DUNN, William (1839-1911) sustained a career as an architect and builder in Orillia for more than forty years. Born in Kingston, Ont. he was the son of Francis Y. Dunn and was brought to Orillia by his family in 1848. He trained as a carpenter and likely obtained his knowledge of architecture and design by private study. From 1865 onward he undertook many commissions in the town, frequently competing against William H. Croker, the only other architect active in Orillia in the late 19th century. Dunn was '..endowed with an exceptionally good intellect, cultivated by much reading covering a wide range of subjects' and earned a reputation as an activist in public affairs in the town. His best known work there was the Orillia House Hotel. He died from injuries sustained in an accidental fall while on business in the Malachy Block on 10 March 1911 (obit. Weekly Times [Orillia], 16 March 1911, 1; Orillia Packet, 16 March 1911, 1)
(works in Orillia unless noted)
MISSISSAUGA STREET, at West Street, store for William Tudhope, 1867 (Orillia Expositor, 27 Sept. 1867, 2, descrip.)
MISSISSAUGA STREET, at Front Street, store for T.S. Moffatt, 1867 (Orillia Expositor, 27 Sept. 1867, 2; descrip.)
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, major addition of transepts and new tower and spire, 1873; new church, 1888 (Orillia Packet, 27 June 1873, 2, t.c.; 31 Oct. 1873, 2, descrip.; 14 Sept. 1888, 3; Expositor [Orillia], 30 Oct. 1873, 2, descrip.)
MISSISSAUGA STREET, commercial block for Mr. Quinn, 1875 (Expositor [Orillia], 22 July 1875, 2, descrip.)
MOUNT SLAVEN, residence for John Dunn, 1889 (Orillia Daily Times, 1 Feb. 1889, 2)
unnamed street, residence for Rev. George Grant, 1890 (C.R., i, 27 Sept. 1890, 2)
unnamed street, residence for Wesley Bingham, 1895 (C.R., vi, 2 May 1895, 2, t.c.)
MARKET HALL, 1898 (C.R., ix, 16 March 1898, 2)