James Balfour (architect)

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James Balfour, (1854-1917), architect, Canada Life Assurance Company building at corner of King Street & James Street (1883), City Hall on corner of James & York Boulevard (1888), both in Hamilton, Ontario. [1]

Son of Peter Balfour, Hamilton alderman and carpenter. Educated in Hamilton. Studied architecture with the famous firm of Peddie and Kniver in Edinburgh, Scotland. Before returning to Hamilton he worked in New York for several years. First professional mention of Balfour in Hamilton is in the 1876-7 city directory. The house still standing at 250 James Street South was one of his early designs. His larger buildings were of the Romanesque style, revived around 1870 by Henry Hobson Richardson of the United States.

Balfour was also successful outside of Hamilton. In March 1887 he won the design competition for the Detroit Institute of Fine Arts.

[edit] Tribute

The Balfour neighbourhood on the Hamilton Mountain was named after him. It is bounded by Fennell Avenue East (north), Mohawk Road East (south), Upper James Street (west) and Upper Wellington Street (east). Notable landmarks in this neighbourhood include the Mountain Plaze Mall and Norwood Park.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bailey, Thomas Melville (1981). Dictionary of Hamilton Biography (Vol I, 1791-1875). W.L. Griffin Ltd.