MAHONEY, William Austin (1871-1952), a successful architect in Guelph, Ont who was credited with the design of sixteen Carnegie Library buildings in towns throughout southern Ontario. Born in Guelph, Ont. on 16 September 1871, he graduated from Guelph Collegiate, but does not appear to have received any formal university education in architecture. Instead, he learned the trade of carpentry from his father Richard Mahoney, and went to Chicago in 1893-94 to work as a carpenter. While there, he studied architecture and building through courses offered by the International Correspondence School of Scranton, Penn. From 1904 to 1905 he was in partnership with Stewart McPhie of Hamilton, operating the Guelph office of the firm, while McPhie remained in Hamilton (see list of works under McPhie & Mahoney).
Mahoney opened his own office in Guelph in late 1905 and operated under his own name until 1919, then formed a partnership with Aaron Austin and their firm was active from 1919 until after 1931. Mahoney became a member of the Royal Architectural Inst. of Canada in Sept. 1908, and joined the Ontario Assoc. of Architects in November 1908, but withdrew from the O.A.A. in July 1925. His membership was restored in 1931. Despite his lack of membership credentials for a period of six years, he remained active in the profession until at least 1937. Mahoney died in Guelph, Ont. on 13 October 1952 (extensive biography and obituary in Guelph Mercury, 14 Oct. 1952, 13 and 28; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects)
W.A. MAHONEY (works in Guelph)
GLASGOW STREET, at King Street, pair of houses for A. McHardy, 1906 (C.R., xvi, 14 Feb. 1906, 6)
WOOLWICH STREET, at Yarmouth Street, residence for an unidentified client, possibly Dr. P. Stuart, 1906 (C.R., xvii, 8 Aug. 1906, 2)
ST. PATRICK'S WARD SCHOOL, 1907-08 (C.R., xviii, 9 Oct. 1907, 2)
KING EDWARD PUBLIC SCHOOL, Suffolk Street at Dublin Street, 1908 (inf. Gordon Couling, Guelph)
ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Norfolk Street, addition, 1908 (Guelph Mercury, 3 April 1908, t.c.)
QUEBEC STREET, four houses for Thomas Warren, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 8 June 1910, 26)
GUELPH ARCADE, a glass-covered walkway from St. George's Square to Cork Street, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 1 Feb. 1911, 35)
INDEPENDENT TIRE CO., Metcalfe Street South, large factory, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 17 May 1911, 61; and 2 Aug. 1911, 63, 66; Brantford Daily Expositor, 28 July 1911, 9)
WINTER FAIR BUILDING, 1911 (Free Press [London], 10 June 1911, 19, descrip.; C.R., xxv, 26 July 1911, 61)
JAIL & JAILOR'S RESIDENCE, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 31 May 1911, 58, 64)
(with Mills & Hutton) Y.M.C.A., Quebec Street at Norfolk Street, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 20 March 1912, 67, t.c.; Guelph Evening Mercury, 16 May 1912, 1 & 7, descrip.)
GUELPH HERALD NEWSPAPER CO., Quebec Street East, printing plant and offices for H. Gummer & B.G. Gummer, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 2 Aug. 1911, 63, t.c.)
ROMAN CATHOLIC SEPARATE SCHOOL, for the Guelph Separate School Board, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 20 Sept. 1911, 59)
GUELPH STOVE CO., Audrey Avenue, stove foundry building, 1911-12; major addition, 1926; major addition, 1929 (C.R., xxv, 13 Dec. 1911, 121; and xl, 20 Oct. 1926, 49; and xliii, 5 June 1929, 61)
ROMAN CATHOLIC SEPARATE SCHOOL, for the Guelph Separate School Board, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 31 Jan. 1912, 60, t.c.)
BANK OF MONTREAL, Wyndham Street, major addition, 1911-12 (C.R., xxvi, 28 Feb. 1912, 24, illus. in advert.)
MASONIC TEMPLE, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 17 April 1912, 65, t.c.)
VALYTE LAMB CO., factory, 1917 (Const., x, Jan. 1917, 40)
DOUGLAS STREET, near Woolwich Street, office building for Charles L. Dunbar, 1917 (Const., x, June 1917, 216; inf. Scott Edwards)
GUELPH & ONTARIO INVESTMENT & SAVINGS CO., Wyndham Street, major addition, 1917 (Const., x, Dec. 1917, 432)
W.A. MAHONEY (works elsewhere)
FERGUS, ONT., Carnegie Library, St. Andrew Street West, opposite Provost Lane, 1910; still standing in 2022 (C.R., xxiv, 13 April 1910, 26, t.c.; M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 89, illus., 127, 184)
DURHAM, ONT., Carnegie Library, Garafraxa Street North, near George Street West, 1911-12; still standing in 2022 (C.R., xxv, 26 April 1911, 56; London Free Press, 13 Nov. 1911, 5; M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 68, illus., 127, 184)
DURHAM, ONT., remodeling of the Methodist Church, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 31 May 1911, 58)
AYTON, ONT., public school, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 31 May 1911, 58)
FOREST, ONT., Carnegie Library, Main Street North, 1911-12; demol. 1986 (C.R., xxv, 2 Aug. 1911, 60; M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 75, illus., 127, 184)
KINGSVILLE, ONT., Carnegie Library, Division Street South at Pearl Street West, initial design in 1911, but Library was later designed by Crane & Pennington of Windsor in 1912; still standing in 2022 (C.R., xxv, 30 Aug. 1911, 60)
CAMPBELLFORD, ONT., Carnegie Library, Bridge Street East at Ranney Street North, 1911-12; still standing in 2022 (C.R., xxv, 5 Dec. 1911, 55; M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 71, illus.; 127, 184)
WHITBY, ONT., Carnegie Library, Dundas Street West at Byron Street, 1912; converted to commercial offices 1974; still standing in 2022 (Gazette & Chronicle [Whitby], 22 Aug. 1912, 5, t.c.; M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 127, 185)
ELMIRA, ONT., Carnegie Library, Arthur Street South at Wyatt Street East, 1912-13; still standing in 2022 (M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 67, 127, 168, illus., 184)
PORT HOPE, ONT., Carnegie Library, Queen Street near Augusta Street, 1912; still standing in 2022 (M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 127, 185; Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, 80 for 80: Celebrating 80 Years of the A.C.O., 2013, 122-23, illus. & descrip.)
AYLMER, ONT., Carnegie Library, Centre Street at Sydenham Street West, 1912; converted to commercial office in 1982; still standing in 2022 (M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 127, 184)
FERGUS, ONT., factory and other buildings for the International Malleable Iron Co., 1912-20 (drawings at the Wellington County Museum, Fergus, Maps No. 836-862; inf. Dana Johnson, Ottawa)
VILLE ST. LAURENT, QUE., stove foundry for Canada Stove & Foundry Co. Ltd., Principale Street, 1913 (C.R., xxvii, 11 June 1913, 79)
WATFORD, ONT., Carnegie Library, Nauvoo Road at Erie Street, 1913; still standing in 2022 (M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 67, 78, 127, 130, illus., 185)
MIDLAND, ONT., Carnegie Library, Hugel Avenue at First Street, 1914; still standing in 2022 (Midland Public Library Board, minute book, entry for 18 June 1914; inf. Gail Griffith, Midland Public Library)
TILLSONBURG, ONT., Carnegie Library, Broadway at Washington Grand Avenue, 1914; demol. 1974 (M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 127, 185)
EXETER, ONT., Carnegie Library, 1914; demol. 2000 (M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 115, 127, 184)
KITCHENER, ONT., Y.M.C.A., 1915 (C.R., xxix, 20 Jan. 1915, 54)
STIRLING, ONT., Carnegie Library, West Front Street at Emma Street, 1915; still standing in 2022 (M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 127, 185)
PARKHILL, ONT., Carnegie Library, Main Street at Mill Street, 1915; still standing in 2022 (M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 127, 185)
FORT FRANCES, ONT., Carnegie Library, Church Street at Victoria Avenue, 1915; still standing in 2022 (M. Beckman, The Best Gift, 1984, 142, illus., 184)
MAHONEY & AUSTIN
GUELPH, ONT., a tract of fourteen houses for the Guelph Housing Commission, 1920 (C.R., xxxiv, 21 July 1920, 58)
FERGUS, ONT., Grand Theatre, a moving picture theatre, St. Andrew Street West near Tower Street South, 1928; restored 1968; still standing in 2022 (C.R., xlii, 1 Aug. 1928, 51; dwgs. Wellington County Museum, Fergus, Map No. 503)
ROCKWOOD, ONT., major addition to Rockwood United Church, Harris Street near Main Street, 1931 (Acton Free Press, 23 April 1931, 5, descrip.)
GUELPH, ONT., Royal Theatre, Macdonnell Street near Wyndham Street North, for Joseph Wolfond, 1933-34; still standing in 2022 and now called The Palace Nightclub (C.R., xlvii, 20 Dec. 1933, 29)
ACTON, ONT., Young Men's Christian Association, Mill Street East near John Street South, 1934; still standing in 2022 (Acton Free Press, 27 Sept. 1934, 1, illus. & descrip.)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., theatre and stores for Samuel D. Axlerod, 1937 (C.R., vol. 50, 3 Feb. 1937, 26)
GUELPH, ONT., Winter Fair Grounds, a large new 2 storey Livestock Building for horses, sheep and swine, with judging ring, 1938 (Globe & Mail [Toronto], 29 March 1938, 4, descrip.)