ARCHER, William Henry (1855 -1922) maintained a practise in Vancouver, B.C. from 1904 onward. Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1855, he was educated at the Royal College of Science there, and attended Dunbar's Military & Naval Academy as a naval cadet. He briefly studied architecture and construction at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, but did not graduate from that institution, preferring instead to return to London where he attended the South Kensington School of Science & Art. He then articled with George Edmund Street (1824-1881), a leading figure in British architecture in the 19th C., and under his direction assisted him with the restoration of Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin.
In 1880 Archer emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City where he formed a partnership with John Kerby, as Kerby & Archer, Architects, active from 1882 to 1885 (D.S. Francis, Architects in Practice in New York City 1840-1900, pub. 1979, p. 12 & 46). By 1886 he had relocated to Buffalo, N.Y., and was working there as an architect from an office at 554 Main Street (City of Buffalo Directory, 1886, 252). He moved to nearby Fredonia, N.Y. and joined E.A. Curtis as a draftsman, and later as full partner in the firm of Curtis & Archer, but their collaboration was a brief one, and in June 1890 Archer moved back to Buffalo to open his own office. During the next decade he was remarkably successful, specializing in the design of churches and schools, invariably designed in the Romanesque Revival style. He applied for membership in the American Institute of Architects in Washington, D.C. and was later nominated as a Fellow of the A.I.A. in 1889.
He appears to have left Buffalo in 1899 or 1900, and he may be the same W.H. Archer Architect active in Sherbrooke, Que. in 1900-03. By 1904 he had moved again, this time to Vancouver, British Columbia where he continued his practise, either under his own name, or in partnership with James S. Helyer in 1912-14 (see list of works under Helyer & Archer). He was active in the Council of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and his photographic portrait appeared with other Council members in the Contract Record [Toronto], xxv, 11 Oct. 1911, 47. His name continued to appear in the yearly Vancouver City Directories until 1919. Archer died in Vancouver on 17 April 1922 (obituary & port. Province [Vancouver], 19 April 1922, 22; D. Luxton, Building The West: The Early Architects of British Columbia, 2003, 250-51, 491, illus. inf. Ann Martha Rowan, Dictionary of Irish Architects, Dublin; inf. Patrick Gunn, City of Vancouver).
W.H. ARCHER (works in Vancouver)
POINT GREY ROAD, at Trafalgar Street, "Edgewood", a large residence for Thomas H. Calland, 1904; demol. c. 1940 (Vancouver Daily World, 26 Jan. 1906, 6, list of works by Archer; D. Luxton, Building The West, 2003, 251, illus.; dwgs. Vancouver City Archives)
WEST 7th AVENUE, residence for A. Macdonald, 1904 (Vancouver Daily World, 26 Jan. 1906, 6, list of works by Archer)
CORNWALL AVENUE, residence for Roy MacGowan, 1905 (Vancouver Daily World, 26 Jan. 1906, 6, list of works by Archer)
PACIFIC STREET, residence for Charles Parsons, 1905 (Vancouver Daily World, 26 Jan. 1906, 6, list of works by Archer)
HARO STREET, residence for Lambert Bond, 1905 (Vancouver Daily World, 26 Jan. 1906, 6, list of works by Archer)
GEORGIA STREET, residence for Albert G. McKenney, 1905 (Province [Vancouver], 22 May 1905, 5, t.c.; C.R., xvi, 31 May 1905, 4, t.c.)
ST. PAUL'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Jervis Street at Pendrill Street, Vancouver, designed 1904; built 1905-06 (Victoria Daily Times, 6 Aug. 1904, 6, descrip.; Vancouver Daily World, 2 Aug. 1905, 2, illus. & descrip.; and 26 Jan. 1906, 6, descrip.; Canadian Churchman [Toronto] 8 Feb. 1906, 98-9, descrip.; drawings at the Vancouver City Archives)
CARDERO STREET, residence for John F. Helliwell, 1906 (Vancouver Daily World, 7 July 1906, 9, t.c.)
JAPANESE DAY SCHOOL, Alexander Street near Jackson Avenue, a privately funded school for students of Japanese families, 1906; demol. (Pacific Builder & Engineering Record [Seattle], iv, 28 April 1906, 11; City of Vancouver b.p. 17 April 1906, issued to K. Morikawa; Vancouver Daily World, 17 July 1906, 5, descrip.)
CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY HOME, Powell Street, 1907 (Province [Vancouver], 21 Feb. 1907, 18)
ROYAL VANCOUVER YACHT CLUB, Coal Harbour, a large floating motor boat house, with 10 to 12 boat stalls, situated beside the existing Yacht Club House, 1907 (Province [Vancouver], 19 April 1907, 4, descrip.)
SIKH TEMPLE, West Second Avenue near Cedar Street, for the Khalsa Diwan Society, 1907; demol. (City of Vancouver b.p. 16 Nov. 1907; Const., i, Feb. 1907, 72)
ST. MICHAEL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Prince Edward Street at Ninth Avenue East, reconstruction of the church, 1908; still standing 2015, but altered, with addition in front of existing church (Vancouver Daily World, 6 May 1908, 2, t.c.; and 12 May 1908, 13, descrip.)
PARK DRIVE, large retail store for John Shanahan, 1909 (Vancouver b.p. 13 April 1909; inf. Patrick Gunn, City of Vancouver)
BUDDHIST TEMPLE, Albert Street at Woodland Drive, 1910 (Vancouver Daily World, 28 Sept. 1910, 10, descrip.; C.R., xxiv, 5 Oct. 1910, 27)
NORMAN APARTMENTS, Yew Street at 1st Avenue, for Lady Forester Walker, 1911 (Vancouver b.p. 30 June 1911; inf. Patrick Gunn, City of Vancouver)
HAYES APARTMENTS, Yew Street at 2nd Avenue, for W.H. Hayes, 1911 (Vancouver b.p. 31 July 1911; inf. Patrick Gunn, City of Vancouver)
S.S. BEAVER MONUMENT, Stanley Park, overlooking Burrard Inlet, a stone cairn and mast dedicated to the H.B.C. steamer "The S.S. Beaver", the first ship to come around Cape Horn to Vancouver in 1835, and later wrecked at Prospect Point, Stanley Park, in July 1888; monument designed by Archer in 1913 (Province [Vancouver], 31 Oct. 1913, 2, descrip.)
W.H. ARCHER (works in Nanaimo)
ST. PAUL'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Church Street, 1906-07; burned 1930 (Nanaimo Free Press, 6 Sept. 1906, 1 & 4, descrip.; Canadian Churchman [Toronto], 20 Sept. 1906, 602, descrip.)
COMPETITIONS
VANCOUVER, B.C., Stanley Park improvements, including laying out the grounds adjacent to the lake, a band stand, refreshment pavilion, children's playground, and animal Zoo, 1911. The office of W.H. Archer was one of nearly a dozen firms who submitted plans in this open competition (Vancouver Daily World, 18 Jan. 1911, 3). It is unclear who won this commission.
(works in the United States)
CURTIS & ARCHER (of Fredonia, N.Y.)
OIL CITY, PENN., Standard Oil Co., Seneca Street at Center Street, a large 4 storey office block for John D. Rockefeller, 1889-90; still standing 2019 (Buffalo Courier, 22 April 1889, 8; 16 May 1889, 6; USA, Dept. of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places, Designation Statement, 1978)
W.H. ARCHER (of Buffalo, N.Y.)
TONAWANDA, N.Y., Young Men's Christian Association, Main Street at Tremont Street, 1890 (Buffalo Commercial, 15 Nov. 1890, 11, descrip.)
TONAWANDA, N.Y., Higgins Hotel, 1891 (Buffalo Courier, 12 Sept. 1891, 6, descrip.)
TONAWANDA, N.Y., major addition to Union School No. 3, 1891 (Buffalo Courier, 12 Sept. 1891, 6, descrip.)
BUFFALO, N.Y., St. Columba Roman Catholic Church, Eagle Street at Hickory Street, a new Rectory for the church, 1891 (Buffalo Courier, 12 Sept. 1891, 6, descrip.)
BUFFALO, N.Y., seven railway stations and depots on the Buffalo, Tonawanda & Niagara Falls Railway line, 1891 (Buffalo Evening News, 14 Oct. 1891, 1)
JAVA CENTER, N.Y., a new Rectory for St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, 1891 (Buffalo Courier, 14 Nov. 1891, 6, descrip.)
DUNKIRK, N.Y., St. Mary's Lyceum, Central Avenue, between 3rd Street and 4th Street, 1892 (Illustrated Buffalo Express, 12 June 1892, 6, illus. & descrip.)
HAMBURG, N.Y., Trinity Episcopal Church, Union Street at Center Street, 1892-93 (Buffalo Evening News, 9 Nov. 1892, 1, descrip.; Buffalo Sunday Morning News, 19 March 1893, 2)
NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y., Public School, Delaware Avenue at Harriett Street, 1892-93 (Buffalo Enquirer, 4 March 1893, 5)
NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y., Public School, Morgan Street at Wheeler Street, 1893 (Buffalo Sunday Morning News, 19 March 1893, 2)
SILVER CREEK, N.Y., St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 1893 (Buffalo Sunday Morning News, 19 March 1893, 2)
BUFFALO, N.Y., Queen City Radiator Works, Bradford Avenue at Walsh Avenue, 1893 (Buffalo Courier, 10 Sept. 1893, 6, descrip.)
BUFFALO, N.Y., three houses on Gorton Street for Louis Roesch, 1893 (Buffalo Courier, 10 Sept. 1893, 6)
BUFFALO, N.Y., apartment block for Charles Boehme, Hampshire Street, 1893 (Buffalo Courier, 10 Sept. 1893, 6)
TONAWANDA, N.Y., Kenmore Palace Grove Pavilion, Tennis Courts, and Depot, for the Buffalo, Kenmore & Tonawanda Electric Railroad, 1893-94 (Illustrated Buffalo Express, 16 April 1893, 10, illus. & descrip.; Buffalo Courier, 23 July 1894, 6, descrip.)
BUFFALO, N.Y., The Church Home Orphanage, Front Avenue at Seventh Street, 1894 (Buffalo Courier, 15 April 1894, 6, illus. & descrip.)
BLACK ROCK, N.Y., [now part of Buffalo], major additions and enlargement of Grace Episcopal Church, Niagara Street at Penfield Street, 1894 (Buffalo Enquirer, 25 June 1894, 6, descrip.)
NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y., Church of The Ascension [Roman Catholic], Robinson Street at Vandervoort Street, 1894 (Buffalo Courier, 12 April 1894, 6, descrip.; Buffalo Weekly Express, 31 May 1894, 2, descrip.; USA, Dept. of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places, Designation Statement, July 2016)
CHAUTAUQUA, N.Y., Protestant Episcopal Chapel, 1894 (Buffalo Express, 3 Jully 1894, 2)
TONAWANDA, N.Y., Veterinary Hospital, Seymour Street at Adam Street, for Dr. H.S. Wende, 1894 (Buffalo Enquirer, 30 Aug. 1894, 1, descrip.)
HORNELLSVILLE, N.Y., extensive alterations to Christ Episcopal Church, 1894; addition of a Parish Guild House, 1899 (Buffalo Enquirer, 18 Sept. 1894, 6, descrip.; Buffalo Commercial, 12 Sept. 1899, 11, descrip.)
SINCLAIRVILLE, N.Y., All Saints Anglican Church, 1894 (Buffalo Enquirer, 18 Sept. 1894, 6, descrip.)
HAMMONDSPORT, N.Y., St. James Episcopal Church, 1894-95 (Buffalo Sunday Morning News, 9 Dec. 1894, 3)
BUFFALO, N.Y., Hutchinson Memorial Chapel, Front Avenue at Rhode Island Street, adjacent to the R.C. Church Charity Buildings, 1895 (Buffalo Evening News, 26 June 1895, 1, descrip.; Buffalo Courier, 27 June 1895, 6; 21 July 1895, 11, illus. & descrip.)
DUNKIRK, N.Y., Dunkirk High School Academy, 1895-96; demol. (Buffalo Evening News, 30 May 1896, Section Two, p. 6, illus. & descrip.)
ONEIDA, N.Y., St. John's Episcopal Church, 1895 (Buffalo Evening News, 27 June 1895, 5, illus. & descrip.; 17 July 1895, 15)
BUFFALO, N.Y., Guild House at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Dearborn Street at Farmer Street, 1895 (Buffalo Express, 23 Sept. 1895, 6, descrip.)
BUFFALO, N.Y., Working Boys Home, Niagara Square at Genesee Street, a commission which Archer won in a competition, 1896 (Buffalo Courier, 27 Feb 1896, 5, illus. & descrip.)
BUFFALO, N.Y., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Macamley Street at Dash Street, 1896 (Buffalo Enquirer, 11 May 1896, 5)
DUNKIRK, N.Y., District School No. 10, Front Street at Lake Road, 1896 (Illustrated Buffalo Express, 31 May 1896, 11, illus. & descrip)
BUFFALO, N.Y., St. Mary's Courtieux Deaf Mute Institute, Main Street at Forest Avenue, 1896-97; demol. (Illustrated Buffalo Express, 28 Feb. 1897, 3, illus. & descrip.; Buffalo Commercial, 1 March 1897, 2, descrip.)
BUFFALO, N.Y., The Wayne & Waldorf Apartments, Main Street near Best Street, two apartment blocks on the Sheldon property, 1897 (Buffalo Times, 30 Jan. 1897, 5, descrip.; 1 Feb. 1897, 7, descrip.; USA, Dept. of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places, Designation Statement, Nov. 2014)
BUFFALO, N.Y., The Tupper Apartments, Virginia Street at Tupper Street, 1897-98 (Illustrated Buffalo Express, 28 Nov. 1897, 3, illus. & descrip.)
BUFFALO, N.Y., Coulter Apartments, Porter Avenue at Plymouth Avenue, for Ernest C. Coulter, 1899 (Buffalo Morning Express, 5 July 1899, 6, descrip.)