LACOMBE, Vincent (1846-1928), active in Montreal, Que. as a professional architect for nearly forty years. Born in Quebec in 1846, his name first appears as an architect in Montreal in 1873 (Montreal City Directory, 1873-74, 391), and he continued to be listed in every yearly edition of the Directory until after 1920. No references to his works have been found in the period from 1873 until 1884 when he was credited with one of his first projects, an elaborate outdoor archway in East Montreal, erected in 1884 for the annual St. Jean Baptiste Day celebrations. Spanning the intersection of Ste. Catherine Street East at Visitation Street, his design featured an huge arch nearly 60 feet high, surmounted by a dome which was 12 feet in diameter.
After 1890, he prepared several designs for commercial and industrial projects, but the majority of his commissions were for typical three-storey walk-up tenement blocks containing three flats that were usually commissioned by wealthy land owners or speculators who lived elsewhere in Montreal. These dwelling prototypes often featured cut-stone fronts and graceful curved exterior metal staircases leading to the upper units. Lacombe died in Montreal on 10 December 1928 (inf. Montreal, Parish of Notre Dame, Record Book of Deaths, entry for 11 December 1928, for “Vincent Lacombe, architecte”).
(works in Montreal)
STE. CATHERINE STREET EAST, at Visitation Street, commemorative archway for the St. Jean Baptiste Day celebrations on 24 June 1884 (Gazette [Montreal], 12 June 1884, 8, descrip.)
VISITATION STREET, at Bonaparte Street, residence for Joseph Duhamel, 1892 (ANQM, Leonard O. Hetu, Notaire, 11 Feb. 1892, No. 12555; American Architect & Building News [New York], xxxvi, 28 May 1892, “Building Intelligence”, p. xxii)
SHERBROOKE STREET EAST, at Plessis Street, residence for Francois Martineau, M.P.P., 1894 (C.R., v, 5 April 1894, 2; Le Prix Courant [Montreal], xiv, 20 April 1894, 232)
SANGUINET STREET, at St. Louis Square, three tenements for Mrs. Marie Louise Bourdeau, 1895 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], xvii, 18 Oct. 1895, 267)
WOLFE STREET, at Dorchester Street East, two houses for Mrs. Marie Amiot, 1896 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], xviii, 19 June 1896, 756; C.R., vii, 25 June 1896, 2)
LAGAUCHETIERE STREET, near Plessis Street, a tenement for Ernest Belanger, 1896 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], xix, 18 Sept. 1896, 126; C.R., vii, 24 Sept. 1896, 3)
STE. CATHERINE STREET EAST, near Delormier Avenue, major addition to house for Cleo A. Brisset, 1896 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], xviii, 10 July 1896, 880; C.R., vii, 16 July 1896, 3)
DESJARDINS STREET, building for Elzear Dansereau, 1898 (C.R., ix, 2 March 1898, 4)
STE. CATHERINE STREET EAST, at Frontenac Street, retail store with two flats, 1899 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], xxi, Issue No. 7, May 1899)
ST. GERMAIN STREET, two tenements for E. Bernier, 1900 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], xxviii, 13 April 1900, 157)
G. GUILBAULT & CO., Ste. Catherine Street East, factory, 1901 (C.R., xi, 30 Jan. 1901, 2)
MONTREAL HIDE & CALF SKIN CO., Albert Street, a four storey factory, 1901 (C.R., xii, 20 March 1901, 3; Le Prix Courant [Montreal], xxxi, 22 March 1901, 446)
POUPART STREET, tenement for Theophile Parent, 1903 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], xxxv, 1 May 1903, 153; with another tenement added at the same location, for the same client, 1903 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], xxxvi, 2 Oct. 1903, 49)
NOTRE DAME STREET EAST, at Frontenac Street, a block for three stores and four tenement buildings for Philias Wilson, 1904 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], 1904, Week No. 38, p. 8)
ST. DENIS STREET, near Bienville Street, a tenement with retail store below, for Isidore Bayard, 1904 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], 1904, Week No. 35, p. 53; 1905, Week No. 38, p. 67)
ST. ANDRE STREET, at Contant Street, tenement for L. Prevost, 1905 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], 1905, Week No. 31, p. 61)
POUPART STREET, near Lafontaine Street, two tenements for Mrs. J.C. Lacroix, 1906 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], 1906, Week No. 15, p. 46)
PANET STREET, factory for Francois Martineau, 1906 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], 1906, Week No. 23, p. 50)
PINE AVENUE, at St. Lawrence Boulevard, a row of four tenements for Rodolphe Guilbault, 1909 (Le Prix Courant [Montreal], 1909, Week No. 43, p. 48)