McFARLANE, James S. (c, 1796- 1856) was recorded as an architect in yearly editions of the Montreal City Directory from 1842 to 1856. He operated from an office at 62 St. Paul Street, and later moved to an office at 55 Craig Street. In 1844, he formed a partnership with Frederick Hacker of Quebec City, and they opened a branch office in Montreal in February 1844 (Gazette [Montreal], 23 April 1844, 1, advert.) No references to projects by McFarlane during the period from 1842 to 1847 have been found, but an examination of the building contract records held at the Archives Nationale du Quebec in Montreal confirms that he designed several residential projects in that city during the period from 1851 to 1856. James S. McFarlane died in Montreal on 31 January 1856 (death notice Montreal Daily Transcript, 2 Feb. 1856, p. 2, col. 6). He should not be confused with Henry H. MacFarlane, another Montreal architect who was active during the same period.
(works in Montreal unless noted)
unnamed street, alterations of a large dwelling to create three separate shops, 1848 (Montreal Transcript, 2 March 1848, 2, t.c.)
ST. JEAN BAPTISTE STREET, a new theatre building, with the re-use of all the old fittings from the existing Theatre Royal, 1851 (Montreal Transcript, 26 April 1851, 2, t.c.)
ST. DOMINIQUE STREET, brick house for Mrs. John Bower, 1851 (ANQM, John Blackwood, Notaire, 7 June 1851, No. 1528, 1529 and No. 1531)
SANGUINET STREET, two brick houses for E. Adler, 1852 (ANQM, John Blackwood, Notaire, 30 July 1852, No. 1583)
DORCHESTER STREET WEST, a pair of three storey houses for Mrs. John Bower, 1852 (ANQM, John Blackwood, Notaire, 30 July 1852, No. 1591 and 1592)
ST. DOMINIQUE STREET, brick house with cut stone decorations for Mrs. John Bower, 1852 ((ANQM, John Blackwood, Notaire, 30 July 1852, No. 1526 and 1527)
DORCHESTER STREET WEST, at Sanguinet Street, reconstruction of four brick houses for Louis Boyer, 1852 (ANQM, J. Belle, Notaire, 21 Aug. 1852, No. 12953)
COTEAU STE. MARIE, a cottage for the widow of John J. White, 1852 (ANQM, J. Belle, Notaire, 21 Aug. 1852, No. 13022)
ST. DENIS STREET, at Dorchester Street West, three detached houses at the n.w. corner for Louis Boyer, 1852 (ANQM, J. Belle, Notaire, 30 Sept. 1852, No. 13037)
BERTHELET STREET, near Bleury Street, a two storey brick house for Mrs. John Jordan, 1856 (ANQM, J.C. Griffin, Notaire, 26 Feb. 1856, No. 13496)