COWAN, William Alexander (1875-1960) was born in Guelph, Ont. on 18 November 1875 and attended art school in Toronto. He later spent several years studying at the Art Students League in New York City. In 1904 he took over his father's contracting business in Guelph and continued to work as an architect and contractor until 1945. After WWII he was appointed building inspector for the City of Guelph and played a major role in preventing the demolition of Guelph City Hall (by William Thomas, 1856-57). He also designed the south wing of the Wellington County Court House in 1955. Cowan retired in 1956 and died in Guelph on 11 June 1960 (obit. Daily Mercury [Guelph], 11 June 1960, 9; biog. 2 July 1975, 4)
(works in Guelph unless noted)
LYON AVENUE, residence for Lyon Saunder, 1907 (Evening Mercury [Guelph], 14 Sept. 1907, 6)
YORKSHIRE STREET, residence fot Thomas Whaley, 1908 (Evening Mercury [Guelph], 12 Sept. 1908, 5)
PARK AVENUE, residence for H.B. Callendar, 1908 (Evening Mercury [Guelph], 12 Sept. 1908, 5)
LOUDEN MACHINERY CO., Crimea Street, factory, 1908 (Evening Mercury [Guelph], 12 Sept. 1908, 1)
PAISLEY STREET, residence for J. Bruce Broadfoot, 1910 (Evening Mercury [Guelph], 10 Sept. 1910, 7)
ELORA ROAD, residence for Thomas Fannin, 1910 (Evening Mercury [Guelph], 10 Sept. 1910, 7)
DUNDAS ROAD, residence for D.H. Barlow, 1910 (Evening Mercury [Guelph], 10 Sept. 1910, 7)
OWEN SOUND, ONT., Kandy Kitchen Confectionery & Ice Cream Parlor, retail store for J.R. Brown, 1910-11 (Owen Sound Times, 5 Jan. 1911, 8, detailed descrip.)
CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY SHELTER, Clark Street West, 1911 (C.R., xxvi, 1 Feb. 1911, 32)
NORTHUMBERLAND STREET, residence for A.C. Barber, 1911 (Evening Mercury [Guelph], 30 Sept. 1911, 1)
COLONIAL WHITEWEAR CO., Dublin Street, factory, 1911 (Evening Mercury [Guelph], 30 Sept. 1911, 1)
QUEEN STREET WEST, residence for T.G. McMaster, 1911-12 (Evening Mercury [Guelph], 30 Sept. 1911, 1; C.R., xxvi, 31 Jan. 1912, 24, illus. in advert.)
CANADIAN GATE CO., Morris Street, factory, 1911 (Evening Mercury [Guelph], 30 Sept. 1911, 1)
BUCKINGHAM BLOCK, Wyndham Street, 1922-23 (inf. Gordon Couling, Guelph)
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, Macdonnell Street, 1929 (Canadian Hotel Review, vii, April 1929, 33)