HUTCHINS, Edward Francis (1824-1905), of Toronto, Ont., was an assistant to William G. Storm of that city. His name first appears as an architect in the 1874 Toronto Directory. In May 1876, Hutchins placed an advertisement in The Globe, listing himself as an “….architect, York Chambers, Toronto Street (lately with Mr. Storm) and can furnish superior designs and careful specifications and superintendence for buildings of every description” (Globe [Toronto], 29 May 1876, 3, advert.). He is likely the same "Edward Francis Hutchins, Architect" listed in London, England who was elected as an Associate member of the Royal Inst. of British Architects in January 1845. Surprisingly, he resigned from the RIBA in the following year (R.I.B.A., Directory of British Architects 1834-1914, 2001, Vol. 1, 985). In 1851 he was working as an architect's assistant in Reading, Engl.; In 1871 he was an architect & builder in Gravesend, Co. Kent, England, and he later emigrated to Canada in 1873 or 1874.
He is often mistakenly credited with the design of the impressive mansion for the Hon. George Brown, located on Beverley Street at Baldwin Street in Toronto (designed 1871; built 1875 and still standing in 2022), but recent research in the National Archives of Canada in Ottawa has revealed that the mansion was designed by the Toronto architect William Irving, and that Hutchins served as Clerk of Works on this job, overseeing the day-to-day construction of the building. Hutchins does, however, appear to be a capable designer in his own right; in 1877 he drew the plans for Christ Church, the Reformed Episcopal Church on Simcoe Street, Toronto, executed in “the Norman style”. Hutchins continued to be listed as an architect in the annual City of Toronto Directories up until 1882, but no references to work from 1878 until 1882 have been found. He may be the individual with the same name who died in January 1905 in London, England.
NEWSBOYS LODGING HOUSE, Frederick Street near Front Street East, additions to the existing building, 1875 (Globe [Toronto], 26 March 1875, 3, t.c.)
HOUSE OF INDUSTRY, Elm Street near Elizabeth Street, addition for offices, and alterations to kitchen and washing rooms, 1875 (Globe [Toronto], 31 March 1875, 2, t.c.)
BEVERLEY STREET, stables for the residence of G.L. Beardmore, 1876 (Globe [Toronto], 14 Sept. 1876, 3, t.c.)
DAVENPORT ROAD, alterations to residence for E. Gunther, 1876 (Globe [Toronto], 14 Sept. 1876, 3, t.c.)
PUBLIC SCHOOL, for the Toronto Board of Education, 1876. Hutchins was paid fees of $192.00 for “…preparing plans of school buildings”, but the location of the school was not specified (Annual Report of the Inspector of Public Schools for the City of Toronto, 1876, Appendix F, 14)
CHRIST CHURCH [Anglican], the Reformed Episcopal Church, Simcoe Street at Elm Street, 1877; demol. (Globe [Toronto], 31 March 1877, 7, t.c.; Globe [Toronto], 7 June 1877, 3, descrip.)