Wight, James Lillie | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

WIGHT, James Lillie (1821-1897) was born in Jedburgh, Scotland and was active as an architect and builder in Brantford and Ingersoll, Ontario for nearly forty years. He was one of the first professional architects to pursue a career in western Ontario, commencing his practice in Brantford in 1857 (Brant Expositor, 11 Aug. 1857, 3, advert.). His role in the design of the Zion Church in that town caused a disagreement with his rival John Turner who wrote to 'complain of the injustice done him by the committee employing another architect to draw another set of plans for the church' (Minutes of Zion Presbyterian Church, Brantford, 24 Feb. 1857). In 1867 he moved his office to Ingersoll where he advertised his services as an architect '..prepared to furnish Drawings, Specifications for all classes and styles of Churches, Halls, Stores, Cheese Factories, Dwellings, etc. ' (Ingersoll Chronicle, 7 Sept. 1871, 2, advert.). Wight continued to practise for nearly twenty years before being joined in partnership by his son John A. Wight in 1895. Wight died in Ingersoll on 28 August 1897 (obituary in the Ingersoll Chronicle, 2 Sept. 1897, 4).

BRANTFORD, ONT., Zion Presbyterian Church, Darling Street, 'opposite the Court House', 1857 (Christian Messenger [Brantford], 2 July 1857, 3; Brant County Herald [Brantford], 16 Dec. 1857, 2)
INGERSOLL, ONT., residence and office for Dr. Clarke, King Street, 1871 (Ingersoll Chronicle, 11 May 1871, 2)
INGERSOLL, ONT., residence for Mr. Bixel, Charles Street, 1871 (Ingersoll Chronicle, 11 May 1871, 2)
INGERSOLL, ONT., Erskine Presbyterian Church, Thames Street, 1873 (Ingersoll Chronicle, 2 Oct. 1873, 3, descrip.)
INGERSOLL, ONT., Noxon Brothers Co., workshops, 1873 (Ingersoll Chronicle, 2 Oct. 1873, 3, descrip.)
DEREHAM, ONT., school for Section No. 1, 1874 (Ingersoll Chronicle, 26 Feb. 1874, 4, t.c.)
INGERSOLL, ONT., Ward One School, 1874 (Ingersoll Chronicle, 7 May 1874, 2)
BELMONT, ONT., Methodist Church, 1889 (Belmont United Church 1853-1965, n.p.)
SALFORD, ONT., Methodist Church, 1889-90 (Ingersoll Chronicle, 19 Dec. 1889, t.c.; Christian Guardian [Toronto], 10 Dec. 1890, 788, descrip.)
INGERSOLL, ONT., First Baptist Church, Thames Street at Canterbury Street, 1889-90; burned 1898 and rebuilt (Ingersoll Chronicle, 8 Jan. 1891, 4, descrip.)
INGERSOLL, ONT., St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Thames Street, additions and alterations, 1891 (Globe [Toronto], 30 May 1891, 10, t.c.)
INGERSOLL, ONT., Collegiate Institute, Thames Street, extensive remodelling of old school with major addition, 1896-97 (Ingersoll Chronicle, 28 Jan. 1897, 2, descrip.)