Mara, Edward Alphonse | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

MARA, Edward Alphonse (1846-1899), employed as a draftsman with the Dept. of Public Works in Ottawa from 1866, but he was also recorded as an independent practitioner from November 1868 until 1873. Born in New Ross, Co. Wexford, Ireland, he was brought to New York City at the age of four years, and afterwards lived in Quebec City. He moved to Ottawa in 1865. Under his own name, he was one of nine local architects to submit drawings in the competition for the Western Central School, Hugh Street, OTTAWA, ONT. in 1868 (Ottawa Citizen, 13 March 1868, 3). His entry was later set aside and William Hodgson was declared winner. In 1869 he obtained the contract to design a large commercial block in PEMBROKE, ONT., for W.H. Supple (Ottawa Citizen, 19 July 1869, 2). Mara can also be credited with plans for St. Mary's Roman Catholic Convent, PEMBROKE, ONT. in 1872 (Free Press [Ottawa], 23 May 1872, 2). In 1875 or 1876 he rejoined the Public Works Dept. and remained with that government agency until shortly before his death on 9 February 1899 (obit. Ottawa Free Press, 10 Feb. 1899, 7; Ottawa Citizen, 10 Feb. 1899, 1; Evening Journal [Ottawa], 10 Feb. 1899, 7)