DOLSON, Samuel Goodfellow (1827-1911) was best known as a builder and contractor in the Niagara Peninsula of southern Ontario. Born in Lewiston, N.Y. on 30 September 1827, he attended Grantham Academy and by the age of 30 years he was already well-known in the St. Catharines area as a capable builder, actively supervising the construction (and likely the design) of a variety of residential and commercial structures. In 1856 his success as a contractor was attracting local press attention, where he was noted as '..a young man, a good mechanic, and we wish him every success' (St. Catharines Constitutional, 26 June 1856, 2). By 1863 his business as a general builder was extensive, employing 18 to 20 workers who were operating steam-driven equipment to fabricate wood components which Dolson used in his built projects. His role as a successful contractor and builder was acknowledged in 1863 when it was reported that "...Some very fine buildings have been erected in this town by Mr. Dolson during the past few years, which, in every case, have given the greatest satisfaction. His facilities for doing expeditious and efficient work are unsurpassable" (St. Catharines Constitutional, 23 April 1863, 2).
By 1880 he had begun to advertise himself as an architect, with offices on King Street in St. Catharines. He was one of the founding members of the Ontario Association of Architects, and was among the first professional architects outside Toronto to register with the association on 14 October 1890. Local city and county directories continue to list him as an architect up until the time of his death in St. Catharines on 12 October 1911 (obit. St. Catharines Daily Standard, 12 Oct. 1911, 4; obituary Evening Record [Windsor], 14 Oct. 1911, 6). By then he was credited with '..having erected over three hundred buildings in and about the city' including the Masonic Hall, the Oddfellows Building, the Court House, four churches, six schools, the Convent, and several factories and hotels". It is possible (and indeed likely) that many of these were from his own design (biog. in The Standard [St. Catharines], Souvenir Number, 1907, 36; OA, Lincoln County Wills No. 3359; inf. Arden Fair, St. Catharines Historical Museum )
S.G. DOLSON (works in St. Catharines and region)
CHURCH STREET, at King Street, two houses for John Hara, 1856 (St. Catharines Journal, 26 June 1856, 2)
COMMEMORATIVE OUTDOOR ARCHES, erected on several streets, for the visit of the Prince of Wales to St. Catharines in 1860 (list of works in obituary, Owen Sound Sun, 7 Nov. 1911, 8)
CENTRAL FIRE HALL, St. Paul Street, 1867 (E. Julian et al, St. Catharines: Our Built Heritage, 2005, 144, illus.)
KING STREET, near Academy Street, villa for James Mills, 1868 (inf. St. Catharines Historical Museum)
WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH, a new tower and spire, 1870 (St. Catharines Constitutional, 14 April 1870, 2)
MASONIC TEMPLE, Ontario Street, a 4 storey block with cast iron facade, 1873; burned January 1895 (Daily Standard [St. Catharines], 14 Jan. 1895, 1, illus.; and 16 Jan. 1895, 1, illus.)
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CONVENT, for the Sisters of St. Joseph, 1874 (Daily Standard [St. Catharines], 23 May 1895, 6, historical article)
ST. PAUL STREET METHODIST CHURCH, addition of a new spire, 1875 (E. Julian et al, St. Catharines: Our Built Heritage, 2005, 15, illus.)
MONTEBELLO PARK PAVILION, Ontario Street at Lake Street, 1888 (inf. St. Catharines Historical Museum)
QUEENSTON STREET, residence for '.....a gentleman from Nova Scotia', 1891 (C.R., ii, 19 Sept. 1891, 1)
QUEEN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, 1891 (Canadian Baptist, xxxvii, 19 Nov. 1891, 1, illus.)
ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH, Merritt Street, 1892 (Daily Standard [St. Catharines], 13 June 1892, 2)
TOWN HALL, James Street, addition at the rear for a Council Chamber and a Free Public Library, and a 'building for council meetings', 1892 (Daily Standard [St. Catharines], 16 Feb. 1892, 1; C.R., iii, 27 Feb. 1892, 1)
MERRITON CENTRAL SCHOOL, 1893; demol. 1979 (Town of Merriton 75th Anniversary, 1949, unpag.; E. Julian et al, St. Catharines: Our Built Heritage, 2005, 134, illus.)
HOTEL, for an unnamed owner, 1893 (C.R., iv, 30 March 1893, 1)
KING STREET, near Court Street, major alterations to residence for Donald L. Cruickshank, 1896 (C.R., vii, 9 April 1896, 2)
CARLTON STREET, near Grantham Avenue, pair of houses for William H. Bunting, 1896 (Daily Standard [St. Catharines], 9 May 1896, 3, t.c.; C.R., vii, 14 May 1896, 2, t.c.)
CHURCH STREET, residence for James O. McSloy, 1896 (C.R., vii, 30 July 1896, 3)
unnamed street, residence of Mr. Rykert, extensive alterations and improvements, 1900 (Daily Standard [St. Catharines], 3 Feb 1900, 3, t.c.)
(Local Supervising Architect to David Ewart) ARMOURY, Lake Street at Elizabeth Street, for the Federal Dept. of Public Works, 1900-04 (C.R., xi, 2 May 1900, 2)
CHESTNUT STREET, residence for Thomas Eustace, 1900 (C.R., xi, 14 Nov. 1900, 3)
(with F.H. Herbert) MURRAY HOUSE HOTEL, James Street, 1900 (C.R., xi, 14 Nov. 1900, 2, descript.)