SAVAGE, Harold James (1905-1989), active in Toronto as a partner in the architectural office of Molesworth, Secord & Savage from 1946 until after 1950. Born in New Haven, Conn., USA on 18 June 1905, he arrived in Toronto after 1920 and studied architectural drafting at Central Technical School. He articled in the office of Molesworth, West & Secord from April 1922 to May 1925, and obtained additional experience with Chapman & Oxley from December 1925 to September 1926. In late 1926 he re-joined the office of Molesworth, West & Secord and remained there for the next 20 years, but he also worked independently, submitting a number of designs in architectural competitions under his own name. In 1930, he won a competition for “The Ideal Home”, sponsored by the T. Eaton Department Store Ltd., and a full size mock up of his proposal was built inside the newly completed T. Eaton Co. flagship store at College Street and Yonge Street (Telegram [Toronto], 19 Aug. 1930, 11, illus.). Nearly six years later, in 1936, Savage would again collaborate with the T. Eaton Company by entering their competition for “A Medium House”. His proposal was awarded First Prize.
Savage was invited to become a full partner of the former firm of Molesworth, West & Secord in 1946, which was then renamed Molesworth, West & Savage. He remained active in the profession until 1975 and retired from the Ontario Assoc. of Architects in April 1979. Savage died in Aurora, Ont. on 21 January 1989 (death notice Globe & Mail [Toronto], 23 Jan. 1989, A 13; inf. from Ontario Assoc. of Architects).
(works in Toronto)
NORTH YORK, ONT., St. Christopher’s Anglican Church, Delhi Avenue near Northmount Avenue, 1954 (inf. from website for “Lost Anglican Churches of Toronto”)
COMPETITIONS
AN IDEAL ONTARIO HOME, 1930. Savage was one of 239 architects, draftsmen and architectural students from across Canada who submitted an entry in this competition. While he was employed by Molesworth, West & Secord, he submitted his own independent design, and received First Prize of $2,500 for his scheme (Const., xxiii, March 1930, 82; R.A.I.C. Journal, vii, April 1930, 138-39, 141, illus. & descrip.; C.H.G., vii, Aug. 1930, 26, illus.).
LONDON, ENGLAND, Royal Institute of British Architects Building, Portland Place, 1932. Savage was one of 17 architects from Canada, among a group of over 200 competitors from the British Commonwealth, who submitted a design for this prestigious commission. His Art Deco design for this 6 storey block was published in The Architect & Building News [London], 24 June 1932, 423, illus.). The winner was W. Gray Wornum of London.
A MEDIUM [SIZE] HOUSE TO COST LESS THAN $12,000, 1936. Savage submitted a design for modern Neo-Georgian house with a flat roof, and his scheme was awarded First Prize (R.A.I.C. Journal, xiii, July 1936, 129-30, 138, illus. & descrip.; C.H.G., xiii, Aug.-Sept. 1936, 39, illus.).