WATSON, George (1812-1907) was born on the estate of Sir Harry V. Tempest in Durham County, England on 14 January 1812 and served an apprenticeship as a carpenter's assistant in that country before coming to Canada in 1833. He settled in London, Ontario and worked there as a carpenter and builder until 1855 when he became 'engaged in business with Samuel Peters'. Their relationship appears to have not been a formal partnership, but rather one of employer and assistant; in 1865 Watson was credited for 'drawings and superintendence' of the City Hotel in London, but he was described as being '...of Mr. Peters office', and likely employed in the capacity of a head draftsman or a Clerk of Works (London Evening Advertiser, 1 Aug. 1865, 3).
By 1867 he was advertising himself as an architect, with much of his subsequent career being devoted to the design of Gothic Revival and Second Empire style houses and commercial buildings. His best known works include the Trebilcock Block, Dundas Street, London (1873-74) and the Town Hall, Aylmer (1873-74). He was joined in practise by his son William in September 1872, but the unexpected death of the latter on 23 October 1874 led Watson to collaborate with John Constantine, another local architect, with whom he formed a partnership in January 1875. This office was dissolved in late 1882 upon the retirement of Watson who was then seventy years of age, and few references to his work after this time can be found. He died in London on 29 July 1907 (obituary in Daily Advertiser [London], 30 July 1907, 8; obituary and portrait in Canadian Architect & Builder, xx, August 1907, 145-6; biography in W.A. Goodspeed, History of the County of Middlesex, 1889, 1038-39).
GEORGE WATSON
(works in London unless noted)
BAPTIST CHURCH, York Street at Talbot Street, extensive alterations and addition, 1867 (Canadian Baptist [Toronto], 13 June 1867, 2, descrip.)
KING STREET, showroom and addition to the factory for George Moorhead, 1868-70 (Daily Advertiser [London], 1 Dec. 1868, 2, descrip.; 10 October 1870, 3; Free Press [London], 30 Jan. 1869, 2, t.c.; 7 April 1870, 2, t.c.)
WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH, Dundas Street at Maitland Street, 1869-70; Parsonage 1870; demol. 1895 (Daily Advertiser [London], 4 April 1870, 2, descrip.; 10 Oct. 1870, 3; 11 April 1895, 6)
MARKET STREET, near Talbot Street, three houses for George J. Magee, 1869 (Daily Advertiser [London], 21 Jan. 1869, 3, t.c.)
MARKET LANE, at Kent Street, row of five houses for James Griffin, 1869 (Daily Advertiser [London], 20 Feb. 1869, 3, t.c.; Free Press [London], 15 March 1869, 3)
KING STREET, near Clarence Street, furniture showrooms for John Ferguson, 1869 (Free Press [London], 15 March 1869, 3; Daily Advertiser [London], 20 March 1869, 3, t.c.)
RIDOUT STREET, near Market Street, addition to residence for Robert Waddell, 1869 (Daily Advertiser [London], 27 March 1869, 3, t.c.)
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, King Street near Wellington Street, new Parsonage, 1869 (Daily Advertiser [London], 14 April 1869, 3, t.c.)
MAITLAND STREET, near Bathurst Street, residence for Nicholas Wilson, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 26 March 1870, 2, t.c.)
THE DAILY ADVERTISER OFFICE, Richmond Street, a new facade, a Press Room, and the printing department, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 5 May 1870, 2, descrip.)
BATHURST STREET, near Waterloo Street, cottage for James Robertson, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 24 June 1870, 2, t.c.)
RICHMOND STREET, near York Street, commercial block for Charles B. Hunt, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 21 Sept. 1870, 3)
TALBOT STREET, opposite the City Market, three stores for Balkwill & Darvill, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 10 Oct. 1870, 3)
TREBILCOCK BLOCK, Dundas Street near Wellington Street, commercial block for Mrs. Harriet Trebilcock, 1870; 1873-74(Daily Advertiser [London], 10 Oct. 1870, 3; 19 Sept. 1873, 3; 23 Nov. 1874, 2, descrip.)
TALBOT STREET, near John Street, residence for Thomas Caldwell, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 10 Oct. 1870, 3)
ANGLO-AMERICAN HOTEL, Wellington Street at York Street, extension, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 10 Oct. 1870, 3)
NORTH STREET, at William Street, residence for John Geary, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 10 Oct. 1870, 3)
KING STREET, at Maitland Street, residence for John Minhinnick, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 10 Oct. 1870, 3)
DUNDAS STREET, near Clarence Street, store for H. Davis & Son, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 10 Oct. 1870, 3)
ST. JAMES STREET, at Waterloo Street, two houses for John E. Baker, 1871 (Daily Advertiser [London], 7 Feb. 1871, 1, t.c.)
CLARENCE STREET, near North Street, residence for John McDonald, 1871 (Daily Advertiser [London], 18 April 1871, 2, t.c.)
YORK STREET, near Thames Street, residence for James Slater, 1871 (Daily Advertiser [London], 27 April 1871, 2)
ST. THOMAS, ONT., Free Trade Building, for J. & J. Adam, Talbot Street at St. George Street, 1871 (Daily Advertiser [London], 6 May 1871, 3; Canadian Home Journal [St. Thomas], 24 March 1871, 5; 1 Sept. 1871, 43 Nov. 1871, 4; inf. Paul Baldwin, St. Thomas)
ST. THOMAS, ONT., retail store for Albert Hutson, Talbot Street West, 1871 (Canadian Home Journal [St. Thomas], 29 Sept. 1871, 4; 3 Nov. 1871, 4; inf. Paul Baldwin, St. Thomas)
ST. THOMAS, ONT., residence for Alfred J. Allworth, Margaret Street, opposite Prince Albert Street, 1871 (Canadian Home Journal [St. Thomas], 3 Nov. 1871, 4; 10 Nov. 1871, 10; inf. Paul Baldwin, St. Thomas)
ST. THOMAS ONT., commercial block for John E. Smith, Talbot Street, beside the London & Port Stanley Railway line, 1871 (Canadian Home Journal [St. Thomas], 3 Nov. 1871, 4; inf. Paul Baldwin, St. Thomas)
ST. THOMAS, ONT., The Beaver Block, Talbot Street at John Street, for John E. Smith, 1872 (Canadian Home Journal [St. Thomas], 29 Nov. 1872; 4; 9 May 1873, 8; 26 Dec. 1873, 1; inf. Paul Baldwin, St. Thomas)
DUNDAS STREET, near Talbot Street, stores for William D. McGloghlen and John Williams, 1872 (Daily Advertiser [London], 13 April 1872, 3, descrip.)
WESTMINSTER, Schoolhouse for Section 14, 1872 (Daily Advertiser [London], 11 March 1872, 2, t.c.)
THOMAS McCORMICK BISCUIT CO., new factory, Dundas Street at Wellington Street, 1872 (Daily Advertiser [London], 1 May 1872, 3, descrip.)
GEORGE WATSON & SON
ST. THOMAS, ONT., Central School, Wellington Street, extension, 1872, (Daily Advertiser [London], 13 March 1872, 2, t.c.; Canadian Home Journal [St. Thomas], 15 March 1872, 4)
COLBORNE STREET, near Horton Street, warehouse for Muirhead & Gray, Dominion Oatmeal Mills, 1872, 1875 (Daily Advertiser [London], 3 May 1872, 2, t.c.; 24 April 1875, 1, t.c.)
WELLINGTON STREET, at South Street, two houses for John Jones, 1872 (Daily Advertiser [London], 20 June 1872, 2, t.c.)
GLENCOE, ONT., new tower for St. John's Anglican Church, 1872 (London Weekly Herald, 28 June 1872, t.c.)
WILLIAM STREET, at South Street, three cottages for John Pannell, 1872 (Daily Advertiser [London], 27 July 1872, 2, t.c.)
STRATHROY, ONT., School, 1872 (Daily Advertiser [London], 9 Aug. 1872, 2, t.c.)
CRAWFORD & CO., Dundas Street at Adelaide Street, workshop and warehouse, 1873 (Daily Advertiser [Toronto], 7 Feb. 1873, 4, descrip.)
CLARENCE STREET, near Duke Street, two houses for Alexander J.G. Henderson, 1873 (Daily Advertiser [London], 13 March 1873, 2, t.c.)
ST. THOMAS, ONT., residence for James F. Dennison, 1873 (Daily Advertiser [London], 14 July 1873, 2, t.c.)
CARLING STREET, near Talbot Street, store for Louis C. Leonard, occupied by McCallum's Drugs, 1873 (Daily Advertiser [London],19 Sept. 1873, 3)
ST. THOMAS, ONT., stores for Detlor & Fraine, Talbot Street, 1873 (Daily Advertiser [London], 23 Oct. 1873, 2, t.c.; 30 Oct. 1873, 3)
AYLMER, ONT., Town Hall, 1873-74 (Town of Aylmer, Clerk's Office, correspondence from the architect)
DUNDAS STREET, near Clarence Street, stores for A.W. Spry and Hewitt Fysh, 'opposite Mrs. Trebilcock's Block', 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 23 Nov. 1874, 2, descrip.)
COLBORNE STREET, at Horton Street, Gospel Hall, 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 20 Nov. 1874, 2, descrip.)
KING STREET, near Richmond Street, carriage factory for W.J. Thompson, 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 21 Nov. 1874, 2, descrip.)
RICHMOND STREET, near King Street, shop for Thomas Pigott, 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 23 Nov. 1874, 2)
LONDON EAST, hotel for J. Mallin near the Great Western Railway Car Works, 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 23 Nov. 1874, 2)
KING STREET, at Colborne Street, residence for Rev. Robert Wallace, 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 25 Nov. 1874, 2)
KING STREET, near Colborne Street, residence for Henry Davis, 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 25 Nov. 1874, 2)
KING STREET, at Burwell Street, residence for Richard D. Dulmage, 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 25 Nov. 1874, 2)
DUNDAS STREET, near Adelaide Street, residence for William Bowman, 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 25 Nov. 1874, 2)
NEW BRIGHTON, residence for Mr. Heath, 1874 (Daily Advertiser [London], 25 Nov. 1874, 2)
WATSON & CONSTANTINE
JOHN MERRITT & CO., Carling Street near Richmond Street, new factory, 1875 (Daily Advertiser [London], 6 Feb. 1875, 1, t.c.)
WEST NISSOURI TOWNSHIP, School House, Section 2, 1875 (Daily Advertiser [London], 20 Feb. 1875, 1, t.c.)
NORTH STREET, residence for T.D. Hodgins, 1875 (Daily Advertiser [London], 19 June 1875, 1, t.c.)
PICCADILLY STREET, residence for Richard Thompson, 1876 (Daily Advertiser [London], 20 June 1876, 1, t.c.)
WATERLOO STREET, residence for Nathaniel Reid, 1876 (Daily Advertiser [London], 29 July 1876, 1, t.c.)
DUNDAS STREET, near Richmond Street, row of seven shops and dwellings for George & James Priddis, 1877 (Daily Advertiser [London], 1 May 1877, 1, t.c.)
GOVERNOR'S ROAD, London Township, meat packing factory for George Shuff & Co., 1877 (Daily Advertiser [London], 24 May 1877, 1, t.c.)
CARLING STREET, addition to factory for Charles S. Hyman, 1877 (Daily Advertiser [London], 3 July 1877, 1, t.c.)
DUNDAS STREET, near Talbot Street, addition to store for Bossom A. Mitchell & Sons, 1878 (Free Press [London], 22 April 1878, 4)
WESTMINSTER, Askin Street School, 1878 (Free Press [London], 22 April 1878, 4)
MELBOURNE, ONT., hotel and store for J.D. Corneil, 1878 (Free Press [London], 22 April 1878, 4)
ALBERT STREET, London Township, residence for George G. Magee, 1878 (Free Press [London], 22 April 1878, 4)
LONDON TOWNSHIP, Lot 23, Concession 7, residence for D. Morden, 1879 (Free Press [London], 11 March 1879, 2, t.c.)
TALBOT STREET, near Maple Street, residence for Thomas Brunton, 1879 (Free Press [London], 30 May 1879, 2, t.c.)
RIDOUT STREET, at Kent Street, residence for Cuthbert McCallum, 1880 (Free Press [London], 17 May 1880, 1)
KENT STREET, near Richmond Street, residence for Joseph Pigot, 1880 (Free Press [London], 17 May 1880, 1)
MORKINS HOTEL, Richmond Street near Litchfield Street, 1880 (Free Press [London], 17 May 1880, 1)
DUNDAS STREET, near Burwell Street, residence for Philip Cook, 1880 (Free Press [London], 17 May 1880, 1)
VICTORIA AVENUE, at Edward Street, residence for Robert Summers, 1880 (Free Press [London], 17 May 1880, 1)
DUNDAS STREET, near Talbot Street, addition to commercial block for Lewis C. Leonard, 1881 (Daily Advertiser [London], 13 July 1881, 4, t.c.)
TALBOT STREET, near Albert Street, row of three houses for George Holman, 1882 (Free Press [London], 21 Aug. 1882, 2, t.c.)