FORBES, Norman Bruce (1890-1979) was born in Toronto, Ont. on 23 April 1890 and attended Westmount Academy in Montreal. He graduated from the Dept. of Architecture at McGill University in 1916 and served with the Royal Canadian Artillery during WWI before returning to Toronto to work as a draftsman for D.R. Franklin (in 1919) and for Stevens & Lee (in 1919-20). He moved to Port Huron, Mich. in late 1920 and was associated there with George L. Harvey until 1932, the latter seven years as his business partner. Forbes then returned to Ontario and opened his own office in Sarnia and remained active there under his own name, and after 1950, in partnership with Ian J. Rutherford, as Forbes & Rutherford, Architects. until his retirement in 1965. His best known works include the Sarnia City Hall, Sarnia Arena, and restoration of the mansion of Dr. R.K. Stratford on the St. Clair River near Corunna. Forbes retired in 1965 and died in Sarnia in November 1979 (biog. and list of works in Daily Commercial News [Toronto], 27 Oct. 1965; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects; inf. Ian Mason, Sarnia).
(works in Sarnia, Ont.)
LAKE SHORE ROAD, rebuilding of dance pavilion for Mrs. C.A. Crinnian, 1933 (C.R., xlvii, 22 Nov. 1933, 28, t.c.)
LAKE SHORE ROAD, residence for Dr. W.G. Gray, 1936 (C.H.G., xiii, Dec. 1936, 38-9, illus.)
NORMAN STREET, residence for A.D. McRae, c. 1937 (Building in Canada: Small Homes, 1944, 31, illus.)
NORTH CHRISTINA STREET, store for W.H. Kenny, 1937 (C.R., l, 24 Nov. 1937, 29)
BLUE WATER BRIDGE, the Canadian Plaza, Canadian government offices, and Bus Terminal (Owen Sound Daily Sun-Times, 2 Dec. 1937, 4; Port Huron Times Herald [Port Huron, Michigan], 6 March 1938, 1, illus. & descrip.; C.R., li, 6 July 1938, 31; Architectural Review [London], xci, April 1942, 96, illus.)
WATSON STREET, at Maxwell Street, residence for George W. Parker, 1940; still standing in 2023 (Register of Sarnia Heritage Property, 2010, illus. & descrip.)
SARNIA ICE ARENA, 1948-49 (Port Huron Times Herald [Michigan], 11 July 1948, Section Two, 9)
POINT EDWARD, ONT., school for Point Edward School Board, 1949 (C.R., lxii, Jan. 1949, 188)
SARNIA TOWNSHIP, school for Roman Catholic School Section No. 15, 1949 (C.R., lxii, Feb. 1949, 151)
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, Mitton Street at Maria Street, 1950 (C.R., lxiii, March 1950, 142)
(works in Michigan)
PORT HURON, MICH., Ballentine Dry Goods Department Store, Quay Street at Huron Avenue, new facade and major interior alterations to the former Knill Building, 1937 (Port Huron Times Herald, 11 Oct. 1937, 12, illus. & descrip.)
PORT HURON, MICH., Blue Water International Bridge, American Plaza, Pine Grove Avenue at Elmwood Street, toll booths, Administration Building, and U.S. Customs & Immigration Building, 1937-38 (Port Huron Times Herald [Michigan], 4 Aug. 1937, Blue Water Bridge Supplement, 16, illus. & descrip.; 8 Oct. 1937, 1)