AKERS, Ora Mabyn (1879-1965), an American-born architect who was active in Saskatchewan from 1906 to 1916. He was a native of Illinois, born there on 23 December 1879 and he may have obtained his education and training in Chicago. His marriage certificate in 1904 states that he was …..with a prominent lumber firm in Chicago, but it is unclear why he decided to emigrate to Canada and settle in Saskatchewan after 1905. Only a few references to his buildings in Canada have been located, including the substantial Shaunavon Hotel in Shaunavon (1914), a large 3 storey wood-frame landmark which is still standing today. Akers left Canada after 1916 and moved to Portland, Oregon where he was recorded as an architect from 1921 to 1929. He devoted much of his professional practice to residential design, and in 1924 he produced a 64-page book of his own house plans entitled The Telegram Plan Book, printed by the Portland Telegram newspaper, and featuring 30 different plans for houses which could be purchased in printed sets of drawings and specifications. It is likely that many of these dwellings were built by private homeowners in the Portland area following the plans prepared by Akers. He continued to live and work in Portland until after 1930, and he later died at Palm Desert in Riverside County, California on 20 January 1965. He was buried at Lake Forest Park, King County, Washington State. A biography of Akers can be found in Richard E. Ritz, Architects of Oregon - A Biographical Dictionary, 2002, pages 3-4.
ESTEVAN, SASK., residence for O.M. Akers, architect, Fourth Street, 1907 (Regina Leader, 11 Sept. 1907, 1; inf. Frank Korvemaker, Regina)
ESTEVAN, SASK., residence for James A. Smith, c. 1910 (inf. Frank Korvemaker, Regina)
SHAUNAVON, SASK., The Shaunavon Hotel Centre Street at 2nd Avenue, 1914; still standing in 2023 (Shaunavon Standard, 1 April 1915, 1, detailed architectural descrip.; Shaunavon Walking Tour (online), Item 9, illus. & descrip; inf. Frank Korvemaker, Regina)