RUSSELL, Elmer Hemans Hume (1880 - c. 1937), a talented draftsman and delineator active in Toronto from 1896 until 1912 when he became a staff architect with the provincial Dept. of Public Works in Toronto. Russell was born in Toronto on 26 July 1880 and attended Church Street Public School. In 1896, at the young age of 16 years, he joined the office of J.W. Siddall as an apprentice, and from 1897 to 1899 he trained as a student with Burke & Horwood. His skill as a delineator was already evident from his drawings submitted in competitions sponsored by The Canadian Architect & Builder magazine. Russell joined the Ontario Association of Architects in January 1901. He then worked as a draftsman in the offices of Gouinlock & Baker (in 1900-01), with Darling & Pearson (in 1902-04 and again in 1909-11), and as head draftsman with Curry, Sproatt & Rolph (in 1906-07). By 1908, he also appears to have been working independently, and later prepared designs for houses in Rosedale for a property developer Allan J. Savage.
By 1912 he had joined the Ontario Dept. of Public Works as a staff architect, working under the direct supervision of Francis Heakes, the Chief Architect. He remained there for the next 25 years, and later resigned from the O.A.A. in March 1937. No information has been found on his activity after this date. (inf. from Ontario Assoc. of Architects).
(works in Toronto)
ST. ANDREW’S GARDENS SOUTH, near MacLennan Avenue, residence for Allan J. Savage, 1910 (City of Toronto b.p. dated 4 Nov. 1910)
ROXBOROUGH STREET EAST, near Glen Road, residence for Allan J. Savage, 1911 (City of Toronto b.p. 30975, 19 Oct. 1911)
COMPETITIONS
Canadian Architect & Builder Competition, 1895, Design for a Jewellery Store Front. Russell submitted his drawing in December 1895, and was awarded Third Prize for his effort. His perspective drawing was later published in C.A.B., ix, Feb. 1896, plate illus.
Canadian Architect & Builder Competition, 1899, Design for an Ornamental Chimney, 1899. The design sent in by Russell received the Second Prize (C.A.B., xii, Feb. 1899, 44, ff, illus.)