MATTHEWS, John Harvey (1898-1963), active in Fergus, Ont. where he served as the Staff Architect to Beatty Bros. Ltd., a leading Canadian manufacturer of farming equipment as well as industrial and domestic washing machines. From their headquarters in Fergus, the company hired Matthews in 1923 to take charge of their architectural department, overseeing the design of major additions to the factory complex for Beatty Bros. located on Hill Street, and the nearby Grand River site. In addition, he designed several public buildings in Fergus which were partially funded by Beatty Bros. Ltd., and were created for use by town residents and by Beatty Bros. employees, including the Fergus Hockey & Curling Arena (1928), and the Fergus Swimming Baths Building (1930), with its warm brown brick exterior walls and unique gambrel roof silhouette.
Matthews was born in Upper Nichol, Wellington Co., Ontario on 12 April 1898 and graduated from the High School in Fergus in 1915. After serving with the Canadian Army during WWI, he was employed as an architectural draftsman for the Soldier’s Civil Re-Establishment Committee in 1919-20, then studied architecture through courses offered by the International Correspondence School (1921-22). He joined Beatty Bros. in 1923 as plant engineer, and was then appointed as Company Architect and remained in this post until after 1950. Matthews resigned from the Ontario Assoc. of Architects in December 1961 and died in Fergus on 13 June 1963 (obit. Fergus News Record, 20 June 1963, 8; inf. Ontario Association of Architects, Toronto; inf. Elysia DeLaurentis, Wellington County Museum & Archives).
J. Harvey MATTHEWS (works in Fergus unless noted)
The following list of works appears in a Letter written by J. Harvey Matthews dated 10 February 1933 and submitted to the Ontario Association of Architects.
KITCHENER AVENUE, between Johnston Street North and Beatty Line, a tract of 10 detached workers houses for employees of Beatty Bros. Ltd., c. 1927-29
BEATTY BROS. MFR. CO., Hill Street opposite Maple Street, major additions to factory, c. 1928-29
FERGUS HOCKEY & CURLING ARENA, St. George Street West, 1928; demol.
ST. DAVID STREET, extensive alterations and additions to the residence of William G. Beatty, 1929
BEATTY EXPERIMENTAL FARM, Garafraxa Street West, including barns, stables, a dairy, poultry house, and remodelling of the Farm Superintendent’s Residence, c. 1929-30; barn demol. 2011
FERGUS SWIMMING POOL BUILDING, St. David Street South at Queen Street East, with offices, apartments, change rooms, and two outdoor swimming pools, 1930
ST. CATHERINES, ONT., residence for Lawrence R. Boys, Ontario Street South near Scarth Street, Glen Ridge, c. 1930
TORONTO, ONT., residence for Rev. R.S.E. Large, Islington, c. 1930