DURAND, George Ferguson (1850-1889)
(biography in preparation)
The following list of commissions is based on the sources cited. Many projects are illustrated and described in the publication by Nancy Tausky and Lynne DiStefano entitled Victorian Architecture in London and Southwestern Ontario, published in 1986 and referred to below as Victorian Architecture. The D.B. Weldon Library at the University of Western Ontario in London holds an extensive collection of drawings by Durand as part of the Moore Collection.
GEORGE F. DURAND (Ecclesiastical works in London, Ont. unless noted)
INGERSOLL, ONT., Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Thames Street, 1878-80 (Irish Canadian [Toronto], 5 June 1878, 2; Catholic Record [London], 13 Feb. 1880, 1, descrip.; Ingersoll Chronicle, 26 Aug. 1880, 3, descrip.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
WENDIGO, ONT., Presbyterian Church, 1883 (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 296-9, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
DELAWARE, ONT., Christ Church (Anglican), 1884-85; demol. c. 2000 (Free Press [London], 9 Sept. 1884, 8; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 299-302, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.; inf. Ian Mason, Sarnia)
ADELAIDE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, Adelaide Street at King Street, 1884 (London Advertiser, 1 Aug. 1884, 8, descrip.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
LONDON SOUTH, Knox Presbyterian Church, Wortley Road at Bruce Street, 1884; demol. 2002 (dwgs. at UWO., Moore Coll.; inf. Ian Mason, Sarnia)
ST. MARYS, ONT., new tower and steeple for St. James Anglican Church, 1886 (dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., new tower and chancel for St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Oxford Street, 1886; demol. c. 2008 (London Advertiser [London], 5 June 1886, 8; Catholic Record [London], 11 Sept. 1886, 5, descrip.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.; inf. Ian Mason, Sarnia)
SIMCOE, ONT., St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 1886 (dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
MOUNT CARMEL, ONT., Roman Catholic Church, 1887-88 (Catholic Record [London], 8 Dec. 1888, 4-5, descrip.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
MITCHELL, ONT., addition to Trinity Anglican Church, 1887 (London Advertiser, 30 April 1887, 8)
LISTOWEL, ONT., Knox Presbyterian Church, 1887-88 (Globe [Toronto], 4 June 1887, 14, t.c.; Free Press [London], 22 Dec. 1888, 3; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 333-5, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
COLBORNE STREET METHODIST CHURCH, Colborne Street at Piccadilly Street, 1889-90 (London Advertiser, 17 Dec. 1888, 3, descrip.; 13 Dec. 1890, 5, descrip.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 333-6, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
LUCKNOW, ONT., Presbyterian Church, Havelock Street at Hamilton Street, 1889-90 (Globe [Toronto], 21 March 1889, 5, t.c.; Lucknow Sentinel, 16 May 1890, 1, descrip.)
GLENCOE, ONT., Burns Presbyterian Church, Dundonald Road near Walker's Drive, 1889-90; still standing in 2022 (Free Press [London], 5 April 1889, 3, descrip.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
PETROLIA, ONT., St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 1889-90 (Free Press [London], 10 Oct. 1890, 8; St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church One Hundreth Anniversary 1858-1958, 9; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
GEORGE F. DURAND (Institutional works in London, Ont. unless noted)
LONDON EAST, Public School, 1881 (London Advertiser, 2 April 1881, 4)
ST. PETER'S ROMAN CATHOLIC BOYS SCHOOL, Park Avenue at Kent Street, 1882 (Free Press [London], 3 Aug. 1882, 1, descrip.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
BOND STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL, Park Avenue at Bond Street, 1882 (Free Press [London], 3 Aug. 1882, 1; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
SKATING RINK, Queen's Avenue at Picton Street, 1882 (Free Press [London], 18 Nov. 1882, 4, descrip.; London Advertiser, 4 Dec. 1882, 1, descrip.)
PRINCESS AVENUE PUBLIC SCHOOL, 1882 (London Advertiser, 3 Oct. 1882, 1, descrip.)
STRATFORD, ONT., Pump House, 1882-83 (Free Press [London], 7 Sept. 1882, 4; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 290-2, illus.)
EAST LONDON TOWN HALL, Dundas Street, 1883 (London Advertiser, 25 Aug. 1883, 4, t.c.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 293-5, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
AILSA CRAIG, ONT., Town Hall, 1883 (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1)
CUSTOM HOUSE, Richmond Street at Queen's Avenue, major addition and new clocktower, 1884-85; completed 1888 (London Advertiser, 24 Jan. 1885, 6, descrip.; 18 April 1888, 1, descrip.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 164-5, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
STRATFORD, ONT., Perth County Court House, Huron Street, 1885-87; Gaol, 1886 (Free Press [London], 16 May 1885, 3; Stratford Beacon, 29 April 1887, 1, descrip.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 312-19, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
LOBO TOWNSHIP, School for S.S. No. 8, 1886 (London Advertiser, 16 Jan. 1886, 5, t.c.)
MITCHELL, ONT., High School, 1886 (London Advertiser, 24 July 1886, 8)
STRATFORD, ONT., Skating Rink, 1886 (London Advertiser, 21 Sept. 1886, 5, t.c.)
WESTERN FAIR GROUNDS, Main Exhibition Hall, 1887 (London Advertiser, 4 June 1887, 4, t.c.; 17 Sept. 1887, 5, descrip.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 331-3, illus.)
PETROLIA, ONT., Town Hall, 1887-89; burned 1989; restored 1990 (OA, Council Minutes of the Town of Petrolia, 8 Aug. 1887; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 325-30, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
NEWBURY, ONT., Town Hall, 1888 (London Advertiser, 23 Feb. 1888, 2, t.c.)
SANITARIUM, Dundas Street near Thames River Bridge, 1888 (Free Press [London], 21 April 1888, 9, descrip.)
GLENCOE, ONT., High School, 1888-89 (Free Press [London], 8 Jan. 1889, 1, descrip.)
STRATFORD, ONT., General Hospital, 1889-91 (Free Press [London], 19 April 1889, 8; Stratford Beacon, 8 May 1891, 4, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 344-5, illus.; Dan Schneider, "Avon Crest - Stratford's First Hospital at a Crossroads" in ACORN [Toronto], Fall 2014, 18-19, illus.; Howard Schubert, "Avon Crest Hospital", iin ACORN [Toronto], Vol. 46 No. 1, Spring 2021, 24-25, illus. & descrip.)
TORONTO, ONT., Upper Canada College, Avenue Road at Lonsdale Road, 1889-91; completed after the death of Durand by Strickland & Symons; demol. 1956 (Toronto World, 19 Dec. 1887, 1, descrip.; Free Press [London], 25 Oct. 1888, 5, descrip.; American Architect & Building News, xxv, 19 Jan. 1889, illus.; Toronto Daily Mail, 22 July 1891, 6, descrip.; J.R. Robertson, Landmarks of Toronto, 1894, i, 153-55, descrip.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 337-40, illus.; dwgs. at OA, Durand Accession)
GEORGE F. DURAND (Residential works in London, Ont. unless noted)
WESTMINSTER, 'Waverly', for Charles Goodhue, Maple Avenue, 1882-83 (Free Press [London], 3 Aug. 1882, 1; 10 May 1883, 1; L. Maitland, Queen Anne Revival Style in Canadian Architecture, 1990, 127, illus.)
WATERLOO STREET, for John Christie, 1882 (Free Press [London], 3 Aug. 1882, 1)
JOHN STREET, pair of houses for Misses Kennedy Mater, 1882 (Free Press [London], 3 Aug. 1882, 1)
McCLARY AVENUE, at High Street , "Beacon Lodge", a mansion for John McClary, 1882 (Free Press [London], 3 Aug. 1882, 1; 10 May 1883, 1; Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, 80 for 80: Celebrating 80 Years of the A.C.O., 2013, 80-81, illus. & descrip., but lacking attribution)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, at Adelaide Street, for Benjamin Cronyn Jr., 1882 (Free Press [London], 3 Aug. 1882, 1)
NILESTOWN, for John Gilmour, Bruce Street near Wortley Road, 1882 (Free Press [London], 3 Aug. 1882, 1)
DUNDAS STREET, for Samuel Crawford, 1882-83; altered 1925 (Free Press [London], 3 Aug. 1882, 1; 10 May 1883, 1; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 288-9, illus.)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, near Elizabeth Street, 'Engiang', for John Labatt, 1882-84 (Free Press [London], 3 Aug. 1882, 1; 10 May 1883, 1, descrip.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 286-7, illus.)
WELLINGTON STREET, near Wolfe Street, for Moses Masuret, 1883; demol. (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 303-06, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
GLENCOE, ONT., for Isaac Rathburn, 1883 (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1)
MILL STREET, pair of houses for Sgt. Maj. William Baskerville, 1883 (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1)
SALTER STREET, for Charles Murray, 1883 (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1)
KENT STREET, for Stephen O'Meara, 1883 (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1)
WILLIAM STREET, near Central Avenue, for Frank Norton, 1883 (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, pair of houses for John W. Jones, 1883 (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1)
BOTHWELL, ONT., for J. Dixon, 1883 (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1)
THORNDALE, ONT., for John Stoddart, 1883 (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1)
STRATHROY, ONT., three houses for William Manson, 1883 (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1)
WATERLOO STREET, for R. Harron, 1883 (London Advertiser, 13 June 1883, 2, t.c.)
WELLINGTON STREET, for John B. Laing, 1884 (London Advertiser, 25 March 1884, 2, t.c.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 303-06, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
CENTRAL AVENUE, for John McNee, 1885 (dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
ELMWOOD AVENUE, for Henry Dunn, 1885 (Victorian Architecture, 1986, 308-11, illus.)
QUEEN'S AVENUE, pair of houses for Samuel Crawford, 1885-86 (London Advertiser, 5 Sept. 1885, 5, t.c.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 306-07, illus.)
LONDON TOWNSHIP, on the 5th Concession, for John A. Balkwill, 1887 (London Advertiser, 6 July 1887, 2, t.c.)
WOLFE STREET, for John D. LeBel, 1889 (London Advertiser, 16 Sept. 1889, 2, t.c; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 346-8, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
WELLINGTON STREET, near Wolfe Street, for Alfred E. Masuret, 1889 (London Advertiser, 26 Sept. 1889, 2, t.c.)
WELLINGTON STREET, for Patrick Mulkern, 1889 (dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
(with Fred Henry) CENTRAL AVENUE, pair of houses for Henry Mathewson, 1889-90 (Victorian Architecture, 1986, 349-51, illus.)
CENTRAL AVENUE, pair of houses for Thomas Parker, 1890 (dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
GEORGE F. DURAND (Commercial & Industrial works in London, Ont. unless noted)
ONTARIO STAINED GLASS WORKS, Richmond Street, for Robert Lewis, 1883 (Free Press [London], 9 May 1883, 4, descrip.)
DUNDAS STREET, new facade for store for John Scandrett, 1883 (Free Press [London], 10 May 1883, 1)
NORTH AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MFR. CO., York Street at Burwell Street, new warehouses, 1883 (London Advertiser, 6 Sept. 1883, 4, t.c.)
JOHN FERGUSON & SONS, King Street, addition to warehouse, 1885 (London Advertiser, 22 July 1885, 5; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
HILL STREET, near the Thames River, power house and chimney for the Ball Electric Light Co., 1886 (Free Press [London], 12 Nov. 1886, 3)
HUGH M. McKAY & CO., Clarence Street, factory and warehouse, 1886-87 (London Advertiser, 11 Dec. 1886, 5, t.c.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
DUNDAS STREET, at Carling Street, warehouse for Moses Masuret, 1887 (dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
PETROLIA, ONT., Archer Block, Main Street, east of Greenfield Street, 1887; still standing in 2022 (Free Press [London], 25 July 1887, 8)
LISTOWEL, ONT., The Forester's Block, for the I.O.O.F., Main Street, 1889 (Listowel Banner, 8 March 1889, 8)
CANADIAN SAVINGS & LOAN CO., Richmond Street, 1889 (Free Press [London], 4 Oct. 1889, 6, descrip.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 341-3, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
DURAND & MOORE (Ecclesiastical works in London unless noted)
IVAN, ONT., Presbyterian Church, Lobo Township, 1885-86 (London Advertiser, 16 Dec. 1885, 4, t.c.)
PETROLIA, ONT., St. Philip's Roman Catholic Church, King Street at Victoria Avenue, 1886 (London Advertiser, 13 Oct. 1886, 1, descrip.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
OFFA, ONT., Roman Catholic Church, 1886 (London Advertiser, 12 Nov. 1886, 5, t.c.)
HENSALL, ONT., Presbyterian Church, 1886 (dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll., Victorian Architecture 1986, 319-21, illus.)
DUNDAS STREET METHODIST CHURCH, Dundas Street at Maitland Street, new facade, tower, steeple and vestibule, and other alterations, 1886 (London Advertiser, 16 Nov. 1886, 6, descrip.)
ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Queen's Avenue at Waterloo Street, addition, 1887 (Free Press [London], 15 Feb. 1887, 8, descrip.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 84-6, illus.; dwgs. at UWO)
GLANWORTH, ONT., St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 1888 (Free Press [London], 9 Jan. 1888, 3; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 233, illus.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
DURAND & MOORE (Institutional works in London unless noted)
PETROLIA, ONT., Masonic Temple, 1887 (London Advertiser, 24 March 1887, 4, t.c.; dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.; Victorian Architecture, 1986, 322-4, illus.)
DURAND & MOORE (Residential works in London unless noted)
CENTRAL AVENUE, for John McNee, 1885 (dwgs. at UWO, Moore Coll.)
OXFORD STREET, three houses for John Coote, 1886 (London Advertiser, 31 Aug. 1886, 5, t.c.)
CLARENCE STREET, for Joseph Dunn, 1886 (London Advertiser, 8 Sept. 1886, 5, t.c.)
PRINCESS STREET, for John A. Cousins, 1886 (London Advertiser, 11 Nov. 1886, 5, t.c.)
HAMILTON STREET, for Edward Gardner, 1887 (London Advertiser, 12 March 1887, 5, t.c.)
RICHMOND STREET, for John G. McCue, 1887 (London Advertiser, 12 April 1887, 5, t.c.)
COMPETITIONS
STRATFORD, ONT., High School, 1877. Durand was one of 34 architects who submitted an entry in the competition for this Stratford landmark (Stratford Beacon, 5 Oct. 1877, 2, list of competitors). The design by Durand was not among the three finalists, and McCaw & Lennox of Toronto were later declared the winners.
TORONTO, ONT., City Hall & Court House, 1885. During the first round of this civic competition, Durand competed against nearly 50 other architects, and his design was one of seven selected as a finalist (see Letter to the Editor from Durand in The Globe [Toronto], 28 Aug. 1886, 9). He received $150. for his effort. His scheme was designed in the "Provencal Romanesque style". All seven competitors were asked to revise their drawings for a second competition (see below).
TORONTO, ONT., City Hall & Court House, 1886. Using the pseudonym "LEX", Durand submitted a new set of revised drawings, and from a wider field of 13 competitors, Durand achieved the Second Prize of $500. (see Letter to the Editor from Durand in The Globe [Toronto], 28 Aug. 1886, 9). The winner of this final competition was Edward J. Lennox of Toronto. .