MARSHALL, William Richard (1854-1909), a leading architect in Brandon, Manitoba where he was active for more than twenty years from 1885 until 1906. Born in Scotland on 15 August 1854, he was almost certainly educated and trained there, and was recorded as an architect in the city of Aberdeen where he was credited with the design of two houses on Chattan Place in 1880 (inf. Dictionary of Scottish Architects, online entry for W. Richard Marshall).
He arrived in Canada after 1881 and began his career in Winnipeg where he served an apprenticeship with James Chisholm and worked as a draftsman for Willmot & Stewart. In late 1882 he formed a partnership with H.F. Slater (Winnipeg Daily Times, 21 Sept. 1882, 7, advert.) and then moved to Brandon in early 1885 or before. Both he and Walter Shillinglaw dominated the architectural scene in that town during the next ten years, often directly competing against one another for major commissions during the construction boom of the 1890's. By 1898 Marshall had relocated in Victoria, B.C. where he continued to list himself as an architect, but no references to his work there have been found (inf. from British Columbia, Sessional Papers, 1899, Voters Lists, Supplementary, xliv). He appears to have returned to Brandon in 1903 and remained active there until 1906 when he moved back to Victoria. Marshall died there on 27 December 1909 (obituary Vancouver Daily World, 29 Dec. 1909, 18; inf. Manitoba Historical Society, Winnipeg).
W.R. MARSHALL (works in Scotland)
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND, three houses at Woodside for John Moir, 1880 (Aberdeen Journal, 6 Jan. 1880, 1, t.c.)
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND, two houses on Chattan Place for Mr. Farquharson, 1880 (Aberdeen City Archives, Plans Committee Minute Book, entry for 11 March 1880)
W.R. MARSHALL (works in Winnipeg)
ST. BONIFACE WEST, MAN., villa for an unnamed client on River Avenue, 1882 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 1 Aug. 1882, 5, t.c.)
W.R. MARSHALL (Residential works in Brandon)
LORNE AVENUE, near 4th Street, residence for Frederick Nation, 1888 (Brandon Times, 24 May 1888, 8)
6th STREET, residence for Andrew Kelly, 1888 (Brandon Times, 31 May 1888, 8)
SMITH & BURTON BLOCK, 11th Street at Pacific Avenue, 1888 (Brandon Mail, 23 Aug. 1888, 1; 4 Oct. 1888, 8)
8th STREET, terrace of six houses for L. Arnett, 1888 (Brandon Mail, 4 Oct. 1888, 8)
12th STREET, terrace of three houses for L. Arnett, "....opposite the Langham Hotel", 1888 (Brandon Mail, 4 Oct. 1888, 8)
PRINCESS AVENUE, at 12th Street, residence for Joseph H. Hughes, 1888 (Brandon Mail, 4 Oct. 1888, 8)
11th STREET, terrace of three houses for ex-Mayor Adams, 1889 (Brandon Sun, 14 Nov. 1889, 2, descrip.)
13th STREET, residence for J.D. McGregor, 1889 (Brandon Sun, 14 Nov. 1889, 2, descrip.)
12th STREET, residence for J.H. Brownlee, 1890 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 19 Dec. 1890, 14)
EXPERIMENTAL FARM, a residence for the Superintendent, 1890 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 19 Dec. 1890, 14, descrip.)
LOUISE AVENUE, at Second Street, residence for William M. Alexander, 1891 (Brandon Mail, 7 May 1891, 6; 5 May 1892, 4)
VICTORIA AVENUE, at 5th Street, residence for Mayor Andrew Kelly, 1891 (Brandon Mail, 7 May 1891, 6; 5 May 1892, 4)
1st AVENUE, residence for J.H. Hartney, 1891 (Brandon Mail, 8 Oct. 1891, 6)
12th STREET, two houses for W. Robinson, 1892 (Brandon Mail, 5 May 1892, 4)
11th STREET, residence for John Forbes, 1892 (Brandon Mail, 5 May 1892, 4)
LORNE AVENUE, at 6th Street, row of six houses for R. Edgar, 1892 (Brandon Mail, 5 May 1892, 4)
5th STREET, at Princess Avenue, residence for George Munroe, 1892 (Brandon Mail, 5 May 1892, 4)
15th STREET, terrace of four houses for F. Chubb, 1892 (Brandon Mail, 5 May 1892, 4)
LORNE AVENUE, residence for Kenneth Campbell, 1905 (Brandon b.p. 290, 4 May 1905)
6th STREET, residence for Joseph Donaldson, 1906 (Brandon b.p. 529, 21 May 1906)
W.R. MARSHALL (Institutional & Ecclesiastical works in Brandon)
CITY HALL & MARKET BUILDING, Princess Avenue, built 1890-91; portion of building later demolished in 1971 (Brandon Mail, 11 April 1889, 1; and 9 April 1891, 1; and 5 May 1892, 4; Manitoba Daily Free Press (Winnipeg), 23 Aug. 1890, 6, t.c.; Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 19 Dec. 1890, 14, descrip.)
CENTRAL SCHOOL, 1890, plans being prepared by W.R. Marshall (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 8 July 1890, 1)
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY STATION, 9th Street, 1890 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 19 Dec. 1890, 14, descrip.)
GENERAL HOSPITAL, McTavish Avenue near 1st Street, a commission won in an architectural competition, 1891 (Brandon Mail, 8 Jan. 1891, 5, detailed descrip.; and 28 April 1892, 1, descrip.)
ROMAN CATHOLIC CONVENT, 3rd Street at Lorne Avenue, addition, 1892 (Brandon Mail, 5 May 1892, 4)
BRANDON CLUB, 11th Street at Princess Avenue, 1904 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 22 Feb. 1904, 7; Brandon Weekly Sun, 14 April 1904, 1, descrip.; Brandon b.p. 83, 28 May 1904)
W.R. MARSHALL (Commercial & Industrial works in Brandon)
McDIARMID BLOCK, Rosser Avenue, 1889 (Brandon Weekly Sun, 25 May 1889, 8, t.c.)
MERCHANTS BANK, Rosser Avenue, between 9th Street and 10th Street, 1890 (Manitoba Weekly Free Press (Winnipeg), 22 May 1890, 12)
C.P.R. GRAIN ELEVATOR, along the CPR Southwestern line, 1890 (Winnipeg Tribune, 22 July 1890, 4)
BANK OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA, 1890 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 13 Sept. 1890, 5)
FLEMING BLOCK, Rosser Avenue, a commercial block for Dr. Fleming, 1890 (Brandon Sun, 9 Oct. 1890, 8, descrip.)
BRANDON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO., transformer station and warehouse, east side of Tenth Street, immediately south of the Skating Rink, 1890 (Winnipeg Tribune, 26 July 1890, 4; Brandon Weekly Sun, 7 Aug. 1890, 4, descrip.; Daily Sun, 9 Oct. 1890, 8; Brandon Mail, 13 Nov. 1890, 1)
FRASER BLOCK, Rosser Avenue, opposite the Post Office, a commercial block for A.C. Fraser, 1890 (Brandon Mail, 13 Nov. 1890, 1; Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 19 Dec. 1890, 14, descrip.)
ROSSER AVENUE, commercial block for N.J. Halpin, 1891 (Brandon Mail, 12 March 1891, 8)
11th STREET, additions and alterations to building for Dr. John A. MacDonald, 1891 (Brandon Mail, 12 March 1891, 8; 5 May 1892, 4)
10th STREET, drug store for Dr. Richmond Spencer, 1891 (Brandon Mail, 23 April 1891, 5)
IMPERIAL LOAN CO., Rosser Avenue, 1892 (Brandon Mail, 5 May 1892, 4)
BEAUBIER STABLES, 8th Street, enlargement and new building, 1892 (Brandon Mail, 5 May 1892, 4)
BEAUBIER HOUSE HOTEL, 8th Street, 1893 (Brandon Mail, 23 March 1893, 8)
11th STREET, boarding house for Capt. H.S. Munn, 1904 (Brandon Weekly Sun, 14 April 1904, 1; Brandon b.p. 42, 30 April 1904)
9th STREET, a hotel for Edward Shore, 1904 (Brandon Weekly Sun, 14 April 1904, 1)
12th STREET, a large brick stable block for J.A.S. Macmillan, 1904 (Brandon Weekly Sun, 14 April 1904, 1)
KING'S HOTEL, a large 3 storey addition, and renovations and alterations to existing hotel, 1904 (Brandon Weekly Sun, 14 April 1904, 1, descrip.)
MALLETT BLOCK, Rosser Avenue, between 8th and 9th Street, a three storey block for W.H. Mallett, 1904 (Brandon Weekly Sun, 14 April 1904, 1)
ARLINGTON HOTEL, for Clegg & Broadfoot, Rosser Avenue, 1904 (Brandon b.p. 112, 9 July 1904)
PACIFIC AVENUE, hotel for P.B.H. Ramsay, 1904 (Brandon b.p. 114, 9 July 1904)
5th STREET, stable and blacksmith's shop for M.L. Fry, 1904 (Brandon b.p. 198, 21 Oct. 1904)
ROSSER AVENUE, hotel for Donald C. McKinnon, 1905 (Brandon b.p. 240, 20 March 1905)
W.R. MARSHALL (works elsewhere)
CURRIE'S LANDING, MAN., public school, 1885 (Brandon Mail, 29 Jan. 1885, 4, t.c.)
BLOOMSBURG, MAN., public school, 1887 (Brandon Sun, 6 Oct. 1887, 4, t.c.)
DOUGLAS, MAN., grain elevator, 1888 (Brandon Mail, 23 Aug. 1888, 1)
KEMNAY, MAN., grain elevator for Thomas Thompson, 1888 (Brandon Mail, 23 Aug. 1888, 1)
GRISWOLD, MAN., Methodist Church, 1889 (Brandon Weekly Sun, 11 April 1889, 4, t.c.)
TACOMA, WASH., USA, a new hotel for an unnamed client, 1890 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 8 July 1890, 1)
PLUM CREEK, MAN., large brick and stone retail store for Dr. Stoyte, 1890 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 3 Sept. 1890, 4)
SOURIS, MAN., residence for J.H. Hartney, 1st Avenue, 1891 (Brandon Mail, 8 Oct. 1891, 6)