PARROTT, James Allan (1887-1953) was born at Chalk Lake, Ont. on 21 October 1887 and studied architecture at evening classes held by the Toronto Technical School from 1906 to 1911. His days were spent articling in the office of Henry Simpson from 1907 to 1912, and he later worked as a draftsman for Page & Warrington (1912-13 and 1918-19), and for Arthur W. Holmes (in 1913-15). He then joined the Toronto School Board as an Inspector of Buildings (1919-23), worked as a staff architect for Cox Construction Ltd., and in 1926 he was appointed staff architect for Loblaw Groceterias Inc., designing warehouses for the company in Toronto, Buffalo, N.Y. and in Chicago, Ill., as well as retail food stores for the chain throughout southern Ontario. He also worked privately for residential clients, and designed a substantial Tudor Revival mansion in Forest Hill for Charles B. Shields, the Managing Director of the Loblaw company. In 1945 Parrott left the Loblaw Co. and formed a partnership with Howard Tambling and H.E. Witmer, and together they specialized in designs for schools and industrial buildings. One of their last works was a unique circular plan for the East York Public Library, Memorial Park Avenue at Durant Avenue, TORONTO, ONT., 1959-60; still standing in 2023 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxxviii, May 1961, 59-61, illus.). Parrott died in Toronto on 1 April 1953 (obit. Globe & Mail [Toronto], 2 April 1953, 23; Telegram [Toronto], 2 April 1953, 13; obit. R.A.I.C. Journal, xxx, May 1953, 133)
J.A. PARROTT (works in Toronto unless noted)
HARPER AVENUE, near St. Clair Avenue East, residence for Cox & Best Ltd., 1926 (dwgs. City of Toronto Archives, Baldwin & Greene Coll.)
FOREST HILL, mansion for Charles B. Shields, Ava Road near Spadina Road, 1930-31 (Toronto Star, 24 Oct. 1930, 35, descrip.; C.H.G., viii, Dec. 1931, 36, illus.)
LOBLAW GROCETERIA LTD., Fleet Street at Bathurst Street, major addition to warehouse, 1934; this addition later demolished in 2013 (C.R., xlviii, 4 July 1934, 27; xlix, 27 Feb. 1935, 171-9, illus. & descrip.; Tim Morawetz, Art Deco Architecture Across Canada, 2017, 30-31, illus. & descrip.)
PARROTT, TAMBLING & WITMER (works in Toronto unless noted)
EAST YORK COLLEGIATE INST., Coxwell Avenue at Cosburn Avenue, major addition, 1946-47 (C.R., lix, Nov. 1946, 104; lxi, January 1948, 174)
PORT UNION, ONT. near Highland Creek, Johns-Manville Co. Ltd., large factory with offices, 1946-47 (Financial Post [Toronto], 5 Oct. 1946, 7; 13 Sept. 1947, 10)
METAL STAMPINGS LTD. Danforth Avenue near Birchmount Road, in Scarborough, a rolling mill and factory, 1947 (C.R., lx, May 1947, 120)
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, College Street at Bay Street, extensive interior alterations, 1950; demol. (Toronto b.p. 5390, 9 Nov. 1949; C.R., lxiii, Jan. 1950, 154)
EAST YORK, Plains Road Intermediate School, 1949-50 (C.R., lxii, Oct. 1949, 142; R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvii, May 1950, 174, illus.)
FAIRLAWN UNITED CHURCH, Fairlawn Avenue, near Yonge Street, major addition, 1950 (C.R., lxiii, Feb. 1950, 127)
CANADIAN WIREBOUND BOXES LTD., Gerrard Street East near Jones Avenue, office and factory, 1949-50 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvii, June 1950, 198-99, illus.)
S.A. ARMSTRONG LTD., O'Connor Drive at Bermondsey Road, industrial plant, 1950 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvii, March 1950, 8, illus. in advert.)
HOLLINGER BUS LINES TERMINAL, Danforth Avenue, east of Coxwell Avenue, 1950; altered 2008 and converted to a restaurant; still standing in 2023 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvii, June 1950, 201, illus.; dwgs. at City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 410, File 3371)
WESTERN ASSURANCE CO. & BRITISH ASSURANCE CO., Scott Street at Colborne Street, a 6 storey office building, 1950-51; demol. 2013 (C.R., lxiii, June 1950, 128; Globe & Mail [Toronto], 15 July 1950, 26, illus.; Financial Post [Toronto], 19 Aug. 1950, 4, descrip.)