PUNTIN, James Henry (1878-1957) made an important contribution to architecture in Regina yet his work is often underrated and overlooked. Born at Gateshead-on-Tyne, England on 3 May 1878 he was educated at schools in Gateshead, at Rutherford College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and at Owens College in Manchester. He articled to Charles Kempson, Gateshead, 1891-95 and worked as assistant to F.R.N. Haswell of North Shields in 1896-99, then joined the Royal Engineers Civil Staff as draftsman and clerk-of-works. He emigrated to Canada in 1904 and settled at Winnipeg where he assisted J.G.H. Russell in 1904-05 and became manager of the Winnipeg office of Darling & Pearson in 1905-06. Puntin moved to Regina in late 1906 and worked as supervising architect for the Saskatchewan Public Works Dept., overseeing construction of important buildings such as the provincial Parliament Buildings in Regina, designed by E. & W.S. Maxwell.
He accepted the appointment of Architect to the Regina Public School Board in 1912 and designed many substantial school buildings in Regina during the next twenty years, but it was his assured designs for the Master Plan and major additions to Regina Methodist College (1911-14) and the new complex for Luther College (1925) which demonstrated his ability to use Collegiate Gothic forms in a memorable and distinctive manner. A bird's-eye perspective of his sprawling grand vision for the Methodist College was published in the Winnipeg Free Press on 29 July 1911, Magazine Section, p. 1, illus. and conveys his ability to draw inspiration from the college tradition of Oxford and Cambridge, and how this could be adapted to the context of the Canadian Prairies in the early 20th C. Puntin left Canada in January 1915 to join the Royal Engineers during WW1 (Morning Leader [Regina], 21 Jan. 1915, 10), and he was absent for more than 3 years. Upon his return in early 1918, he re-opened his Regina office and once again began to accept commissions for buildings in Saskatchewan.
In 1929 he formed a partnership with Col. F.J. O'Leary and the following year invited Charles Coxall to join their firm, but a dearth of work during the Depression led to the dissolution of the firm and Puntin continued under his own name until 1943 when he retired and moved to British Columbia. He died in Vancouver on 20 March 1957 (death notice in the Vancouver Sun, 21 March 1957, 26; biography & port. in Who's Who & Why in Canada, 1914, 772; National Reference Book, 1929-30, 356-7; R.I.B.A., Directory of British Architects 1834-1914, 2001, ii, 423). A photographic portrait of J.H. Puntin, taken in 1913, was published in the Daily Leader [Regina], 20 September 1913, p. 20.
J.H. PUNTIN (Institutional & Ecclesiastical works in Regina unless noted)
ST. CHAD'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Dewdney Street near Cameron Street, 1907 (Morning Leader [Regina], 23 July 1907, 2, illus. & descrip.)
YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, Lorne Street opposite Victoria Park, 1911 (Morning Leader [Regina], Building Section, 30 Nov. 1911, illus. & descrip.)
DAVIDSON, SASK., Nurses Home and Isolation Hospital, 1912 (Saskatoon Daily Star, 28 Aug. 1912, 11, t.c.; Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 14 Oct. 1912, 8, illus.)
CONNAUGHT PUBLIC SCHOOL [also called the West End School], 13th Avenue at Elphinstone Street, 1912 (Morning Leader [Regina], 26 March 1912, 13; and 18 May 1912, 4, descrip.; C.R., xxvi, 23 Oct. 1912, 65, illus. & descrip.; Const., viii, Jan. 1915, 40-2, illus..& descrip.; dwgs. at Regina Board of Education)
BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL [also called the North End School], Myra Street, 1913 (Morning Leader [Regina], 25 Jan. 1913, 15, descrip.; dwgs at Regina Board of Education)
WETMORE PUBLIC SCHOOL [also called the East End School], Wallace Street near 14th Avenue, in Broders Annex, 1912-13 (Morning Leader [Regina], 26 March 1912, 13, detailed descrip.; and 18 May 1912, 4, detailed architectural descrip.; and 25 Jan. 1913, 15, descrip.; and 5 June 1913, 11, illus. & descrip.; and 14 Aug. 1913, 2, descrip.; dwgs. at Regina Board of Education)
FORT QU'APPELLE, SASK., Tuberculosis Sanatorium, including Administration Building, Open Air Pavilions, Doctor's Residence, and Power House, 1912-14 (Morning Leader [Regina], 7 Sept. 1912, 14, t.c.; and 17 May 1913, 21, t.c.; C.R., xxxii, 5 June 1918, 456-9, illus. & descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton)
ST. PETER'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Garnet Street at 7th Avenue, 1913-14 (C.R., xxvii, 24 Dec. 1913, 66)
REGINA METHODIST COLLEGE, 16th Avenue at Scarth Street, Master Plan, 1911 (Free Press [Winnipeg], 29 July 1911, Magazine Section, 1, illus.; Morning Leader [Regina], 30 Nov. 1911, Building Section, 5, illus.; and
- major extension to the College, including East & West Towers and Ladies Residence, 1914 (Morning Leader [Regina], 3 April 1914, 9; and 18 April 1914, 15, descrip.; C.R., xxviii, 15 April 1914, 78); and
- Gymnasium, 1925 (Morning Leader [Regina], 14 Jan. 1925, 10, descrip.); and
- Power Plant, 1927 (Morning Leader [Regina], 20 Jan. 1927, 9, descrip.); and
- Darke Hall, the Music & Arts Building, 1928; still standing in 2023 (Morning Leader [Regina], 23 May 1924, 1, descrip.; and 13 March 1928, 2, descrip.; inf. Frank Korvemaker, Regina; dwgs. at SAB, Regina)
LAMPMAN, SASK., a new hospital, 1918 (Morning Leader [Regina], 12 Feb 1918, 15, t.c.; and 6 Aug. 1918, 2, descrip.)
VANGUARD, SASK., a new hospital, 1918 (Morning Leader [Regina], 30 Oct. 1918, 10)
EASTVIEW PUBLIC SCHOOL, 1919 (Morning Leader [Regina], 29 Jan. 1919, 9)
OGEMA, SASK., War Memorial Hall, 1919 (Morning Leader [Regina], 8 Aug. 1919, 8, descrip.; inf. Ross Herrington, Regina)
HULTAIN PUBLIC SCHOOL, Elliott Street at 4th Avenue, 1919 (Morning Leader [Regina], 20 Sept. 1919, 19, illus. & descrip.)
LAKEVIEW PUBLIC SCHOOL, Cameron Street at 20th Avenue, 1920-21 (Morning Leader [Regina], 21 May 1920, 18, descrip.; and 28 Feb. 1921, 8; and 27 May 1921, 11, descrip.; dwgs. at Regina Board of Education)
KITCHENER PUBLIC SCHOOL, Athol Street at 3rd Avenue, 1920-21 (Morning Leader [Regina], 18 Sept. 1920, 24, and 12 April 1921, 8, detailed descrip.; and 5 May 1921, 8)
(with Alphonse Piche, Montreal) CAMPION COLLEGE [now called Regina Christian School], 23rd Avenue near Albert Street, 1921 (Morning Leader [Regina], 7 May 1921, 2, descrip; and 18 Aug. 1921, 5; list of works in the National Reference Book, 1929-30, 356-7). Puntin served as local Supervising Architect to Alphonse Piche (signed drawings by Alphonse Piche now in the possession of Regina Christian School; inf. Wade Robertson, Regina)
REGINA BOAT CLUB, on the north shore of Wascana Lake, major addition and extensive alterations to existing clubhouse, 1922 (Morning Leader [Regina], 21 Feb. 1922, 8)
LUTHERAN COLLEGE, Dewdney Avenue at Royal Street, a 3 storey college building, 1925-26 (Morning Leader [Regina], 19 Nov. 1924, 1, descrip.; and 13 Dec. 1924, 17, illus. & descrip.; and 7 Aug. 1926, 14, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xxxix, 18 Feb. 1925, 54; dwgs. at SAB, Regina)
DARKE HALL, at Regina College, Ramsay Drive near Wascana Drive, a large performance hall seating 600 patrons, designed 1924; built 1926-1928; still standing in 2023 (Morning Leader [Regina], 23 May 1924, 1, descrip.; and 13 March 1928, 2, descrip.; inf. Frank Korvemaker, Regina)
SACRED HEART ROMAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY, 13th Avenue at Garnet Street, addition of the West Wing and new chapel, 1924-26 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 3 May 1924, 1; Morning Leader [Regina], 16 May 1924, 3; and 2 April 1925, 3, illus.; list of works in the National Reference Book, 1929-30, 356-7)
SACRED HEART ROMAN CATHOLIC COLLEGE, Albert Street at 23rd Avenue, 1926; later called Marian High School, demol. c. 1990 (dwgs. at SAB, Regina)
YORKTON, SASK., Queen Victoria Hospital, Assiniboine Avenue, 1928 (Morning Leader [Regina], 12 May 1928, 23, descriip.; C.R., xlii, 17 Oct. 1928, 48)
J.H. PUNTIN (Commercial & Industrial works in Regina unless noted)
CAMPBELL, WILSON & STRATHDEE CO., Dewdney Avenue at Cornwall Street, warehouse, 1914 (Morning Leader [Regina], 3 April 1914, 9; and 18 April 1914, 15, descrip.)
SCOTT, BATHGATE LTD., 5th Street at Broad Street, a 3 storey warehouse, 1914 (Morning Leader [Regina], 18 April 1914, 15, descrip.)
MELFORT, SASK., creamery building for the Saskatchewan Co-Operative Elevator Co., 1919 (Saskatoon Daily Star, 28 June 1919, 18, t.c)
SASKATCHEWAN CO-OPERATIVE CREAMERY CO., Albert Street at 11th Avenue, offices, power house, creamery and smokestack, 1919-20 (C.R., xxxiii, 3 Dec. 1919, 49)
MELVILLE, SASK., creamery building for Saskatchewan Co-Operative Creamery Co., 1920 (Morning Leader [Regina], 10 Feb 1920, 11, t.c.)
YORKTON, SASK., cold storage warehouse for Saskatchewan Co-Operative Creameries Co., 1920 (Saskatoon Phoenix, 21 May 1920, 11, t.c.; and Saskatoon Daily Star, 1 April 1921, 11)
WEYBURN, SASK., cold storage and creamery building for Saskatchewan Co-Operative Creameries Co., 1920 (Saskatoon Daily Star, 25 May 1920, 21, t.c.)
MODERN MOTORS LTD., South Railway Avenue at Cornwall Street, auto showroom, offices and repair rooms,1926 (Morning Leader [Regina], 20 Aug. 1926, 8,descrip.; and 7 Jan. 1927, 11, illus. & descrip.; inf. Ross Herrington, Regina)
J.H. PUNTIN (Residential works in Regina unless noted)
ALBERT STREET, near 21st Avenue, residence for William Mason, 1913-14; still standing in 2022 (inf. Herbert C. Mason, Regina; inf. Marg Hryniuk, Regina)
COLLEGE AVENUE, at Cornwall Street, mansion for Frank N. Darke, 1926 (list of works in the National Reference Book, 1929-30, 356-7)
PUNTIN & O'LEARY (works in Regina unless noted)
ST. AUGUSTINE ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL, Edgar Street at 15th Avenue, 1929 (Minute Book of the Regina Separate School Board)
GRAVELBOURG, SASK., school for the Oblate Sisters, 1929 (C.R., xliii, 24 July 1929, 57)
PUNTIN, O'LEARY & COXALL (works in Regina unless noted)
LUTHERAN COLLEGE, Dewdney Avenue, major addition for a Girls Dormitory, 1929 (Morning Leader [Regina], 10 Oct. 1929, 3, descrip.)
LAKEVIEW PUBLIC SCHOOL, Cameron Street at 20th Avenue, major addition of 12 classrooms, 1929-30 (Morning Leader [Regina], 16 Oct. 1929, 13; and 21 Oct. 1929, 9; and 30 Oct. 1929, 12, descrip.; C.R., xliv, 9 April 1930, 68)
REGINA CHEVROLET SALES CO., Victoria Avenue at McIntyre Street, garage, 1930 (C.R., xliv, 5 Feb. 1930, 56, t.c.)
ARMY & NAVY DEPARTMENT STORES LTD., new mail order warehouse, Osler Street at 6th Avenue, 1930; demol. (Leader-Post [Regina], 19 Sept. 1930, 9, illus. & descrip.; inf. Ross Herrington, Regina)
ALBERT STREET MEMORIAL BRIDGE, 1930 (Leader-Post [Regina], 2 Oct. 1930, 1 & 5; and 11 Nov. 1930, 1, illus. & descrip.; Tim Morawetz, Art Deco Architecture Across Canada, 2017, 231, illus. & descrip.)
ELEVENTH AVENUE, at Albert Street, indoor Golf Course and Driving Range, 1930; converted to Capital Grocery Ltd. Market, 1931; demol. (Leader-Post [Regina], 2 Oct. 1930, 3, descrip.; inf. Ross Herrington, Regina)
ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Winnipeg Street at 13th Avenue, a new Parish Hall for the church, 1931 (Leader-Post [Regina], 10 Jan. 1931, 2, illus. & descrip.)
CENTRAL POLICE STATION (later called The Municipal Justice Building), 11th Avenue at Halifax Street, 1930-31 (Leader-Post [Regina[, 6 Dec. 1930, 3, illus. & descrip.; and 28 May 1931, 10, illus.)
BIGGAR, SASK., hospital for the Grey Nuns, 1931 (C.R., xlv, 24 June 1931, 52)
J.H. PUNTIN (works in Regina)
(with F.B. Reilly and F.H. Portnall) DOMINION PUBLIC BUILDING, Victoria Avenue at Scarth Street, 1935-36 (Leader-Post [Regina], 5 Jan. 1935, 1; and 25 May 1935, 1, illus. & descrip.; and 17 April 1937, 3, illus.; Tim Morawetz, Art Deco Architecture Across Canada, 2017, 53, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at SAB)