MATHESON, John Philip (1864-1917), born in Wheatley River, Prince Edward Island and was likely educated and trained in that province. He moved to New Westminster, B.C. in 1888, then relocated to Vancouver in 1892. He was active there as an architect and contractor. He and his firm, J.P. Matheson & Son, are credited with the design of several commercial and residential works including an elaborate Tudor Revival residence for Albert L.P. Hunter, 12th Avenue West at Birch Street, Vancouver, 1912-13, and still standing in 2013. A detailed article on the design for the house, with plans and elevation, was published in the Canadian Builder & Carpenter [Toronto], Vol. v, June 1915, 20-21, illus. & descrip. It is likely that the design for this substantial residence came from the hand of Robert M. Matheson (1887-1935), the son of John P., who had graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1911 and returned to Vancouver to assist his father. His son later formed a successful partnership with Fred L. Townley (1887-1966) in 1919, as Townley & Matheson. John P. Matheson died in Vancouver on 23 May 1917 (obit. Vancouver Daily World, 23 May 1917, 11; inf. Donald Luxton, Vancouver).
J.P. MATHESON
VANCOUVER, B.C., cottage for Roy MacGowan, Comox Street near Thurlow Street, 1903 (City of Vancouver b.p. 14 Oct. 1903; inf. Donald Luxton, Vancouver)
VANCOUVER, B.C., mansion for Capt. William H. Copp, Victoria Drive at Napier Street, 1910; still standing as of 2020 (City of Vancouver b.p. 17 March 1910; Hal Kalman, Exploring Vancouver, 1993, 212, illus. & descrip., but incorrectly attributed to " J.P. Malluson" [sic]; inf. Jonathan D. Eaton, Vancouver)
J.P. MATHESON & SON
(works in Vancouver)
LUMBERMAN’S BUILDING, for the Northwest Trust Co., Richards Street near Dunsmuir Street, 1911-12 (C.R., xxv, 27 Dec. 1911, 68; Province [Vancouver], 13 April 1912, 30, illus. & descrip.; 22 June 1912, 22, descrip.; H. Kalman, Exploring Vancouver, 1993, 67, illus.; dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives)
SHAUGHNESSY HEIGHTS, residence for Dr. George Telford, Cartier Avenue at Laurier Street, 1912 (Daily Building Record [Vancouver], 2 Jan. 1912, 1, descrip.; C.R., xxvi, 17 Jan. 1912, 73, t.c.; Province [Vancouver], 26 Oct. 1912, 30, illus. & descrip.; Saturday Sunset [Vancouver], 1 Aug. 1914, 16, illus. & detailed descrip.; dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives, MSS 491)
GRANVILLE STREET, four storey apartment block for A.C. McNeil, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 3 April 1912, 67)
BAPTIST CHURCH, East Pender Street at Kamloops Street, 1912 (dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives, MSS 491)
CORDOVA STREET, rooming house for A.C. McNeil, 1912 (dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives, MSS 491)
SHAUGHNESSY HEIGHTS, residence for F.M. Pratt, West 16th Avenue at Fir Street, 1912 (dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives, MSS 491)
SELMAN BLOCK, Granville Street near West 13th Avenue, 1912 (dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives, MSS 491)
CAROLINE COURT APARTMENTS, Nelson Street near Burrard Street, 1912 (Province [Vancouver], 22 June 1912, 22; Const., vi, March 1913, 38, illus. in advert.; April 1913, 22, illus. in advert.; H. Kalman, Exploring Vancouver, 1978, 131, illus.; dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives)
unnamed street, large residence for W.G. Moore, 1912 (Pacific Coast Architect [San Francisco], iii, Sept. 1912)
POINT GREY, mansion for Arthur J. Welch, Barton Road [now Yew Street], at SW Marine Drive, 1912 (Daily Building Record [Vancouver], 30 April 1912, 1, descrip.; Province [Vancouver], 7 Dec. 1912, 28, descrip.; inf. Patrick Gunn, Heritage Vancouver Society; inf. Donald Luxton, Vancouver)
SHAUGHNESSY HEIGHTS, residence for F.A. Quigley, Angus Drive at King Edward Avenue, 1913 (dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives, MSS 491)
EAST 1st AVENUE, wharves and sheds for McNeil, Walsh & Wilson, 1913 (dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives)
SHAUGHNESSY HEIGHTS, residence for Thomas Scott, West 12th Avenue at Birch Street, 1912 (Daily Building Record [Vancouver], 29 June 1912, 1, descrip.; The Sun [Vancouver], 2 July 1912, 5, descrip.)
SHAUGHNESSY HEIGHTS, mansion for Albert L.P. Hunter, West 12th Avenue at Birch Street, 1912-13 (Saturday Sunset [Vancouver], 11 July 1914, 16, illus. & detailed descrip.; Canadian Builder & Carpenter [Toronto], v, June 1915, 20-21, illus. & descrip.)
SHAUGHNESSY HEIGHTS, residence for Montgomery Smith, West 14th Avenue at Hemlock Street, 1914 (Saturday Sunset [Vancouver], 18 July 1914, 16, illus. & descrip.)
(works elsewhere)
COQUITLAM, B.C., Sunday School for the Baptist Church, 1912 (dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives, MSS 491)