ANDERSON, James (1832-1903) was one of the leading nineteenth century architects of Detroit, Michigan and is best known for many refined and accomplished ecclesiastical designs built between 1855 and 1890 in both Michigan and in southwestern Ontario. Born in Perth, Scotland in 1832 he came to Detroit after 1850 and worked as a draftsman in the office of Albert H. Jordan, who was the leading architect of the city at that time. Anderson assisted with the completion of the plans for Fort Street Presbyterian Church (1855) and in 1857 formed a partnership with Jordan. Together they executed the Gothic Revival design for St. John's Episcopal Church, Woodward Avenue, Detroit (1860-61). That same year Anderson presented his early proposals for the new Detroit City Hall, but the Civil War prevented this ambitious Second Empire work from being started until 1869. It was completed two years later, but regrettably demolished in 1961 (W.H. Ferry, The Buildings of Detroit, 1968, 48, plates 55-56; 77-8, plate 85, illus.). In Canada, Anderson carried out the commission 'in the early English style' for St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Sarnia (1867), as well as planning elaborate commercial blocks in Chatham and Sarnia. Although active in Michigan until well after 1880 he died in relative obscurity in Detroit on 19 December 1903 (biography in Detroit Journal, 7 Dec. 1903, 3; obituary in the Detroit Tribune, 19 Dec. 1903, 1; inf. Shirley Solvick, Detroit Public Library).
SARNIA, ONT, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Christina Street North, Sarnia, 1867 (Sarnia Observer, 5 July 1867, 2, descrip.; Evening Advertiser [London], 28 Oct. 1868, 2, descrip.; Centenary of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Sarnia 1841-1941, 15, illus.)
CHATHAM, ONT., Ursuline Academy, Grand Avenue West, 1868; demol. (Western Advertiser [London], 26 June 1868, 2; inf. Irene Meloche, O.S.U.; signed dwgs. in the Ursuline Archives, Chatham)
CHATHAM, ONT., store for John Rice, King Street, 1868 (Chatham Weekly Planet, 30 July 1868, 1, descrip.)
WINDSOR, ONT., commercial block of two stores for Cameron & Thorburn, Sandwich Street, 1871-72 (Essex Record [Windsor], 23 Nov. 1871, 3, t.c.)
WINDSOR, ONT., Masonic Hall, for the Free Masons, 1872 (Essex Record [Windsor], 21 Nov. 1872, 1)
(with Henry Langley) LONDON, ONT., extensive improvements and repairs to the Asylum for the Insane, 1872 (Ontario, Sessional Papers, 1873, S8, 43, 52)
WINDSOR, ONT., Central Public School, Windsor Avenue, 1874; converted into Windsor City Hall, 1904; demol. 1958 (Essex Record [Windsor], 11 Dec. 1874, 4, payment of fees to James Anderson for plans)
SARNIA, ONT., commercial block for D. Gray & Son, Christina Street at George Street, 1875 (Sarnia Observer, 5 March 1875, 2, descrip.)