White, David | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

WHITE, David (1803-1880), an important architect active in the Oxford County region of western Ontario, was born in Peebles, Scotland on 25 September 1803 and learned his trade as carpenter there. In 1825 or 1826 he moved to London and spent eight years in the buildings trades, then emigrated to Canada in July 1834 and settled at Woodstock, Ont. He carried on a large business there as a builder and architect, but suffered financial reverses during the depression of 1855-57 and was forced to abandon his operations as a builder. In 1859 he received the appointment of County Clerk for Oxford Co., a position he held for the next twenty years. Concurrently he operated independently both as an architect and 'practical draughtsman prepared to furnish drawings and specifications for any style of building' (Ingersoll Chronicle, 18 Jan. 1861, 2, advert.). Assisted by his son Alexander White, with whom he formed a partnership in 1871, he designed a variety of institutional, commercial and residential works using the fashionable Italianate style, but additional research is required to shed light on many other works he undoubtedly designed during the period from 1871 to 1880. White died in Woodstock on 24 March 1880 (obit. Woodstock Sentinel Review, 26 March 1880, 1).

WOODSTOCK, ONT., Canadian Literary Institute, College Avenue, 1861-62, erected to replace the earlier building designed by Joseph Sheard built 1857-60, which burned in 1861; the building by White was later demol. in 1959 (J. Sutherland, County of Oxford Gazetteer & Directory, 1862, 208; Woodstock College Memorial Book, 1951, 27, 80, illus.)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., major addition to Knox Presbyterian Church, Perry Street, 1871-72 (Woodstock Sentinel, 28 July 1871, 2, t.c.; 14 March 1873, 2, descrip.)
CLINTON, ONT., Town Hall, Albert Street at Rattenbury Street, 1871 (OA, Clinton Town Hall Papers; M. MacRae & A. Adamson, Cornerstones of Order, 1983, 228-30, illus.)
INGERSOLL, ONT., Niagara District Bank, Thames Street, 1872 (Ingersoll Chronicle, 17 Oct. 1872, 3, descrip.)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., extensive alterations to the County Gaol and Court House, 1877 (Woodstock Weekly Review, 19 Oct. 1877, 1, descrip.)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., Scott's Block, Dundas Street, 1877 (Woodstock Weekly Review, 19 Oct. 1877, 1, descrip.)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., commercial block for Roderick McKay, Dundas Street, 1877 (Woodstock Weekly Review, 19 Oct. 1877, 1, descrip.)
WOODSTOCK, ONT., residence for F.R. Ball, Vansittart Street, 1880 (Woodstock Weekly Review, 13 Feb. 1880, 5, t.c.)