Souter, William Russell

SOUTER, William Russell (1893-1971), a prominent architect in Hamilton, Ont. and in partnership with Gordon J. Hutton (see list of works under Hutton & Souter). Born in Hamilton on 11 June 1894, he attended Central Collegiate and in 1910 he joined the office of Mills & Hutton as a junior assistant, and articled with that firm from 1910-14. He moved to Philadelphia in 1914 and studied architecture at the Univ. of Pennsylvania. After graduating in 1917 he went to England to serve with the Royal Air Force during WWI, and returned to Canada in April 1919. Souter formed a new partnership with Hutton in 1920, and their firm was successful in obtaining several important commissions for commercial, industrial and ecclesiastical works. Their most important project was the outstanding neo-Gothic design for Christ The King Roman Catholic Basilica, Hamilton (1931-33), for which Souter was awarded the distinguished Bemerenti Medal from Pope Pius XI in Rome in 1933. He was also a master of the English Tudor revival style, best seen in his accomplished design for his own house at 108 Aberdeen Avenue in Hamilton (1929-30). By the mid-1930's the firm was introducing an innovative and progressive modernist style to their commercial and industrial work. When Hutton died unexpectedly in April 1942, Souter continued the work of their office, retaining the name of Hutton & Souter until 1946. The office was renamed William R. Souter & Associates in 1947 and it remained active until the death of Souter on 17 November 1971 (obit. Spectator [Hamilton], 19 Nov. 1971, 10; biog. J. Middleton & F. Landon, The Province of Ontario, iii, 1927, 226; The Canadian Who's Who, 1964-66, 1033; inf. Arthur Wallace, Hamilton; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects). His son William C. Souter ( -2001) continued the work of his father's firm after 1971.

W. R. SOUTER (works in Hamilton unless noted)

ABERDEEN AVENUE, residence for William R. Souter architect, c. 1929-30; still standing in 2022 (R.A.I.C. Journal, viii, Dec. 1931, x, illus. in advert.; C.H.G., ix, April 1932, 25-7, illus. & descrip.)
HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL, Britannia Avenue at Kenilworth Avenue North, major addition, 1945-46 (C.R., lviii, July 1945, 99)
CANADIAN GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., James Street South at Hunter Street, office building, 1946 (C.R., lix, April 1946, 148)
STEEL COMPANY OF CANADA LTD. (a.k.a. STELCO Ltd.), Wilcox Avenue, office building, 1946-47 (C.R., lix, Aug. 1946, 153; R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvii, April 1950, 14, illus. in advert.)
FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER CO. OF CANADA, Beach Road, office building, 1947-48 (C.R., lx, Feb. 1947, 146; C.R., lxii, Jan. 1949, 135, illus. in advert.)
DALEWOOD SCHOOL, Dalewood Street at Main Street West, 1948-49 (Hamilton Public School Board, Minute Book, 2 Oct. 1947; R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvii, May 1950, 56, illus. in advert.)
PROCTOR & GAMBLE CO. LTD., Burlington Street East near Depew Street, major addition to factory, 1948-49 (C.R., lxi, June 1948, 167; Oct. 1948, 181)
WINDSOR, ONT., Chrysler Corp. of Canada, several buildings including:
Administration Office Building, Tecumseh Boulevard East at Chrysler Centre Road, 1948-49 (C.R., lxi, June 1948, 167; Financial Post [Toronto], 28 Oct. 1950, 3, illus. in advert.), and
Motor Assembly Plant, 1949-50 (C.R., lxii, Dec. 1949, 93), and
addition to Motor assembly plant, 1950 (Financial Post [Toronto], 18 Feb. 1950, 10; C.R., lxiii, April 1950, 134; ), and
Employment & Hospital Building, 1950-51 (C,R., lxiii, Aug. 1950, 242)
ETOBICOKE TOWNSHIP, ONT., Canadian Westinghouse Co. Ltd., Queen Elizabeth Way near Kipling Avenue, office block and service building, 1948-49 (C.R., lxi, Nov. 1948, 142)
OAKVILLE, ONT., British Drug Houses, Queen Elizabeth Highway, 1948-49 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvii, March 1950, 56, illus. in advert.)
CANADIAN WESTINGHOUSE CO. LTD., Aberdeen Avenue, warehouse, office and garages, 1949-50 (C.R., lxii, March 1949, 140)
McMASTER UNIVERSITY, Nuclear Physics Research Laboratory, 1949-50 (Spectator [Hamilton], 29 Nov. 1949, 7, illus. & descrip.; C.R., lxii, Dec. 1949, 89)
McMASTER UNIVERSITY, School of Nursing, 1949-50 (Spectator [Hamilton], 29 Nov. 1949, 16, illus. & descrip.; C.R., lxii, Dec. 1949, 87)
McMASTER UNIVERSITY, Physical Sciences Building, 1949-50 (Spectator [Hamilton], 29 Nov. 1949, 16, illus. & descrip.; C.R., lxii, Dec. 1949, 87; lxiii, Dec. 1950, 106)
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC HOSPITAL, John Street North, 1950 (C.R., lxiii, Feb. 1950, 128)
LIFE SAVER & BEECH NUT CANDY CO., Sanford Avenue South, factory, 1950 (C.R., lxiii, April 1950, 134)
SACRED HEART ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Mountain Park Avenue at Viewpoint Avenue, on Hamilton Mountain, 1951-52 (inf. Robert Hamilton)