MEECH, Henry William (1881-1947) was born in Blandford, Dorset Co., England on 27 June 1881 and articled with A.L.T Tilley, a prominent architect in Dorset, from 1894 until 1901. He moved to Leicester to work as assistant to W.H. Simpson, an architect and civil engineer, and studied architecture and building at Leicester Science & Art School where he won a travelling scholarship. He was also a bronze medalist in Construction Science from South Kensington College. Meech emigrated to Canada in the spring of 1908 and settled in Winnipeg where he worked for several local architects. He moved to Lethbridge, Alta. in 1910 and obtained the post of assistant to the City Engineer, as well as inspector and city assessor. He took charge of the design and construction of new buildings for the City of Lethbridge from 1911 to 1918, then ran for the public office of Commissioner of Public Works for the city. He was successfully elected to this post in June 1918, and held the office until 1928. Meech then opened his own architectural office in Lethbridge, and was later assisted by his sons George S. Meech (died June 1937 in London, England), and Victor E. Meech. His works there included the landmark Marquis Hotel, as well as commercial and institutional works. Meech retired from the profession in 1942 and moved to White Rock, B.C., but returned to Lethbridge in 1946. He died there on 7 June 1947 (obit. Lethbridge Herald, 9 June 1947, 7; biog. and port. Contract Record [Toronto], xxxv, 5 Jan. 1921, 2; inf. Alberta Assoc. of Architects). His practise was continued by his son Victor E. Meech and by Maurice S. Mitchell, both partners in the firm of Meech, Mitchell & Meech, active from 1947 onward.
H.W. MEECH (works in Lethbridge unless noted)
ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 5th Avenue South, a revision of the original plans prepared by R.H. Harvey of Vancouver, c. 1925 (inf. Alberta Association of Architects, Application for Membership, 11 March 1929)
ST. AUGUSTIN'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, 4th Avenue South at 11th Street, c. 1925 (inf. Alberta Association of Architects, Application for Membership, 11 March 1929)
GALT PUBLIC GARDENS, c. 1925 (Lethbridge Herald, 9 June 1947, 7,list of works)
McFARLAND BLOCK, 4th Avenue South, a commercial block of stores and offices, 1928 (inf. Victor Meech, Lethbridge)
CAPITOL THEATRE, 5th Street South, 1928-29 (C.R., xlii, 28 Nov. 1928, 57)
ARMY & NAVY VETERAN'S CLUB, 1929 (Lethbridge Herald, 12 July 1929, 16, t.c.)
GALT HOSPITAL, 5th Avenue South at 1st Street South, major addition, 1930 (Canadian Hotel Review, viii, May 1930, 60)
(with Benzie & Bow) ST. MICHAEL'S GENERAL HOSPITAL, 13th Street South at 9th Avenue, 1930-31 (C.R., xliv, 6 Aug. 1930, 63, t.c.; xlv, 14 Jan. 1931, 53; R.A.I.C. Journal, ix, Feb. 1932, 36-9, illus. & descrip.)
MARQUIS HOTEL, 7th Street South at 4th Avenue, major addition, 1931; with Terrace Dining Room, 1935 (Canadian Engineer, lxi, 18 Aug. 1931, 35, illus. in advert.; Lethbridge Herald, 19 July 1935, 7, descrip.)
BRITISH CANADIAN TRUST CO., remodelling with new facade, a renovation of the former Assiniboia Music Co. Block, Sixth Street South, 1934-35 (Lethbridge Herald, 19 Jan. 1935, 6, descrip.)
13th STREET SOUTH, residence for Robert J. Patterson, 1935 (inf. Victor Meech, Lethbridge)
COUTTS, ALTA., public school, 1937 (Lethbridge Herald, 9 Oct. 1937, 11, illus. & descrip.)
CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, 5th Avenue South at 12th Street, 1937-38 (C.R., l, 17 Nov. 1937, 32; Lethbridge Herald, 1 June 1938, 6, descrip.)
CANADIAN WESTERN NATURAL GAS, LIGHT, HEAT & POWER CO., 6th Avenue West, office and warehouse, 1939 (C.R., lii, 26 April 1939, 33)
MEECH & MEECH (works in Lethbridge unless noted)
RAYMOND, ALTA., Church of Latter Day Saints, 1941 (Lethbridge Herald, 2 July 1941, 10)
HARTLEYVILLE, ALTA., Church of Latter Day Saints, 1941 (Lethbridge Herald, 8 Aug. 1941, 15)
TABER, ALTA., General Hospital, 1942 (C.R., lv, 16 Sept. 1942, 25)
LETHBRIDGE CIVIC CENTRE, 4th Avenue, including City Hall, Library, Art Gallery, swimming pools, and sports fields, 1944 (Lethbridge Herald, 29 March 1944, 7, descrip.; 2 March 1944, 9, descrip.; 18 Nov. 1944, 16, illus. & descrip.)
LION'S CLUB MODEL HOME, 13th Street at 5th Avenue South, 1944 (Lethbridge Herald, 14 April 1944, 6, descrip.; 19 May 1944, 9, illus. & descrip.)
RAYMOND, ALTA., hospital, 1944-45 (Lethbridge Herald, 15 April 1944, 18, t.c.; 16 Sept. 1945, 2, descrip.)
BLAIRMORE, ALTA., hospital, located between Blairmore, Alta. and Coleman, Alta., 1945 (Lethbridge Herald, 29 Jan. 1945, 12)
CONQUERVILLE, ALTA., public school for the Foremost School District No. 3, 1945 (Lethbridge Herald, 2 Sept. 1945, 9, t.c.; 14 Dec. 1945, 10, descrip.)
LETHBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL & TECHNICAL SCHOOL, 1945-46 (Lethbridge Herald, 9 Nov. 1945, 6, descrip.; 23 Nov. 1945, 7, descrip.)