Neil R. Darrach

Neil was born in Southwold Township, Ontario in 1850.James De Jonge (1989), Historic sites and Monuments Board of Canada Agenda Paper, Paper No.1989-11, St. Thomas City Hall. 30pp. He moved to St. Thomas as a youth and became involved in construction at the start of the railway boom in the early 1870s. Darrach received no formal training as an architect, but it was suggested he learnt the trade primarily through trade books and experience.St. Thomas Times Journal, 5 May 1926, p. 9

Image:Wellington 1905.jpg

Simplicity of form and emphasis on symmetry using a central hall plan characterizes most of Darrach's buildings

.James De Jonge (1989), Historic sites and Monuments Board of Canada Agenda Paper,Paper No.1989-11, St. Thomas City Hall. 30pp. Darrach's first building was designed in 1879. This was the Centre Street Baptist Church in St. Thomas, one of many church designs to follow.{{cite web|author= J Erickson|title= Year wraps up with courthouse presentation|url= http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2253123|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130203062753/http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2253123|url-status= dead|archive-date= 2013-02-03|work= News|publisher= St. Thomas Times-Journal|year= 2010|accessdate= 2010-02-01}} Neil would also work on the First United Church, the Grand Central Hotel (subsequently destroyed in the later 20th century), St. Thomas Masonic Hall, Myrtle and Balaclava Street Schools; and several prominent homes in the community in addition to the heritage buildings described below.{{cite web |author= Ontario Heritage Connection|title= St. Thomas joins in the doors open fun|url=http://www.ontarioheritageconnection.org/live/main.php?page=news.200910_k.html|work= News |publisher= OHC Saskatchewan Association of Architects|year= 2010 |accessdate=2010-02-01}} In 1898 disaster struck the Elgin County Courthouse (which was originally designed in 1854 by John Turner) where a significant portion of the building was destroyed by fire. Darrach was retained to re-design the building and did so under the present Palladian style. The building is still in use today and recently received a government grant of over 100 million dollars for renovations.{{cite web|author= K Rea|title= $100 million investment in courthouse|url= http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2156165|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120913043654/http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2156165|url-status= dead|archive-date= 2012-09-13|work= News|publisher= St. Thomas Times-Journal|year= 2010|accessdate= 2010-02-01}} Perhaps one of Neil's more prominent constructions was the design of the St. Thomas City hall in 1898–99. Darrach's design was chosen out of 10 applications submitted. The building was designed in the late Richardsonian Romanesque style. Subsequently in 1903, Neil was retained to design the City Public Library. This was achieved through Neoclassical Revival style (which now serves as a municipal building extension)adjacent to the city hall. the building was largely paid for by a Carnegie Foundation grant.

{{cite web |author= STPL |title= St. Thomas Public Library History |url= http://www.st-thomas.library.on.ca/index.php/Library/History |work= Archive |publisher= STPL |year= 2010 |accessdate= 2010-02-01 |url-status= dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091230120220/http://www.st-thomas.library.on.ca/index.php/Library/History |archivedate= 2009-12-30 }} Other designated heritage properties designed by Darrach include; the late Victorian building the Southern Loan Building which still has 16 functioning vaults, The Princess Avenue Play House (once a church, now a theatre) built in 1907. Despite the catalogue of buildings that are known to be built by Darrach, there is often controversy surrounding the history of some other buildings of historical value in the city which are sometimes argued to be designed by Neil. Over 24 buildings in St. Thomas are known to be designed by Neil.

Image:Westminster Presbyterian (later United) Church.jpg

In the late 19th century in Canada architecture was a trade. Where more experienced architects would train younger architects and so on. Neil Darrach would be Maurice Sharon's mentor, who would later become Saskatchewan’s first provincial architect.{{cite web|author= Saskatchewan Association of Architects|title= The History of the Saskatchewan Association of Architects|url= http://www.saskarchitects.com/web/assoc-history.shtml|work= Archive|publisher= Saskatchewan Association of Architects|year= 2010|accessdate= 2010-02-01|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110301064913/http://www.saskarchitects.com/web/assoc-history.shtml|archive-date= 2011-03-01|url-status= dead}} Later, as more colleges and universities instituted architectural programs, architects could obtain more formal training. In 1911 Neil came to Regina, Saskatchewan to work in partnership with Maurice W. Sharon, who later served as Chief Provincial Architect, Saskatchewan, 1917-1930.{{Cite web|url=http://dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/appendix_a|title = A. Public Works Architects | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada|website=dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org}}

Together they designed the Western Trust Company building, now a heritage building. In a brief career that lasted until 1917 (when he returned to Ontario), Darrach's designs also included the Leader Building, Westminster Presbyterian Church (later United(Pictured)) and the Donahue Block.

After returning from Saskatchewan, Neil worked in St. Thomas again. The last piece of work prior to his death in 1926 was the Memorial Hospital, which was completed in 1923. The building no longer remains today. In summary; Wellington Street Public school, St. Thomas City hall, Old St. Thomas Public Library, Princess Avenue play house (originally a church), The former Southern Loan building are all designated heritage properties in St. Thomas while the Western Trust Company Building in Regina is also designated in Saskatchewan. Neil Darrach was referred to being a master of his art, dedicated and a prolific architect.

{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darrach, Neil R.}}

Category:Canadian architects

Category:1850 births

Category:1926 deaths