COLTHURST, Guy Buller (1882-1946) was born in Toronto on 18 September 1882, son of Henry Buller Colthurst. Their family moved to England and Colthurst was educated at grammar schools in Oxford and Bristol, then studied at the Margate Technical School (in 1900) and at the London Polytechnic (in 1904 and 1907). While in London he articled with T.M. Garrood (1901-04), then worked as his assistant before commencing practice in London as partner in the firm of Colthurst & Gott (1905-07). He emigrated to Canada in 1908 and settled at Saskatoon, Sask. where he became a partner with Norman L. Thompson and T.B. Daniel in May 1911 (see list of works under Thompson, Daniel & Colthurst). Their business was dissolved in 1914, and by 1918 Colthurst had relocated in Windsor, Ont. and formed a partnership with John E. Trace and David W.F. Nichols in August 1920. In 1922-24 he became a partner in the new firm of Nichols, Sheppard & Colthurst, and from 1924 onward he continued to practice alone. He was an adept designer who made a convincing interpretation of the modern Gothic style with his scheme for Riverside United Church (1929), and capably handled the emerging Art Deco style with his plans for La Salle Public School (1929-30). Colthurst died in a railway crossing accident at Ojibway, Ont. on 8 November 1946 (obit. & port. Windsor Star, 9 Nov. 1946, 5; R.A.I.C. Journal, xxiii, Dec. 1946, 338; biog. Who's Who & Why in Canada, 1913, 150; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects). A photographic portrait of Colthurst was published in The Saturday Press (Saskatoon), Building & Development Number, 1912, p. 27. Another photographic portrait of Colthurst appeared in the Daily Commercial News [Toronto], 20 Oct. 1936, 1.
COLTHURST & TRACE
WINDSOR, ONT., stores and apartments for Lorne Laing, 1920 (C.R., xxxiv, 28 July 1920, 50)
COLTHURST, TRACE & NICHOLS
WINDSOR, ONT., residences for H. Watts and Mrs. Emery, 1921 (C.R., xxxv, 15 June 1921, 62)
G.B. COLTHURST
JACKSON'S CORNERS, ONT., public school, 1925 (Border Cities Star [Windsor], 27 June 1925, Section Two, 13, t.c.)
RIVERSIDE, ONT., public school, St. Paul Avenue, 1925 (Border Cities Star [Windsor], 25 April 1925, 3, descrip.)
TECUMSEH, ONT., Victoria Public School, 1925 (Border Cities Star [Windsor], 31 Dec. 1926, 11)
RIVERSIDE, ONT., Edith Cavell Public School, Ontario Street at Edras Street, major addition, 1925; another addition, 1926; with major addition of seven classrooms and gymnasium, 1927 (Border Cities Star [Windsor], 25 April 1925, 3; 31 Dec. 1926, 11)
WINDSOR, ONT., Casa Del Mara Apartments, Ouellette Avenue near Giles Boulevard, for William Goldstein, 1928 (C.R., xlii, 14 Nov. 1928, 53; Border Cities Star [Windsor], 2 Feb. 1929, Section Two, 6 & 7, illus. & descrip.; inf. Andrew Foot, Windsor)
RIVERSIDE, ONT., two stores and apartments for an unnamed client, Ottawa Street at Pillette Road, 1928-29 (C.R., xlii, 14 Nov. 1928, 52)
WINDSOR, ONT., Granada Apartments, Giles Boulevard East at Dougall Avenue, for William Goldstein, 1928-29 (C.R., xliii, 1 May 1929, 77; 31 July 1929, 65; Border Cities Star [Windsor], 23 March 1929, Real Estate Section, p. 1, descrip.; 1 June 1929, Section Two, 9, descrip.; 18 Jan. 1930, 10, illus. & descrip.)
RIVERSIDE, ONT., Riverside United Church, Glidden Road at Ontario Street, 1929; burned Dec. 1929 and rebuilt to original Colthurst design (Border Cities Star [Windsor], 12 Jan. 1929, 13, illus. & descrip.; 23 March 1929, Real Estate Section, p. 1, descrip.; 10 May 1930, 8, descrip. of rebuilt church)
WINDSOR, ONT., a two storey commercial block at Erie Street and Parent Boulevard, for Marsden & Fawcett, with stores, offices and apartments, 1929 (Border Cities Star [Windsor], 23 March 1929, Real Estate Section, p. 1, descrip.)
WINDSOR, ONT., commercial block for James M. Wylie, Tecumseh Road, between Mercer Street and Highland Avenue, 1929 (Border Cities Star [Windsor], 23 March 1929, Real Estate Section, p. 1, descrip.)
LA SALLE, ONT., public school, 1929 (C.R., xliii, 29 May 1929, 562, illus.)
(with Sheppard & Masson) WINDSOR, ONT., Dominion Public Building, Ouellette Avenue at Pitt Street, 1932-34 (C.R., xlvi, 6 Jan. 1932, 44)
WINDSOR, ONT., major addition to a factory for Canada Traction Ltd., Wyandotte Avenue, 1942 (dwgs. Windsor Municipal Archives)
WINDSOR, ONT., C. Hinton & Co., Erie Street at Parent Avenue, 1942 (dwgs. Windsor Municipal Archives)
SANDWICH WEST, ONT., Elmwood Hotel, a complete rebuilding of the hotel after a fire, 1944 (Windsor Daily Star, 22 May 1944, 3 & 6, illus. & descrip.)
COMPETITIONS
WINDSOR, ONT., John A. Campbell Public School, Hall Avenue at Tecumseh Road, 1925. Colthurst was one of seven local architects who submitted designs for this large 24 room school (Border Cities Star [Windsor], 2 Sept. 1925, Section Two, p. 8, detailed analysis of competition). He received Second Prize of $500 for his effort. The winners were Nichols, Sheppard & Masson
WINDSOR, ONT., new Collegiate Institute, Tecumseh Road East, between Mercer Street and Highland Avenue, 1925. Shortly after the competition for the John Campbell School noted above, the Board of Education staged another competition for public Collegiate School (Border Cities Star [Windsor], 21 Nov. 1925, 5). Colthurst was awarded Fourth Prize of $150. The winners were Cameron & Ralston, but the site was later occupied by H. Guppy Public School, designed by a different architect.
WALKERVILLE, ONT., Metropolitan General Hospital, Lens Avenue at Byng Road, 1926. The office of G.B. Colthurst was one of 8 local architects who competed for this job (Border Cities Star [Windsor], 27 Jan. 1926, 5). Their submission was passed over in favour of Pennington & Boyde.