DYAS, Thomas Winning (1845-1899) worked as an architect, surveyor, and civil engineeer in London, Ont. before abandoning the profession and becoming a journalist in Toronto. Born in Cavan County, Ireland on 2 September 1845 he was brought to the United States by his parents in 1850 and spent his youth in New Orleans before the family moved to London, Ont. in 1858. He was employed as an office assistant by William Robinson, an important architect in London in the mid-nineteenth century, and articled with a local surveyor Charles L. Davies. He registered as a land surveyor in January 1865 and practised his trade until early 1869. Dyas took a particular interest in architecture and it is to him that credit can be given for the appearance of Canada's first architectural periodical called the Canadian Builder and Mechanics Magazine, published at London, Ontario (description in the Daily Advertiser [London], 2 Feb. 1869, 2; 13 Oct. 1869, 2). From its first monthly issue in March 1869 until it ceased publication after 1871 it attracted the attention of professionals, tradesmen, and the press, and was described in the Architectural Review and American Builder's Journal as '...filled with interesting, original and useful material' (Sloan's Architectural Review [Philadelphia], i, March 1869, 608; ii, Feb. 1870, 494). A copy of this important journal can be found in the Fine Art Dept. of the Boston Public Library, Boylston Street. At the same time that he was acting as publisher of this journal, Dyas decided to open an architectural office in London in partnership with Henry A. Wilkens (Free Press [London], 19 Feb. 1869, 3). Wilkens was a German-born sculptor whose talent as an artist was well-known in the London region. The partnership was shortlived however, and by May of 1870 it had been dissolved (Daily Advertiser [London], 29 April 1870, 2). Dyas continued to operate an architectural office in London and Strathroy under his own name while contributing articles to The Farmer's Advocate, a local newspaper for which his father John Dyas acted as assistant editor. By late 1874 he had abandoned the profession and moved to Toronto to work for The Globe (Daily Advertiser [London], 2 Dec. 1874, 3). In 1878 he joined The Mail newspaper and held various positions with that Toronto daily until his death on 22 June 1899 (obituary in the Mail & Empire [Toronto], 23 June 1899, 6; Globe [Toronto], 23 June 1899, 5; biography and port. in Association of Ontario Land Surveyors Annual Reports, 1924, 157-8)
DYAS & WILKENS
(works in London unless noted)
TALBOT STREET, at Hitchcock Street, bakery and confectionery for F. Westlake, 1869 (Free Press [London], 10 March 1869, 2, t.c.)
STRATHROY, ONT., All Saints Roman Catholic Church, Front Street, 1869; burned 1876 (Daily Advertiser [London], 15 May 1869, 2)
ST. PAUL'S ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL, St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, Richmond Street at Queen's Avenue, addition of chancel, organ chamber and vestry, with interior alterations, 1869; BISHOP'S PALACE, Clarence Street, 1869 (Canadian Freeman [Toronto], 27 May 1869, 2, descrip.; Free Press [London], 9 Nov. 1869, 3, descrip.)
KING STREET, residence for John Scandrett, 1869 (Daily Advertiser [London], 5 July 1869, 2)
ST. PAUL'S CEMETERY, gate house, 1869 (Daily Advertiser [London], 18 Aug. 1869, 2, t.c.)
RICHMOND STREET, near Market Street, residence and saloon for Thomas Morkin, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 1 April 1870, 3, t.c.)
DUNDAS STREET, near Clarence Street, residence for John Ranahan, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 11 April 1870, 3, t.c.)
T.W. DYAS
TALBOT STREET, near John Street, two houses for Thomas Caldwell, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 1 June 1870, 2)
TALBOT STREET, residence for Capt. Wilson, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 1 June 1870, 2)
DUNDAS STREET, near Maitland Street, residence for John Dranger, 1870 (Daily Advertiser [London], 1 June 1870, 2)