McNiven, John | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

McNIVEN, John (fl. 1857-60) of Ingersoll, Ont. was 'a young architect who had just finished his time in the metroplis of our country' when he was hired to reconstruct the Public Market, King Street West, INGERSOLL, ONT., 1857-58 (Ingersoll Chronicle, 21 Aug. 1857, 2, descrip.). The town council wanted a more contemporary design for the new building because '.....it behoved us to consult the style of architecture prevailing in our age, rather than go back a few generations' and McNiven delivered a distinctive early Italianate landmark which was to later become the Town Hall.