Van Raalte, Solomon | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

VAN RAALTE, Solomon (1882-1956), architect active in Toronto from 1907 until his death there on 3 April 1956. Born in London, England, he studied building construction at the City of London Guild Schools (in 1898-1900), then emigrated to Canada in 1905 and worked as a building contractor. He took independent courses in architecture with the International Correspondence School in Scranton, Penn. In 1908-1912, and joined the Toronto firm of Horwood & White as draftsman and specification writer in 1910-20. In 1920 he became chief draftsman with that firm, and after the death of Murray White in 1935, and the retirement of J.C.B. Horwood, he formed a partnership with Eric Horwood in 1938, and they continued to work together until after 1950. Van Raalte died in Toronto on 3 April 1956 (obituary R.A.I.C. Journal, xxxiii, Sept. 1956, 359; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects, Toronto).