CLARKE, Joseph (fl. 1818-35), a native of England, arrived in the Montreal area c. 1817 and claimed to have had 'eleven years previous practice with one of the first [i.e. prominent] builders in London' (Canadian Courant [Montreal], 21 May 1831, 3, advert.) Within a year he had formed a partnership with Teavil Appleton as carpenters, joiners and general builders (Montreal Herald, 20 Nov. 1819, advert.). They contracted to build (and likely designed) projects for the local government and for private clients in the Montreal area. They also undertook to erect buildings designed by John Try, including his schemes for the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel (1821) and the Mason Hall Hotel (1824-25), and may have followed the drawings of the late William Berczy when they completed the tower and spire of the Anglican Church in 1819-20. The firm of Clarke & Appleton was dissolved in 1825 'as J. Clarke wishes to return to England' (Montreal Herald, 3 Dec. 1825, 3, advert.).
Both partners worked separately until 1831 when both agreed to resume a partnership as 'house carpenters, joiners and general builders' (Canadian Courant [Montreal], 21 May 1831, 3, advert.). This collaboration was terminated in 1834, as ' J.C. intends to confine himself to the practcse of architectural surveyor, measurer and valuer' (Canadian Courant [Montreal], 5 Feb. 1834, 3, advert.). Clarke then returned to England, yet within a year he was again active in Montreal and had 'withdrawn himself from the Executive parts of building and will confine himself to the professional parts of Designing, superintending and measuring' (Montreal Gazette, 7 April 1835, 3, advert.). No references to his activity have been found after 1836 (biog. and list of works A.J.H. Richardson, Quebec City: Architects, Artisans and Builders, 1984, 180; inf. Stephen A. Otto)
CLARKE & APPLETON
MONTREAL, QUE., conversion of the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel into The Public Library of Montreal, St. Joseph Street, 1821 (ANQM, Henry Griffin, notaire, no. 3500, 21 Jan. 1821; L. Maitland, Neoclassical Architecture in Canada, 1984, 110, illus.)
MONTREAL, QUE., residence for Benjamin Holmes, St. James Street, 1821 (ANQM, Henry Griffin, notaire, no. 3685, 11 April 1821)
MONTREAL, QUE., tower and spire for the Anglican Church, with facade 'to be ornamented in the Doric Style', 1820 (Montreal Herald, 13 June 1820, 2; Canadian Courant [Montreal], 15 July 1820, 2, descrip.)
SOREL, QUE., major alterations to the Anglican Church, with addition of a spire, 1821 (Montreal Herald, 11 Aug. 1821, 2, descrip.)
TROIS RIVIERES, QUE., conversion and remodelling of the Eglise Recollets to become St. James Anglican Church, 1823 (R. Gauthier, Trois Rivieres Disparue, 1978, 99, illlus.)
MONTREAL, QUE., Theatre Royale, St. Paul Street, 1824-25 (Montreal Herald, 11 Dec. 1824, 3, t.c.; ANQM, Henry Griffin, notaire, no. 5709, 18 April 1825)
JOSEPH CLARKE
MONTREAL, QUE., Government House (now the Chateau de Ramezay), Notre Dame Street, repairs and alterations, 1833 (Canadian Courant [Montreal], 2 March 1833, letter to the Editor from Clarke)
MONTREAL, QUE., John Molson & Sons, St. Mary Street, large warehouse at the brewery, 1835 (Montreal Gazette, 9 June 1835, 3, t.c.; dwgs. NAC 76703/10, item 162)
COMPETITIONS
MONTREAL, QUE., The Gaol, 1825. Clarke & Appleton were one of six firms to submit an entry in this important early competition announced in April 1825. The drawings from the competitors were forwarded to the House of Assembly of Lower Canada in 1826 for adjudication (Montreal Herald, 25 Feb. .1826, 2). The project was delayed for six years until 1832, when the scheme by George Blaiklock was erected.
QUEBEC CITY, QUE., Penitentiary and House of Correction, 1831.'John (sic) Clarke' received First Premium of £ 90 for his design of a new gaol at Quebec City but his plans, endorsed by the Lord Aylmer, the Governor General, were set aside by the House of Assembly for Lower Canada who awarded the commission to Thomas Trigge (Lower Canada, House of Assembly Journals, xl, 1831, 78)