STOREY, Joseph William (1923-1975) was active in Chatham, Ontario for nearly thirty years, and was singularly responsible for the introduction of a progressive modernist style to commercial, ecclesiastical and residential design throughout southwestern Ontario. Born in Windsor, Ont. on 5 July 1923, he studied architecture at the University of Toronto from 1943 to 1947. While attending the School of Architecture, he collaborated with Gordon R. Burniston and submitted a design in the Maritime Region competition for a Canadian Small House design. He was one of five regional winners from across Canada in this national competition, and the Jury commended his scheme, noting that “…the exterior design was considered to be of the utmost simplicity and of a very fine appearance” (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxiv, Jan. 1947, 19, illus.). That same year, while attending Fourth Year at the School of Architecture, he prepared an impressive modernist proposal for a new complex of buildings for Wycliffe College, Univ. of Toronto. His design, inspired by the traditional college quadrangles of Oxford and Cambridge, but in a contemporary idiom, was published in the R.A.I.C. Journal, xxiv, May 1947, 155, illus.
He opened his own office in Chatham in late 1947, and soon received major commissions for schools, civic buildings, institutional works, and for private residences. The most significant project developed by Storey over the duration of his entire career was the Roman Catholic Chapel & Motherhouse at “The Pines” in Chatham (1961-62). Storey died in an auto accident at Rondeau Provincial Park in southwest Ontario on 12 August (obituary Windsor Star, 12 Aug. 1975, 5; obituary Chatham Daily News, 13 Aug. 1975, 1; inf. Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, Toronto). in 2023, the Thames Art Gallery in Chatham printed a 6 page folding brochure on the work of Joseph Storey, copies of which may be obtained from the Gallery.
TORONTO, ONT. Wycliffe College, a student thesis design, 1946-47 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxiv, May 1947, 155, illus. & descrip.)
CHATHAM, ONT., indoor arena for the City of Chatham, Tweedsmuir Avenue, 1948 (C.R., lxi, Feb. 1948, 168)
CHATHAM, ONT., King George VI Public School, 1948-50 (C.R., lxi, May 1948, 175; and lxii, March 1949, 137; and Nov. 1949, 124; Architectural Record [New York], cxlviii, December 1950, 16, illus.)
CHATHAM, ONT., Kent County Administration Building, 1949-50 (C.R., lxii, Nov. 1949, 124)
BLENHEIM, ONT., Town Hall & Post Office, 1950-51 (C.R., lxiii, Sept. 1950, 123, t.c.)
SARNIA, ONT., Paterson Memorial Presbyterian Church, Russell Street South at Kathleen Avenue, major addition to sanctuary, and new Education Hall with gymnasium, 1950-51 (Rev. Douglas G. Seaton, Historical Sketch of Paterson Memorial Presbyterian Church 1931-1951, pub. 1951; inf. Ian Mason, Sarnia)
CHATHAM, ONT., Winston Churchill Public School, 1951-52 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxix, April 1952, 113, illus.)
CHATHAM, ONT., Libby McNeill & Libby of Canada Ltd., administration building, 1956 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxxiii, Oct. 1956, 392-95, illus. & descrip.)
CHATHAM, ONT. Federal Building, including Post Office and offices for the Government of Canada, Wellington Street West at Centre Street, 1957; still standing in 2023 (Parks Canada, Canada,s Historic Sites, Designation Statement 7 June 2007)
CHATHAM, ONT., Tecumseh Secondary School, 1957 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxxv, Feb. 1958, 35-7, illus. & descrip.)
CHATHAM, ONT., The Pines Roman Catholic Chapel & Motherhouse, 1961-62 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxxix, Dec. 1962, 55-60, illus. & descrip.; Canadian Architect, viii, March 1963, 54-7, illus & descrip.; Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, 80 for 80: Celebrating 80 Years of the A.C.O., 2013, 40-41, illus. & descrip.)
CHATHAM, ONT., Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, Victoria Avenue at Forest Street, restoration of the interiors of the church after a fire in January 1964, completed in 1964-65 (Chatham Daily News, 25 March 1965, 19, illus., inf. Ian Mason, Sarnia)
OAKVILLE, ONT., residence for Stewart Daymond, 1974 (Globe & Mail [Toronto], 9 Oct. 2009, G 4, illus. & descrip)
COMPETITIONS
CANADIAN SMALL HOUSE COMPETITION, Maritimes Region, 1947. Storey was one of five regional winners, and received First Prize for his modernist design, prepared in collaboration with Gordon R. Burniston (R.A.I.C. Journal, xxiv, Jan. 1947, 19, illus. & descrip.)