dictionary of Hamilton Biography, Vol. III, 1992, 46). A photographic portrait of Edwards can be found in the Canadian Architect & Builder [Toronto], iii, Dec. 1890, 138 (ff.). One of the students who trained in his office was W.E.N. Hunter, and another was Chester Phelps, later a successful architect of Niagara Falls, N.Y.
W.A. EDWARDS (Institutional & Ecclesiastical works in Hamilton)
FORESTER'S HALL, James Street North near Rebecca Street, 1883 (Spectator [Hamilton], 12 June 1883, 1, t.c.)
AGED WOMEN'S HOME & ORPHAN ASYLUM, Wellington Street South, major addition, 1884 (Spectator [Hamilton], 31 July 1884, 1, t.c.)
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, King Street East at Wellington Street, a parsonage, 1886; addition of a new Sunday School, 1893 (C.R., iv, 16 March 1893, 2, t.c.; Evening Times [Hamilton], 6 March 1893, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton; C. Davis, Centennial Souvenir of First Methodist Church, 1924, 61)
WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH, John Street North at Rebecca Street, a parsonage, 1886 (inf. from United Church Archives, Toronto)
CITY MARKET BUILDING, Market Street, 1886; demol. (Spectator [Hamilton], 13 March 1886, 4, t.c.; and 16 Dec. 1886, 5, descrip.; and 23 Dec. 1886, 5, descrip.; Canadian Champion [Milton], 17 June 1886, 4)
ST. MATTHEW'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Barton Street East at St. Matthew’s Avenue,, 1887; additions, 1888; Sunday School, 1892; all demol. (Spectator [Hamilton], 30 April 1887, 8, t.c.; and 26 July 1888, 4, t.c.; C.R., iii, 9 July 1892, 2; Evening Times (Hamilton), 6 July 1892, 8, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
WENTWORTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Barton Street East at Smith Avenue,1887; still standing in 2024 (Spectator [Hamilton], 2 May 1887, 4, t.c.)
WENTWORTH COUNTY COURT HOUSE, Main Street East at John Street South, major alterations to front entrance, with new exterior staircase, columns and canopy, and alterations to interior court room, 1889; demol. 1956 (Spectator [Hamilton], 4 July 1889, 5, descrip.)
BARTON STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, addition, 1889 (Spectator [Hamilton], 30 Sept. 1889, 4, t.c.)
ROYAL TEMPLAR HALL, James Street North at Vine Street, 1890 (C.R., i, 28 June 1890, 2)
CENTENARY METHODIST CHURCH, Main Street West, Sunday School, 1891 (C.R., ii, 25 April 1891, 2)
BARTON STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL, Barton Street East at Birch Avenue, major addition, 1892; demol. 1913-14; (Evening Times (Hamilton), 6 July 1892, 8, t.c.; C.R., iii, 18 June 1892, 2; inf. Robert Hamilton)
VICTORIA AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, Victoria Avenue at Evans Street, 1893; still standing in 2024 (Evening Times (Hamilton), 3 March 1893, 6, illus. & descrip.; and 22 April 1893, 8, t.c.; and 4 May 1893, 8; Spectator [Hamilton], 28 June 1893, 8, illus. & descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
SOPHIA STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL, Strathcona Avenue North at Lamoreaux Street, 1894; demol. 1984 ( Evening Times (Hamilton), 17 July 1894, 8; and 10 Aug. 1894, 8; and 7 Sept. 1894, 5, illus. & descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
BARTON STREET METHODIST CHURCH, Barton Street East at Milton Avenue, major alterations and improvements to the Old Star Mission Chapel, to create the new Barton Street Methodist Church, 1895; with addition of a Sunday School '....to be followed later by the main church building', 1906, and the church itself, 1906-07, and the adjacent parsonage, 1906-07; all demol. (C.A.B., xix, June 1906, 93; C.R., xvii, 15 Aug. 1906, 5; Evening Times [Hamilton], 19 July 1895, 8, descrip.; and 19 Oct. 1906, 10, descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
HAMILTON LADIES COLLEGE, major alterations and improvements, 1897; demol. (Evening Times (Hamilton), 22 Oct. 1897, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
EAST END FIRE STATION, Sanford Avenue North near Cannon Street East, designed 1907; built 1908; closed in 1982 and later demol. (C.R., xviii, 13 March 1907, 4; C.A.B., xx, June 1907, 103; Spectator [Hamilton], 23 May 1907, 12, illus.; Evening Times [Hamilton], 25 May 1907, 20, illus.; and 5 March 1908,10, t.c.,; inf. Robert Hamilton)
RYERSON METHODIST CHURCH, Springer Avenue at Main Street East, 1908; still standing in 2024 (Spectator [Hamilton], 12 Dec. 1908, 9, illus & descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
HAMILTON WATERWORKS PUMPING STATION, Woodward Avenue near Nikola Tesla Boulevard, 1913; still standing in 2022 (Toronto Daily Star, 5 March 1913, 13, t.c.; City of Hamilton, Hamilton's Heritage - Reasons for Designation, Vol. 5, June 2005, 149, illus. & descrip.)
ROYAL TEMPLARS HALL, Main Street East at Walnut Street, 1913-14; demol. (C.R., xxvii, 7 May 1913, 71; Spectator [Hamilton], 23 Sept. 1913, 15, and 17 July 1914, 7, descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
W.A. EDWARDS (Commercial & Industrial works in Hamilton)
J. HOODLESS & SON, King Street West, additions to retail store, 1887 (Spectator [Hamilton], 1 Aug. 1887, 4, t.c.)
HAMILTON STREET RAILWAY, Stuart Street, car sheds, 1888 (Spectator [Hamilton], 23 Feb. 1888, 4, t.c.)
HAMILTON VINEGAR WORKS, Wellington Street North at King Street East, major addition, 1889 (Spectator [Hamilton], 1 Nov. 1889, 4, t.c.)
GURNEY-TILDEN CO., John Street North at Rebecca Street, moulding shop, 1893 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 12 April 1893, 8, t.c.; and 15 April 1893, 8; C.R., iv, 20 April 1893, 2; inf. Robert Hamilton)
BARTON HOUSE HOTEL, Barton Street East at Hughson Street North, 1893 (C.R., iv, 10 Aug. 1893, 2, t.c.)
GREEN BROS. UNDERTAKERS, King Street East, addition to warehouse, 1893 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 6 Nov. 1893, 8, t.c.)
SAWYER-MASSEY CO., Wellington Street North, office block, 1897; major addition to boiler shop, 1902; warehouse, 1906 (C.R., viii, 17 June 1897, 2; and xiii, 12 Nov. 1902, 2; and xvii, 9 May 1906, 4, t.c.; Evening Times [Hamilton], 28 Oct. 1902, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
WALNUT STREET NORTH, commercial block for Joseph Ross, 1897 (C.R., viii, 1 July 1897, 2)
ROBINSON STREET, near Queen Street South, store and residence for Edwin Layland, 1898; still standing in 2023 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 27 July 1898, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
HART EMORY WHEEL WORKS LTD., Hunter Street West, at James Street South, large addition to factory, 1898; demol. c. 1930 ((Evening Times [Hamilton], 20 Oct. 1898, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton)
B. GREENING WIRE CO., Queen Street North at Peter Street, running south to Napier Street, several new buildings including:
additions to factory, 1899 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 16 March 1899, 8, t.c.; and 4 April 1899, 1; and 29 April 1899, 8; and 12 May 1899, 8; C.R., x, 17 May 1899, 3; inf. Robert Hamilton); and
office block, 1902 (Evening Times (Hamilton), 9 Jan. 1902, 1; and 13 March 1902, 8, t.c.; and 24 March 1902, 8; C.R., xii, 15 Jan. 1902, 2; inf. Robert Hamilton); and
mill building, 1903 (C.R, xiv, 18 March 1903, 3); and
major addition to mill, Peter Street, 1907 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 12 June 1907, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton); and
wire rope factory, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 4 Aug. 1909, 22)
JAMES JOLLEY & SONS SADDLERY WORKS, John Street South, a 4 storey factory at the rear, facing 12 Bowen Street, 1899; still standing in 2023; and garage, 1917 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 7 Sept. 1899, 8; C.R., x, 13 Sept. 1899, 3; xxxi, 7 March 1917, 45; inf. Robert Hamilton)
EDWIN PASS JEWELLERS, John Street South, near Jackson Street East, a 2 storey addition at the rear of the commercial block at 91 John Street South, for Edwin Pass, 1900; still standing in 2023 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 13 July 1900, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
LUMSDEN BROTHERS, MacNab Street North near York Boulevard, a large 4 storey addition to warehouse, 1901 (Spectator [Hamilton], 23 July 1901, 1; C.R., xii, 7 Aug. 1901, 3)
OTIS ELEVATOR CO., Victoria Avenue North, at Ferrie Street East, several new buildings including:
Factory and office block, 1902; demol. (Spectator [Hamilton], 4 July 1902, 1, descrip.; Evening Times [Hamilton], 4 July 1902, 1; and 5 Sept. 1902, 8; and 25 Oct. 1902, 10,, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xiii, 10 Sept.
1902, 2; inf. Robert Hamilton) ; and
Machine and carpenter shops, 1905; demol. (C.R., xv, 8 March 1905, 6; Evening Times (Hamilton), 27 Feb 1905, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
BEHM & WITTHUN CLOTHING STORE, Barton Street East at Cheever Street, a 3 storey block of store and apartments for Fred W. Behm, 1905; still standing in 2023 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 21 March 1905, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
PEREGRINE BLOCK, a 3 storey row of six shops and apartments, at 403-413 Barton Street East, between Cheever Street and St. Matthew's Avenue, for John M. Peregrine, 1907; still standing in 2022 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 4 July 1907, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
FROST WIRE FENCE CO., Sherman Avenue North at Princess Street, a large wire mill building, and a large galvanizing building, 1909 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 29 May 1909, 1 & 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
W.A. EDWARDS (Residential works in Hamilton)
HESS STREET SOUTH, under the Mountain, residence for R.E. Gallagher, 1890 (C.R., i, 1 March 1890, 2)
JAMES STREET SOUTH, at Herkimer Street, residence for Tunis B. Griffith, 1890 (C.R., i, 26 July 1890, 2)
ARKLEDUN AVENUE, residence for Charles Gurney, 1891 (C.R., ii, 29 Aug. 1891, 2)
MacNAB STREET SOUTH, near Herkimer Street, residence for Thomas Oliver, 1891; still standing in 2023 (C.A.B., iv, Sept. 1891, illus.)
MARIA STREET, near Hughson Street, a brick residence, perhaps for J.A. Henderson, at 47 Maria Street, 1893; demol. (Evening Times (Hamilton), 13 May 1893, 8, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
JOHN STREET SOUTH, near Arkledun Avenue, under the Mountain, residence for James Dunlop, 1896; demol. (Evening Times (Hamilton), 22 Feb. 1896, 8, t.c.; C.R., vii, 27 Feb. 1896, 2, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
HUGHSON STREET SOUTH, at Maria Street, residence for R.E. Gallagher, 1896; still standing in 2023 (Evening Times (Hamilton), 9 May 1896, 8, t.c.; C.R., vii, 14 May 1896, 3, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
ELGIN STREET, near Barton Street East, residence for Edwin K. Pass, 1896; still standing in 2023 (Evening Times (Hamilton), 9 May 1896, 8, t.c.; C.R., vii, 14 May 1896, 3; inf. Robert Hamilton)
BOLD STREET, at Park Street South, large residence for Samuel McKay, 1896; still standing in 2023 (Evening Times (Hamilton), 23 June 1896, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
ROBINSON STREET, residence for Samuel McKay, 1896 (C.R., vii, 2 July 1896, 2)
OAK AVENUE, near Barton Street East, residence for Charles Berry, 1897 (Evening Times (Hamilton), 30 April 1897, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton, of Hamilton)
BAY STREET SOUTH, at Aberdeen Avenue, residence for Francis H. Whitton, 1898 (Evening Times (Hamilton), 18 May 1898, 8; Spectator [Hamilton], 18 May 1898, 8; C.R., ix, 25 May 1898, 2; inf. Robert Hamilton)
BAY STREET SOUTH, at Markland Street, additions and alterations to large residence for Francis S. Malloch, 1899 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 6 April 1899, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
HERKIMER STREET, between Hess Street South and Queen Street South, residence for John Mills, 1900; still standing in 2022 (Evening Times (Hamilton), 12 Sept. 1900, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
DUNDURN CASTLE, York Boulevard, alterations to interiors of large residence, 1900 (Spectator [Hamilton], 9 Oct. 1900, 5, descrip.; C.R., xi, 10 Oct. 1900, 3; Evening Times [Hamilton], 12 Oct. 1900, 5; inf. Robert Hamilton)
BAY STREET SOUTH, near Aberdeen Avenue, residence for Jacob Flatt, 1901 (C.R., xii, 22 May 1901, 3)
CHARLTON AVENUE EAST (originally called Hannah Street), near Hughson Street South, large residence for William F.J. Gordon, 1904; still standing in 2023 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 29 April 1904, 12; inf. Robert Hamilton)
MacNAB STREET SOUTH, near Charlton Avenue West, residence for Rev. Samuel Daw, 1905 (Spectator [Hamilton], 16 Sept. 1911, 5)
CAROLINE STREET SOUTH, south of Markland Street, coach house and stables behind No. 309 Caroline, for Kenneth Cassel, 1905; still standing in 2022 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 16 Oct. 1905, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
CANNON STREET EAST, at East Avenue North, pair of semi-detached houses for William Robinson, 1906; altered; still standing in 2023 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 11 Oct. 1906, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
RAVENSCLIFFE AVENUE, south of Aberdeen Avenue, large residence for Thomas E. Hillman, 1907; still standing in 2023 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 28 May 1907, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton)
QUEEN STREET SOUTH, at Jackson Street West, residence for John M. Peregrine, 1914; still standing in 2024 (Spectator [Hamilton], 9 May 1914, 11; inf. Robert Hamilton)
W.A. EDWARDS (works elsewhere)
WEST FLAMBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, ONT., Methodist Church, at 200 Highway 8, opposite Weirs Lane, 1879; with interior alterations, 1884; converted to Dufferin Masonic Lodge in 1973, still standing in 2024 (Spectator [Hamilton], 8 March 1879, 1, t.c.; and 1 Aug. 1884, 4; inf. Robert Hamilton)
WEST FLAMBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, ONT., School House for S.S. No. 5, located on Concession 2, Lot 11, also called the Greensville School, Harvest Road, 1884 (Spectator [Hamilton], 14 Feb. 1884, 1, t.c.; inf. Sylvia Wray, West Flamborough Twp.)
DUNDAS, ONT., alterations and improvements to the Methodist Church, 1884 (Spectator [Hamilton], 7 Aug. 1884, 5, reproducing an item from the Dundas Banner newspaper)
BURLINGTON, ONT., Methodist Church, Elizabeth Street, 1886; burned December 1892; rebuilt by Charles Mills (Spectator [Hamilton], 12 March 1886, 4, t.c.; and 3 Feb. 1887, 5, descrip.; Canadian Champion [Milton], 8 April 1886, 4, descrip.; 3 Feb. 1887, 3, descrip.)
DUNDAS, ONT., offices, dwelling and addition to pattern shop for McKechnie & Bertram Tool Works, Hatt Street, 1886 (Spectator [Hamilton], 10 July 1886, 4, t.c.)
ST. GEORGE, ONT., 'Sunnyside ', a mansion for Dr. E. E. Kitchen, at 13 Main Street South, near Beverly Street North, 1887, still standing in 2024 (Brantford Daily Expositor, 22 Feb. 1887, 4, t.c., inf. Robert Hamilton)
BRANTFORD, ONT., Colborne Street Methodist Church, 1887-88, the completion of the church design begun earlier in 1886 by Albert H. Mellish (Spectator [Hamilton], 29 July 1887, 4, t.c.)
ALDERSHOT, ONT., Presbyterian Church and Sunday School, Plains Road East at Dovercourt Avenue, 1892; burned 1907 and rebuilt by W.A. Edwards, with later additions in 1956 and 1960; still standing in 2022 (C.R., iii, 20 Feb. 1892, 1, t.c.; Evening Times [Hamilton], 16 Feb. 1892 p.3, and 17 May 1892, 3, and 28 May 1892, 3, descrip.; and 16 April 1897, 8, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
SHEFFIELD, ONT., United Brethren Church [now Sheffield United Church], Old Highway 8 opposite Sheffield Road, 1894; still standing in 2022 (C.R., v, 5 April 1894, 2; Galt Reporter, 11 Jan. 1895, 4, descrip.)
WINONA, ONT., large residence for Jacob E. Van Duzer, 1895; still standing in 2023 at 1446 Highway 8 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 7 March 1895, 8, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton; C.R., vi, 7 March 1895, 2)
WINONA, ONT., residence for Murray Pettit, 1897 (C.R., viii, 29 April 1897, 2, t.c.)
DUNDAS, ONT., Fire Hall, 1897-98; demol. c. 1970 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 24 Sept. 1897, 8, t.c.; C.R., viii, 30 Sept. 1897, 1-2; inf. Robert Hamilton)
COLLINGWOOD, ONT., residence for Charles Edwin Stephens, Minnesota Street at Ontario Street, 1898 (Collingwood Bulletin, 6 May 1898, 1, descrip.; inf. Carole Stuart, Collingwood Public Library)
DESERONTO, ONT., Fire Hall, Edmon Street, 1899 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 15 April 1899, 8; C.R., x, 19 April 1899, 3; inf. Robert Hamilton)
DUNDAS, ONT., large warehouse for John Fisher & Son Co., 1899 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 10 June 1899, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
DUNDAS, ONT., 'Hillside Home', a residence for W.E. Lyons, 1907 (C.R., xviii, 12 June 1907, 4)