PERRAM, Hugh Carlton (1885-1947), an architect from Aurora, Ontario who was active in Montreal, Que., in Trois Rivieres, Que., and later in Victoria, B.C. He was born in Aurora on 2 March 1885 and attended Harbord Collegiate in Toronto in 1901-02. At the young age of 17 years, he moved to New York City and worked as an office boy with Renwick, Aspinwall & Owen, Architects in 1902-04, then moved to Los Angeles to work as assistant with Hudson & Munsell, Architects in 1904-06, and Kirby & Thomas, Architects of Fresno, Calif. In 1906-09). During this period of 1902-07 he studied architecture by taking courses with the International Correspondence School in Scranton, Penn.
In 1912 he returned to Canada to work in Montreal as assistant to Kenneth Rea (in 1912-15), then to Grand Mere, Que. as architectural designer and draftsman for the Laurentide Paper Co., and it was there that he designed one of the most important commissions of his career, the Swiss-style Post Office & Corporate Office block for this Company, built 1916; still standing in original condition in 2023. Perram opened his own office in Trois Rivieres, Que in 1920, but it is unclear why he left Canada in late 1922 and returned to California where he worked on residential projects in the office of Reginald D. Johnson, Architect of Los Angeles (in 1922-26), and with George S. Hunt of Pasadena (in 1926-31). He then spent a decade working under his own name as an architect in Santa Monica (from 1931 to 1941), and later moved to Victoria, B.C. in 1943 where he practiced until his death on 12 November 1947 (obituary Daily Colonist (Victoria), 16 Nov. 1947, 21; obit. R.A.I.C. Journal, xxv, February 1948, 65; biog H. Carter, Who"s Who in British Columbia, 1947-48, 172).
(works in Quebec)
GRAND MERE, QUE., a large 3 storey block for the Post Office and corporate offices for the Laurentide Pulp & Paper Co., Chahoon Avenue, 1916; still standing in 2023 (Continuite (Quebec), No. 49, Winter-Spring 1991, 51-52, illus.)
SHAWINIGAN, QUE., residence for senior staff member of Laurentide Pulp & Paper Co., 175 4th Avenue, c. 1922; still standing in 2023 (inf. Patrimoine Culturel du Quebec)
SHAWINIGAN, QUE., a 2 storey apartment block at 190-192 Forman Avenue at 3rd Avenue, 1922; still standing in 2023 (inf. Patrimoine Culturel du Quebec)
SHAWINIGAN, QUE., a 3 storey residence for senior staff member of Laurentide Pulp & Paper Co., 165 4th Avenue, c. 1922; still standing in 2023 (inf. Patrimoine Culturel du Quebec)
(works in Victoria, B.C.)
VICTORIA TIRE BUILDING, Herald Street near Government Street, 1945-46; altered beyond recognition (Hallmark Society of Victoria, Capitol Region District Art Deco & Modern, c. 1986)
SIDNEY ROOFING & PAPER CO, Kimta Road, large factory for Fibrerock production, 1946-47; demol. (dwgs. at City of Victoria Archives, File 2 – 0177)
QUADRA STREET, at Hillside Avenue, stores and apartments, 1946-49; altered c. 1990; still standing in 2023 (Hallmark Society of Victoria, Capitol Region District Art Deco & Modern, c. 1986)
YATES STREET, at Wharf Street, commercial block, 1947; and later altered (Hallmark Society of Victoria, Capitol Region District Art Deco & Modern, c. 1986)
NORTHWESTERN CREAMERIES LTD., Yates Street near Vancouver Street, a 2 storey addition to factory, 1947; demol. (Victoria Daily Times, 4 Feb 1947, 13)