Desy, Louis Arsene | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

DESY, Louis Arsene (1856-1924) was active in Winnipeg where he was responsible for a notable 19th century commercial landmark called the Cauchon Block (later the Empire Hotel), built 1882 but regretably dismantled in 1982 (H. Kalman, History of Canadian Architecture, 1994, 360-1, illus. & descrip.). Designed in an elaborate Italianate style, the entire facade was assembled from pressed metal components which were made in Winnipeg and arranged in a carefully conceived elevational treatment that was unrivaled for its time in western Canada. Desy was a native of Berthier, Quebec and was born there on 28 March 1856. He was educated at Jacques Cartier School in Montreal and likely served an architectural apprenticeship in that city. He moved west before 1880 and is listed as architect in Winnipeg from 1880 until 1885 under his own name, and briefly in partnership in 1883 with J.B. Bourgeois. He was one of seven architects to submit an entry in the competition for the Winnipeg City Hall in 1883, but his scheme was not premiated (G.E. Brooks, Plain Facts About the New City Hall, 1884, 10). Desy appears to have then pursued a career in civil engineering; in 1909 he applied for membership in the Canadian Society of Civil Engineeers giving his address in India. He died at Ste. Madelaine d'Outremont in 1924 (biography in La Patrie [Montreal], Sunday Magazine, 20 Sept. 1942, 19; NAC, MG 28 I 277, Box 3: application to the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers dated 3 May 1909)

ST. MARY'S ACADEMY, Notre Dame Street East, 1880; demol. 1957 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 2 June 1880, 1, t.c.; Winnipeg Daily Times, 30 Oct. 1880, 1)
ST. MARY'S STREET, at Garry Street, residence for Onis Monchamp, 1881 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 12 Feb. 1881, 8, t.c.)
RUTHERFORD STREET, at Rover Street, residence for Alex Brown, 1881 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 12 April 1881, 1; C. Cameron & J. Wright, Second Empire Style in Canadian Architecture, 1980, 212-13, illus.)
THIBEAUDEAU BROS. & CO., Thistle Street, store, 1881 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 12 April 1881, 1; 1 March 1882, 8, t.c.)
CAUCHON BLOCK, Main Street at York Avenue, 1882; converted to hotel in 1904; dismantled 1982 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 12 April 1881, 1, descrip.; 12 April 1882, 5, t.c.; W. Thompson, Winnipeg Architecture 100 Years, 1975, 11, illus.; Winnipeg, 1979-The Year Past, 29, illus. & descrip.)
MARIA STREET, at Alexander Avenue, commercial block for an unnamed client, 1883 (Winnipeg Daily Times, 3 Feb. 1883, 8)
ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, St. Mary Avenue at Hargrave Street, major addition, 1883 (Winnipeg Daily Sun, 21 March 1883, 1)
ROMAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY, Broadway, 1883 (Winnipeg Daily Sun, 21 March 1883, 1)
DONALD STREET, at St. Mary Avenue, two terraces of houses for the architect, 1883 (Winnipeg Daily Sun, 21 March 1883, 1)
LOGAN AVENUE, public hall and terrace of houses, 1883 (Winnipeg Daily Sun, 21 March 1883, 1)
OWEN STREET, at Rorie Street, hotel for John McDonald, 1883 (Winnipeg Daily Sun, 21 March 1883, 1)
W. HIGGINS & CO., Portage Avenue East, warehouse, 1883 (Winnipeg Daily Times, 7 April 1883, 5, t.c.)