ADAMSON, James Edward (1887-c. 1914), architect of Montreal, Que., was born in England on 22 September 1887 and emigrated to Canada in 1905. He was a capable designer who executed many commissions in a Beaux Arts style. He was briefly in partnership with a 'Mr. Sparrow' in November of 1907, but by May 1908 he was operating a practice under his own name. In late 1912 he prepared an ambitious and flamboyant proposal for a ten storey hotel at the corner of Cypress Street and Stanley Street, but this project may not have been realized (Gazette [Montreal], 4 Dec. 1912, 6, descrip.; C.R., xxvii, 8 Jan. 1913, 49, illus. & descrip; Daily Witness [Montreal], 18 Jan. 1913, illus.). He may be the same person as "James C. Adamson, architect of Montreal' who was listed as the architect of a planned 6 storey hotel costing $1.0 million dollars in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1912 (Evening Mail [Halifax], 20 Sept. 1912, 5, descrip.). After 1914 he appears to have returned to England to serve with the British Army during WWI, and he may have been the same "James E. Adamson", architect of London, England and partner in the firm of Adamson & Kinns, Architects who are credited with the design of two large movie theatres in Nottingham and Kingston-upon-Thames in 1921. Adamson was later recorded as an architect in Bournemouth, England in 1939 (England & Wales Register for 1939).
James E. ADAMSON (works in Montreal & area)
LACHINE, Methodist Church, St. Joseph Street, 1908 (Canadian Cement & Concrete Review [Toronto], ii, March 1908, 54, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xix, 13 May 1908, 19)
LACHINE, St. Stephen's Anglican Church, major addition and alterations, 1908 (Montreal Daily Star, 4 July 1908, 11, descrip.; and 21 Oct. 1908, 14, descrip.)
POINT ST. CHARLES, Congregational Church, Wellington Street, 1908-09 (Canadian Cement & Concrete Review [Toronto], ii, March 1908, 55, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xix, 13 May 1908, 19; Le Prix Courant, Week no. 32, 1909, 44)
VERDUN, Methodist Church, 1908 (C.R., xix, 13 May 1908, 19; Montreal Daily Star, 12 Dec. 1908, 9, illus.)
WESTMOUNT, residence for Thomas M. Barrington, Grosvenor Avenue, 1908-09 (C.R., xxii, 2 Dec. 1908, 27)
WESTMOUNT, residences for Rupert M. Sharp, Grosvenor Avenue, 1908-09, (C.R., xxii, 2 Dec. 1908, 27)
CRESCENT STREET, residence for F. Charles Skelton, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 10 Feb. 1909, 21)
OLDFIELD STREET, at St. Martin Street, row of eight houses for A. Mackay, 1909 (Le Prix Courant, Week no. 27, 1909, 76)
COTE DES NEIGES ROAD, near Westmount Avenue, residence for J.B. Sparrow, 1909 (Montreal b.p. 1647, August 1909; Gazette [Montreal], 10 March 1987, A3, illus.)
COTE ST. PAUL, school for the Protestant School Commissioners, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 11 Aug. 1909, 21)
WESTMOUNT, residence for B.W. Grigg, Belmont Avenue, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 25 Aug. 1909, 21)
STE. CATHERINE STREET WEST, stores and flats for Charles F. Skelton, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 25 Aug. 1909, 22)
LACHINE, Beth Israel Synagogue, Ninth Avenue, 1909 (C.R., 25 Aug. 1909, 21)
OUTREMONT, residence for Richard B. Calverley, Querbes Avenue, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 13 Oct. 1909, 22, t.c.)
WESTMOUNT, row of four houses for R.G. Sharp, Belmont Avenue, 1909 (C.R., xxiii,10 Nov. 1909, 21)
OUTREMONT, row of villas for J. F. Maclean, Rockland Avenue, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 2 March 1910, 25)
OUTREMONT, two houses for Donald Munro, Ste. Catherine Road, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 2 March 1910, 25, t.c.)
WESTMOUNT, residence for Maj. Walter J. Sadler, Kensington Avenue, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 2 March 1910, t.c.)
BAPTIST TEMPLE & SUNDAY SCHOOL, Park Avenue at Mance Street, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 2 March 1910, 24)
COTE ST. LUC ROAD, residence for Ernest Latter, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 20 April 1910, 25)
OUTREMONT, Presbyterian Church, Davaar Avenue, 1910 (Montreal Herald, 21 March 1910, 10, descrip. & illus.; Montreal Daily Star, 14 Nov. 1910, 14, illus. & descrip.)
EDOUARD CHARLES STREET, at Park Avenue, block of flats for Roland Desjardins, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 16 March 1910, 26)
ST. LAWRENCE BOULEVARD, cigar factory for Joseph Grothe, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 20 April 1910, 26)
BAPTIST CHURCH, Fairmount Avenue at Durocher Street, 1911 (Montreal Daily Star, 10 June 1911, 8, illus. & descrip.)
ROUMANIAN JEWISH SYNAGOGUE, Chenneville Street at Dufferin Square, 1912 (Montreal Daily Star, 1 June 1912, 7, t.c.)
WESTMOUNT, two pairs of duplex houses, corner of Redfern Avenue at Western Avenue, 1913 (Montreal Daily Star, 22 Feb. 1913, 25, illus. & plans in advert.)