CHAPPELL BROTHERS & CO. (fl. 1902-03), active in Sydney, N.S. as “Architects & Builders” and credited with the design and construction of a number buildings in Cape Breton and elsewhere. The firm consisted of four brothers, James Chappell, George Chappell, Renwick Chappell and William Chappell, none of whom were trained in the profession. Instead, they hired outside architects such as George E. Hutchinson to organize their architectural drafting department. In 1903 Chappell Bros. & Co. won the architectural competition for the new Baptist Church at Glace Bay, N.S., but the design and drawings almost certainly came from the hand of G.E. Hutchinson, who served as their staff architect from 1900 to early 1904. One of the sons of William Chappell was Melbourne R. Chappell, an architect who later worked in the architectural department of his father’s firm, and who may also be linked to the design of several buildings documented with architectural drawings now held in M.R. Russell Collection at the Beaton Institute in Sydney (Acc. MG 12-75).
CHAPPELL BROS. & CO.
GLACE BAY, N.S., skating arena, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 5 Nov. 1902, 4)
GLACE BAY, N.S., Baptist Church, a commission won in a competition, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 18 Feb. 1903, 2; and 18 March 1903, 2)
GLACE BAY, N.S., residence for Councillor McInnes, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 18 Feb. 1903, 2)
GLACE BAY, N.S., residence for Dr. M.T. Sullivan, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 15 April 1903, 2)
SPRINGHILL, N.S., Young Men’s Christian Association, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 5 Aug. 1903, 2)
SYDNEY, N.S., Carnegie Library, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 5 Aug. 1903, 2, t.c.)
SYDNEY, N.S., Lyceum Opera House, George Street, 1903 (C.R., xiv, 26 Aug. 1903, 2, t.c.; Halifax Herald, 21 April 1904, 2, detailed descrip.; Evening Mail [Halifax], 23 April 1904, 8, detailed descrip.)