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Paul Baldwin research files - Neil R. Darrach, 1926
- Museum / Archive
- Elgin County Archives
- Part Of
- Paul Baldwin fonds
- Description Level
- File
- GMD
- textual records
- Date Range
- 1926
- Accession Number
- 2013-21
- Storage Location
- C4 Sh4 B2 F3
- Museum / Archive
- Elgin County Archives
- Part Of
- Paul Baldwin fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Accession Number
- 2013-21
- Storage Room
- Archives Storage Rm. 105
- Storage Location
- C4 Sh4 B2 F3
- GMD
- textual records
- Date Range
- 1926
- Series
- Paul Baldwin fonds - Neil R. Darrach research files series
- Physical Description
- 0.1 cm of textual records
- History / Biographical
- Born in Southwold Township in 1850, Neil R. Darrach later moved to St. Thomas during the railway boom and began a career as a noted architect. He opened his office in St. Thomas in 1879, and a few months later was awarded his first contract to design the Centre Street Baptist Church. Over 24 buildings in St. Thomas are recognized as Darrach designs; of note, this includes the First United Church, the Grand Central Hotel, Memorial Hospital, St. Thomas Masonic Hall, Myrtle Street Public School, Balaclava Street Public School and the Mickleborough block in downtown St. Thomas. He desinged several prominent homes in the community including the former Anderson family home on Rosebery Place and the former Gilbert family home on Margarget Street. He was also commissioned to reconstruct the Elgin County Courthouse, after the original building was gutted by fire in 1898. Many of Darrach's buildings now have historical designation including Wellington Street Public school, St. Thomas City hall, Old St. Thomas Public Library, Princess Avenue play house (originally a church), and the former Southern Loan building.
From 1911-1917, Darrach moved to Regina, Saskatchewan where he designed a number of notable historic buildings. In 1917, Darrach returned to St. Thomas where he re-entered into partnership with architect John T. Findlay, who was Darrach's associate before he moved to Regina. He remained in St. Thomas until his death in 1926.
- Scope and Content
- File contains photocopied pages of an article published in the St. Thomas Times-Journal in 1926, after Neil R. Darrach's death. Collected by Paul Baldwin as part of his research project on the noted St. Thomas architect.
- Name Access
- Baldwin, Paul
- Darrach, Neil R.
- Subject Access
- Architecture
- Architects
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