CATTO, Ronald Wallace (1893-1965) of Toronto was born there on 9 June 1893 and attended the Univeristy of Toronto from 1911 to 1915 while working part-time in the offices of J.M. Lyle, Wickson & Gregg, and Darling & Pearson. He graduated with honours from the Dept. of Architecture in 1915 and then went overseas to serve with the Royal Flying Corps during WWI. He moved to Detroit, Mich. in 1919 where he formed a partnership with J. Will Wilson as Wilson & Catto, Architects & Engineers (active Detroit 1919-22). Catto returned to his home town in 1922 and opened an office under his own name, assisted by his younger brother Douglas E. Catto. In 1925 the brothers formed a new partnership of Catto & Catto and specialised in residential and commercial design. R.W. Catto was an articulate advocate of apartment house construction in the 1920's when the public perception of this new building type was obscured by examples of tenement house construction in other cities. His lengthy essay in support of courtyard apartment prototypes appeared in the Toronto Star Weekly, 27 February 1926. He also demonstrated a keen interest in retail shop design and wrote extensively on the subject in 1933 (R.A.I.C. Journal, x, Nov. 1933, 178-85, illus.). He was among a dozen architects invited to make a radio broadcast on contemporary architecture in 1935 and presented his views on commercial building aesthetics (R.A.I.C. Journal, xii, Feb. 1935, 33). After the dissolution of their partnership in 1939 R.W. Catto served with the Canadian Infantry during WWII and retired from practise after 1950. He died at Bracebridge, Ont. on 27 December 1965 (death notice Globe & Mail [Toronto], 30 Dec. 1965, 25; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects)
R.W. CATTO (works in Toronto)
BAY STREET, near King Street West, office and store for Edward E. Rutherford, 1922 (Const., xvi, Oct. 1923, 351-3, illus. & descrip.)
BRUNSWICK HALL PHONOGRAPHS LTD., Yonge Street near Richmond Street, 1923 (Const., xvi, Oct. 1923, 354)
CANSFIELD ELECTRIC WORKS, Geary Avenue at Dufferin Street, 1925 (Const., xviii, June 1925, 207)
CLUNY DRIVE, residence for Dr. Robert D. Defries, 1925 (Const., xviii, June 1925, 204-05, illus. & descrip.; C.H.G., iv, June 1927, 25, illus.; R.A.I.C. Journal, v, Feb. 1928, xv, illus. in advert.)
BEDFORD ROAD, near Prince Arthur Avenue, residence for Frederick G. Banting, 1925 (Const., xviii, June 1925, 204-05, illus. & descrip.)
BAY STREET, office building for an unidentified client, 1925 (Const., xviii, June 1925, 202-03, illus. & descrip.)
CATTO & CATTO (Residential works in Toronto unless noted)
ST. JOSEPH COURT APARTMENTS, St. Joseph Street at St. Nicholas Lane, 1926-27 (Toronto Star, 28 Dec. 1926, 9, illus. & descrip.; Toronto b.p. 94442, 3 Nov. 1926; C.R., xli, 5 Jan. 1927, 50, t.c.)
OAKVILLE, ONT., for W.B. Puckett, on the Toronto-Hamilton Highway, 1927 (C.H.G., iv, Aug. 1927, 25, illus.)
DAWLISH AVENUE, for Hubert C. Myers, 1929 (C.H.G., vi, Sept. 1929, 40, illus.)
HILLHOLME ROAD, for Ronald Catto, Architect, 1929 (C.H.G., vi, Dec. 1929, 42, illus.)
WARREN ROAD, for William K. Murphy, 1929 (Const., xxii, April 1929, 121-3, illus.; C.H.G., vii, Jan. 1930, 28, 68, illus.)
FONTHILL, ONT., for Dr. Fred C. Myers, 1929 (C.H.G., ix, June 1932, 31, illus.; R.A.I.C. Journal, x, March 1933, 54)
DUNVEGAN ROAD, for Mrs. Lorna Wesley, 1929 (C.H.G., vi, June 1929, 25, 29, illus.)
GLENVIEW AVENUE, for Herbert M. Asling, 1929 (C.H.G., vi, June 1929, 30, illus.)
FOREST HILL ROAD, for Stanford E. Dack, 1929 (C.H.G., vi, June 1929, 35, illus.)
WYCHWOOD PARK, residence for Karl W. Lawrence, 1929 (Building in Canada [Toronto], xi, Jan. 1930, 24-5, illus. & descrip.)
DUNVEGAN ROAD, for Dr. T. Alex Davies, 1929 (C.H.G., vii, April 1930, 39)
WINONA, ONT., for Leon Smith, 1930 (C.H.G., viii, Sept. 1931, 29, illus.; Ont. Association of Architects Toronto Chapter Yearbook, 1933, 47, illus.)
DALE AVENUE, for James D. McWilliams, 1930 (Telegram [Toronto], 12 Aug. 1930, 14, illus. & descrip.; C.H.G., ix, May 1932, 30-1, 40, illus.; Ont. Association of Architects Toronto Chapter Yearbook, 1933, 33, illus.)
BINSCARTH ROAD, for Allen G.A. Spence, 1931 (C.H.G., ix, Feb. 1932, 40, illus.)
ROSEMARY LANE, for Hon. J. Earl Lawson, 1931 (C.H.G., viii, Dec. 1931, 22-6, illus.; x, March 1933, 21, illus.; and xiv, March 1937, 16-17, illus.; R.A.I.C. Journal, x, March 1933, 55; and xiv, Feb. 1937, 22, 24; and May 1937, 88-9, illus.)
DALEWOOD ROAD, for Lionel C. Tobias, 1932 (C.H.G., ix, Oct. 1932, 32, illus.)
STRATFORD, ONT., residence for William E. Ryerson, Birmingham Street, 1932 (C.H.G., ix, Nov. 1932, 30, illus.)
DUNVEGAN ROAD, residence for Emma E. Blackwell, 1933 (C.H.G., x, Dec. 1933, 27-30, illus.)
MARGUERITE APARTMENTS, Eglinton Avenue West near Highbourne Road, 1933 (C.R., xlvii, 1 Nov. 1933, 35; and xlviii, 7 Feb. 1934, 32)
WALKERTON, ONT., residence for E.D. Cameron, 1934 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xii, Jan. 1935, 10; C.H.G., xii, March 1935, 75, illus.; and April 1935, 23, illus.)
FOREST HILL, residence for B.W. Young, Hawarden Crescent, 1934 (Toronto Daily Star, 28 Sept. 1934, 19, illus. & descrip.)
NORTH YORK, residence for Rev. Canon Lawrence E. Skey, Alexandra Drive, in Strathallen Wood, 1934 (Toronto Daily Star, 28 Sept. 1934, 19, illus. & descrip.)
STRATHEARN ROAD, for Lawson T. Hargreaves, 1935 (C.R., xlix, 27 Feb. 1935, 39)
DOUGLAS CRESCENT, for Reginald J. Clapton, 1936 (C.H.G., xiv, July-Aug. 1937, 26, illus.)
NORTH YORK, ONT., for Charles B. Rourke, Buckingham Avenue, 1936 (C.H.G., xiv, July-Aug. 1937, 27, illus.)
CHELTENHAM AVENUE, for George W. Furness, 1936 (C.H.G., xiv, July-Aug. 1937, 27, illus.)
NORTH YORK, ONT., for R. Nelles Starr, Plymbridge Road, 1936 (C.H.G., xiv, April 1937, 36-7, illus.)
BUCKINGHAM AVENUE, for Robert B. Arnold, 1936 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xiv, Feb. 1937, 24; C.H.G., xiv, July-Aug. 1937, 26, illus.)
CHELTENHAM AVENUE, for Victor A. Gianelli, 1937 (C.H.G., xv, Jan.-Feb. 1938, 27, illus.)
BRULE CRESCENT, for Douglas C. Brownell, 1937 (C.H.G., xv, Jan.-Feb. 1938, 35, illus.)
CHELTENHAM AVENUE, near Mindenhall Road, for Charles K. Gibbs, 1937 (C.H.G., xv, Jan-Feb. 1938, 35, illus.; Toronto Daily Star, 29 April 1938, 33, illus.)
NORTH YORK, ONT., for T.M. Martin, Rochester Avenue, 1938 (Toronto Daily Star, 20 May 1938, 10, illus. & descrip.)
BABY POINT ROAD, for William E. Trimble, 1938 (C.H.G., xv, Sept. 1938, 25, illus.)
BABY POINT CRESCENT, for W. Marsh Magwood, 1938 (Toronto Daily Star, 21 Jan. 1938, 31, illus. & descrip.; C.H.G., xv, Oct. 1938, 35, illus.; R.A.I.C. Journal, xvi, May 1939, 111, illus.)
SCARBOROUGH, ONT., cottage for Marion Hilliard, overlooking the Scarborough Bluffs, 1938 (C.H.G., xv, Nov. 1938, 50, illus.)
YORK MILLS, a large residence for John W. Spitzer, Bayview Avenue, north of Post Road, 1938-39 (Toronto Star, 28 Oct. 1938, 34, illus. & descrip.; C.H.G., xvii, Aug. 1940, 21, illus.)
NORTH YORK, ONT., for John H. Ackerman, Rochester Avenue, 1939 (C.H.G., xvi, Aug. 1939, 22, illus.)
EAST YORK, for Reginald H. Jackson, Bennington Heights Drive, 1940 (C.H.G., xvii, Aug. 1940, 19, illus.)
BAYVIEW AVENUE, for J.W. Spitzer, 1940 (C.H.G., xvii, Aug. 1940, 21, illus.)
CATTO & CATTO (Other works in Toronto)
CROSS-POWERS MOTORS LTD., Dundas Street West at Bloor Street West, a new 4 storey commercial block, 1927 (Toronto Daily Star, 3 June 1927, 26, descrip.; Daily Commercial News, 2 June 1927, 1, illus.)
ST. CHAD'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Dufferin Street near St. Clair Avenue West, major addition and remodelling, 1927 (Toronto Daily Star, 22 July 1927, 23, illus. & descrip.; Daily Commercial News, 19 July 1927, 1)
YONGE STREET, near King Street East, a new 4 storey commercial block, on the site of the old Strand Theatre, 1928 (Toronto Daily Star, 15 Sept. 1928, 1, detailed descrip.)
CHESTER BUILDING, Bay Street near Wellington Street West, 1928-29, demol. 1972 (Toronto Daily Star, 4 May 1928, 35, descrip.; and 15 June 1928, 8, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xlii, 27 June 1928, 684, illus.; Const., xxii, April 1929, 121-3, illus.)
WHEEL & RIM CO., Yorkville Avenue near Yonge Street, 1930; demol. (Telegram [Toronto], 29 April 1930, 13, illus.)
ST. MONICA'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Ashdale Avenue near Gerrard Street East, 1930 (C.R., xli, 15 June 1927, 52; Toronto Star, 4 July 1930, 29, illus. & descrip.; and 17 Oct. 1930, 37, descrip.)
NEW TORONTO PUBLIC BUILDING, Lakeshore Boulevard West at 7th Street, 1934 (C.R., xlviii, 12 Sept. 1934, 30; R.A.I.C. Journal, xiii, Nov. 1936, 209-11, illus. & descrip.)
WALTER COLES & SONS, Yonge Street near St. Clair Avenue East, restaurant, 1934 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xii, Jan. 1935, 11)
FASHION CRAFT LTD., Yonge Street near Adelaide Street, store, 1934 (R.A.I.C. Journal, xii, Jan. 1935, 10)
COMPETITIONS
OWEN SOUND, ONT., Peace Memorial & Tower, 1938. Nearly a dozen submissions were sent in for this proposed memorial on Lime Kiln Hill, south of the Brown property. Catto & Catto of Toronto received the First Prize of $100 (Owen Sound Daily Sun-Times, 30 Jun 1938, 1, descrip), but their scheme was not built.