DAOUST, Theodore (1867-1937), an influential Montreal architect and founding member of the Province of Quebec Assoc. of Architects, was born in Pointe Claire, Que. on 13 April 1867. He attended the Normal School in Montreal and studied fine art and drawing under Abbe Chabert. He articled with Alexander F. Dunlop for nearly four years, then completed his architectural training with Victor Roy. In late 1886 he opened his own office and worked for ten months under his own name before forming a partnership with Arthur Gendron in April 1887. They were active together for five years, but after their firm was dissolved on 1 April 1892 Daoust worked alone for the duration of his career. The Great Fire in Trois Rivieres in June 1908 presented a unique business opportunity to Daoust who associated himself with Charles Lafond in that city, but it appears they operated dual offices in both Montreal and in Trois Rivieres, and it is unclear whether Daoust or Lafond was directly responsible for the designs of buildings in that town.
Their collaboration ended in 1909 and Daoust continued to concentrate his activity in the Montreal area, designing major commercial, residential and institutional works. He tended to favour use of a flamboyant Second Empire style for his public buildings, best seen in the ostentatious and overwrought treatment for the Hippodrome Theatre (1911), a project surmounted by a 250 foot tower containing a fashionable restaurant furnished in the style of Louis XVI. By 1930 Daoust had retired from practise and died in Montreal on 9 November 1937 (obit. La Presse [Montreal], 11 Nov. 1937, 13; Montreal Star, 12 Nov. 1937, 8; biog. and port. W. Cochrane, Canadian Album: Men of Canada, ii, 1892, 389; biog. and port. Biographies Canadiennes Francaises, vi, 1926, 306). A photographic portrait of Daoust taken in 1893 can be found in the Notman Collection, McCord Museum, Item 100579.
T. DAOUST (works in Montreal unless noted)
ICE TOWER, called "The Condora", a 100 foot high tiered ice palace for the Winter Festival, on the Champs de Mars, 1885 (Toronto Daily Mail, 3 Jan. 1885, 4, illus. and descrip.; Montreal Daily Star, 28 Jan. 1885, Carnival Number Supplement, p.8, descrip.; p.11, engraved drawing)
DAOUST & GENDRON (works in Montreal unless noted)
WINTER CARNIVAL PARADE, design for Le Trappeurs Parade Float, a horse-drawn carriage in the shape of a pyramid, with amphitheatre steps, 1888 (Montreal Daily Star, 22 Nov. 1888, 1, descrip.)
ST. DENIS STREET, near Lagauchetiere Street, two tenements for Jean J. Beauchamp and Seraphin Decary, 1888 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1889, 2)
MACKAY STREET, row of four houses for Benjamin and Tousaint Deslauriers, 1888 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1889, 2)
ROBILLARD BLOCK, St. Lawrence Street at Viger Avenue, a 4 storey commercial block for the J.C. Robillard Estate, 1889; damaged by fire c. 2015 and demol. c. 2018 (Gazette [Montreal], 3 Jan. 1890, 7; Montreal Daily Star, 8 Feb. 1890, 7, illlus. & detailed descrip.; Montreal, Les Magasins Les Cinemas, 1985, 225-7, illus.; inf. Yves Guillet, St. Lambert)
ST. HYACINTHE, QUE., residence for J.B. Lalime, 1890 (C.A.B., iii, Nov. 1890, 126ff., illus)
BISHOP STREET, pair of houses for Olivier Deslauriers, 1890 (Gazette [Montreal], 3 Jan. 1890, 7)
GUILBAULT STREET, four double tenements for J.G. Kennedy, 1889 (Gazette [Montreal], 3 Jan. 1890, 7)
DORCHESTER STREET WEST, five double tenements for Pierre Poulin, 1889 (Gazette [Montreal], 3 Jan. 1890, 7)
DORCHESTER STREET WEST, tenement for Ernest Perrin, 1889 (Gazette [Montreal], 3 Jan. 1890, 7)
C.J. GRENIER LTD., Dorchester Street West near Bronsdon Lane, new facade and major alterations to factory, 1889 (Gazette [Montreal], 3 Jan. 1890, 7)
BRONSDON LANE, six tenements, for an unnamed owner, 1889 (Gazette [Montreal], 3 Jan. 1890, 7)
ST. HUBERT STREET, residence for Mr. Brossard, 1889 (Gazette [Montreal], 3 Jan. 1890, 7)
BRUNET BLOCK, St. Lawrence Street near Gauchetiere Street, a 4 storey commercial block of four stores and flats, 1890; still standing in 2022 (Montreal, Les Magasins Les Cinemas, 1985, 171-3, illus.)
McGREGOR STREET, residence for James Slessor, 1890 (Montreal, Les Residences, 1987, 294-5, illus.)
SAVIGNAC BLOCK, St. Lawrence Street near Gauchetiere Street, for J.R. Savignac and F. Drapeau, 1890 (Montreal, Les Magasins Les Cinemas, 1985, 176-9, illus.)
ST. DENIS STREET, residence for Hon. J. Emery Robidoux, 1891 (C.R., ii, 28 Feb. 1891, 2)
BANQUE NATIONALE, Place d'Armes, major alterations to building and interiors, 1891 (C.R., ii, 11 July 1891, 3)
T. DAOUST( works in Montreal unless noted)
POINTE CLAIRE, QUE., eighteen cottages for T. Barbeau, 1892 (C.R., iii, 23 April 1892, 2)
ST. DENIS STREET, three tenements for R.G. Martineau, 1892 (C.R., iii, 23 April 1892, 2)
ST. HUBERT STREET, tenement for D. Renaud, 1892 (C.R., iii, 23 April 1892, 2)
ST. LAWRENCE STREET, twenty eight stores and large theatre for Wilson & Frost, 1892 (C.R., iii, 3 Sept. 1892, 2)
ST. DENIS STREET, two tenements for P.G. Martineau, 1892 (C.R., iii, 3 Sept. 1892, 2)
ST. LAWRENCE STREET, at Sherbrooke Street, a three storey block of six stores for Wilson & Frost, 1892-93 (C.R., iii, 3 Sept. 1892, 2; Montreal Star, 25 March 1893, 3, descrip.)
ST. CHARLES BORROMME STREET, block for Joseph Gauthier, 1892 (C.R., iii, 3 Sept. 1892, 2)
BAXTER BLOCK, St. Lawrence Street at Guilbault Street, a block for 27 stores and large assembly hall for James Baxter, 1892-93 (Gazette [Montreal], 15 March 1893, 5, descrip.; Montreal Star, 25 March 1893, 3, descrip.; Montreal, Les Magasins Les Cinemas, 1985, 268-73, illus.)
ST. DENIS STREET, at Pine Avenue, two tenements for A. Valiquette, 1893 (C.R., iii, 4 Feb. 1893, 2; Montreal Star, 25 March 1893, 3)
GERMAN STREET, two houses for J.B. Lagasse, 1893 (C.R., iii, 4 Feb. 1893, 2)
ST. URBAIN STREET, tenement for the L.J.A. Compte Estate, 1893 (C.R., iii, 4 Feb. 1893, 2)
ATWATER AVENUE, two tenements for J.B. Brouillet, 1893 (C.R., iii, 4 Feb. 1893, 2)
ST. HYACINTHE, QUE., the Grand Hotel, 1894 (C.R., v, 17 May 1894, 2)
ST. HYACINTHE, QUE., two tenements for M.E. Lussier, 1894 (C.R., v, 17 May 1894, 2)
WESTMOUNT, cottage for Miss A.B. Coughlin, Elm Avenue, 1894 (C.R., v, 30 Aug. 1894, 2)
FABRIQUE DE NOTRE DAME, Notre Dame Street, extension for the Seminary of Montreal, 1894 (C.R., v, 20 Sept. 1894, 2)
MILTON STREET, four tenements for A.A. Archambault, 1894 (C.R., v, 11 Oct. 1894, 2)
MONTREAL PARK & ISLAND RAILWAY CO., two passenger stations, 1894 (C.R., v, 11 Oct. 1894, 2)
ST. DENIS STREET, near Sherbrooke Street, eleven tenement blocks for P. Lariviere, Joseph Jacob, A. Pallascio, Drapeau & Savignac, and O. Cauchon, 1894 (Gazette [Montreal], 7 Nov. 1894, 3, descrip.; C.R., v, 8 Nov. 1894, 2; 15 Nov. 1894, 2)
COLLEGE ST. ELIZABETH, St. James Street, in St. Henri, an Academy for girls, 1895 (C.R., vi, 4 July 1895, 4; 18 July 1895, 2; 24 Oct. 1895, 2)
SHERBROOKE STREET EAST, residence for P. Deslauriers, 1896 (C.R., vii, 7 May 1896, 3)
POINTE CLAIRE, QUE., a college for the Commissioners, 1896 (C.R., vii, 7 May 1896, 2)
DORCHESTER STREET WEST, two houses for Onesime Deslauriers, 1896 (C.R., vii, 7 May 1896, 2)
SUMMERHILL AVENUE, two houses for D.N. Deslauriers, 1896-97 (C.R., vii, 3 Dec. 1896, 3)
PARK AVENUE, two houses for J. Emery Robidoux, 1896-97 (C.R., vii, 17 Dec. 1896, 2)
SISTERS OF STE. ANNE ACADEMY, St. Antoine Street, 1896-97 (C.R., vii, 17 Dec. 1896, 2)
AGNES STREET, in St. Henri, two tenements for Joseph Jacob, 1896 (C.R., vii, 17 Dec. 1896, 3)
SHERBROOKE STREET WEST, at Prince Albert Avenue, row of six stores for Octave Drouin, 1899 (Montreal, Les Magasins Les Cinemas, 1985, 312-13, illus.; City of Westmount, Westmount: A Heritage to Preserve, 1991, 45, illus.)
COLUMBIA AVENUE, double tenement for W.H. Creed, 1899 (C.R., x, 12 April 1899, 3)
DORCHESTER STREET WEST, four houses for David Darling, 1899 (C.R., x, 12 April 1899, 3)
ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL, Craig Street, additions and alterations, 1900 (Montreal Daily Star, 5 June 1900, 10; C.R., xi, 13 June 1900, 3)
WESTMOUNT, a two storey stone-fronted residence, in the Romanesque Revival style, for an unnamed client, c. 1900 (La Presse [Montreal], 1 Aug. 1925, 30, historical article, with illus. and descrip.; inf. Yves Guillet, St. Lambert)
ST. MARK STREET, at St. Luke Street, house for Mrs. A.C. Phillips, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 9 April 1902, 4)
VALOIS, QUE., Chateau St. Louis Hotel, 1903 (La Presse [Montreal], 19 Dec. 1903, 18, illus.; 16 March 1907, 5, illus.)
ST. HYACINTHE, QUE., Girourd Academy, 1904 (La Presse [Montreal], 17 Oct. 1904, 4, illus. and descrip.)
PHILLIPS APARTMENTS, St. Mark Street near Sherbrooke Street West, for Mrs. H.S. Phillips, 1906 (Montreal Daily Star, 10 Oct. 1906, 12, descrip.)
STE. CATHERINE STREET EAST, near St. Urbain Street, a new French theatre, with roof garden, and 4 stores at street level, 1907 (Montreal Daily Star, 1 June 1907, 3, descrip.)
DAOUST & LAFOND (works in Trois Rivieres, Que. unless noted)
NOTRE DAME STREET, at Des Forges Street, block of stores and offices for Adolphe Balcer, 1908-09 (C.R., xxii, 18 Nov. 1908, 26)
DES FORGES STREET, store for Bellefeuille & Giroux, 1908-09 (C.R., xxii, 18 Nov. 1908, 26; La Presse [Montreal], 23 Jan. 1909, 31, illus.)
EGLISE ST. PHILIPPE, Bureau Street, 1908 -09; Presbytery, 1909 (La Presse [Montreal], 28 Nov. 1908, 1 & 12, illus.; 2 Jan. 1909, 19, illus.; R. Gauthier, Trois Rivieres disparue, 1978, 169, illus.)
PUBLIC MARKET, Des Forges Street, 1908-09 (La Presse [Montreal], 19 Dec. 1908, 9, illus.; R. Gauthier, Trois Rivieres disparue, 162, illus.)
LAJOIE & FRERE, Notre Dame Street, store, 1909 (La Presse [Montreal], 2 Jan. 1909, 19, illus.)
ALEXANDER STREET, residence for Dr. W.N. Godin, 1909 (La Presse [Montreal], 9 Jan. 1909, 17, illus & descrip.)
PLATON STREET, store for Emile Panneton, 1909 (La Presse [Montreal], 9 Jan. 1909, 17, illus. & descrip.)
BONAVENTURE STREET, residence for Alcide Lebrun, 1909 (La Presse [Montreal], 23 Jan. 1909, 31, illus.)
PANNETON BUILDING, Hart Street, for P.E. Panneton, 1909 (La Presse [Montreal], 6 Feb. 1909, 17, illus. & descrip.)
BANQUE NATIONALE, Notre Dame Street at Platon Street, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 10 Feb. 1909, 22)
PLATON STREET, store for P.A. Gouin, 1909 (La Presse [Montreal], 13 Feb. 1909, 31, illus.)
ALEXANDER STREET, pair of houses for P.V. Ayotte, 1909 (La Presse [Montreal], 13 Feb. 1909, 31, illus.)
HOTEL FRONTENAC, Champlain Street, 1909 (La Presse [Montreal], 20 Feb. 1909, 28, illus.)
PLATON STREET, block for Louis Dassylva, 1909 (La Presse [Montreal], 20 Feb. 1909, 28, illus.)
??????? STREET, residence for George Methot, 1909 (La Presse [Montreal], 27 Feb. 1909, 31, illus.)
DES FORGES STREET, store and dwelling for Napolean Lamy, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 14 April 1909, 23)
LAVIOLETTE STREET, sanatorium for Dr. C.N. DeBlois, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 21 April 1909, 23)
HOTEL DUFRESNE, Des Forges Street, for J. Arthur Dufresne, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 5 May 1909, 21)
E. BALCER MFR. CO., Commissaires Street, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 28 July 1909, 21)
NOTRE DAME STREET, store for P.V. Ayotte, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 18 Aug. 1909, 23)
ROMAN CATHOLIC CONVENT, for the Franciscan Order, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 29 Sept. 1909, 22)
T. DAOUST (works in Montreal unless noted)
McCULLOCH AVENUE, large residence for Joseph Gravel, 1909 (C.R., xxiii, 10 Feb. 1909, 20)
(with Raoul Gariepy) ICE PALACE, Esplanade Avenue at Duluth Avenue, 1910 (La Presse [Montreal], 8 Jan. 1910, 11, illus.; F. Anderes & A. Agranoff, Ice Palaces, 1983, 33, 43-5, illus. & descrip.)
ISLE GROS BOIS, large hotel for the King Edward Park & Amusement Co., 1909-10; Restaurant, 1910 (C.R., xxiii, 10 Nov. 1909, 22; xxiv, 23 Feb. 1910, 22; 16 March 1910, 26, t.c.)
FORT STREET, apartment block for H.S. Phillips, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 13 April 1910, 28, t.c.)
ST. MARK STREET, apartment block for H.S. Phillips, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 15 June 1910, 28, t.c.)
DORCHESTER STREET WEST, apartment block for H.S. Phillips, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 27 July 1910, 26)
OUTREMONT, residence for Hon. T. Berthiaume, Ste. Catherine Road, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 29 June 1910, 26, t.c.)
MAIN POST OFFICE, St. James Street, new facade & clock tower, extensive alterations and addition of one floor above existing building, 1910-12 (C.R., xxv, 20 Dec. 1911, 60; La Presse [Montreal], 21 July 1910, 2, descrip. & illus.; 4 May 1912, 9, illus.; Montreal Daily Star, 6 May 1912, 9, illus. & descrip.)
HIPPODROME THEATRE, Ste. Catherine Street East at Papineau Street, 1911 (La Presse [Montreal], 10 June 1911, 8, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xxv, 9 Aug. 1911, 60, t.c.)
FIRE HALL NO. 34, Botrel Street at Cote St. Antoine Road, 1911-12 (C.R., xxv, 27 Dec. 1911, 63; Montreal Daily Star, 13 Jan. 1912, 21, illus.; La Presse [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1912, 16, illus.; 15 March 1913, 33, illus. & descrip.; Montreal, Les Edifices Publics, 1981, 226-27, illus.)
POINTE CLAIRE, QUE., major alterations and addition of a new second floor and roof for the Presbytery at St. Joachim Roman Catholic Church, Avenue Ste. Anne, 1912-13 (C.R., xxvi, 25 Sept. 1912, 74; inf. Societe pour la Sauvegarde du Patrimoine de Pointe Claire, website "The Presbytery"; inf. Scott Edwards)
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, public baths, 1913 (C.R., xxvii, 19 Feb. 1913, 72, t.c.)
EMARD PUBLIC BATH, Laurendeau Street at Dubois Street, 1913-14 (C.R., xxvii, 24 Sept. 1913, 70; Montreal, Les Edifices Publics, 1981, 12-13, illus.)
ST. JAMES STREET, restaurant for W.R. Krausman, 1921 (C.R., xxxv, 5 Oct. 1921, 53)
MONTREAL HARBOUR COMMISSION, Victoria Pier, office building, 1923 (C.R., xxxvii, 3 Oct. 1923, 55; Montreal, Les Edifices Publics, 1981, 196-7, illus.)
MONTREAL, a pair of three & half storey houses "....in the French Renaissance style ", for Ernest Pitt & Co., located on an unnamed street, 1924 (La Presse (Montreal) 8 Nov. 1924, 44, detailed architectural descrip., with plans and elevation; inf. Yves Guillet, St. Lambert)
ST. ROSE, QUE., major alterations to the Chateau St. Rose, 1929 (Canadian Hotel Review, July 1929, 28)
COMPETITIONS
OUTDOOR ICE PALACE, Dominion Square, 1888-89. The firm of Daoust & Gendron were one of seven architects who submitted designs in this architectural competition (Montreal Daily Star, 9 Nov. 1888, 2). A description of their design, with a central turret 140 ft. high, appeared in the Montreal Daily Star, 14 Nov. 1888, 1. The winner was Wright & Findlay of Montreal. Daoust would later revive his Ice Palace design in 1910.