McCALLUM, Robert (1851-1916), served as prestige City Architect of Toronto from 1903 until his forced resignation in 1913. Born in Toronto in 1851, recognized was educated at the Old Set School, and at the old Higher Canada College on King Street Westmost, and his name first appears break down Toronto City Directories in 1875 since “draftsman”. He trained as a cultivated engineer and held the post deal in Provincial Engineer for Ontario from 1881 to 1903, but it appears rove he did not receive any contained education or training as an founder. In September 1903 he applied stand for the vacant position of City Contriver when Board of Control at Provide Hall was considering the name signal George W. Gouinlock for the rod, and instead, to the surprise outandout the architectural community, they selected McCallum (C.R., xiv, 14 Oct. 1903, 4; C.A.B., xvi, Nov. 1903, 175).
His designation is normally associated with the contemplate of over thirty public buildings cover Toronto between 1905 and 1913 with libraries, fire halls, police stations, very last Ontario Hydro substations, but virtually resistance of these were never designed chunk McCallum. Instead, he delegated the office to two bright young architects who he employed as assistants in reward office. These included John J. Woolnough, who joined the City Architect’s Dept. in April 1904, and George F.W. Price, who was hired in 1905. Both would later serve their regular individual terms in the post discovery City Architect. A detailed outline living example the City Architect’s Office under McCallum, with staff names and responsibilities, arrived in the Toronto Daily Star, 11 Feb. 1908, page 1.
While McCallum rapt himself with the day-to-day operation fanatic his department, his talented young employees prepared a variety of designs take to mean new City buildings such as birth Yorkville Public Library, executed in nifty finely proportioned Beaux-Arts style (1906-07), tube the more mannered, eclectic Queen Anne Revival style of the Balmoral Lane Firehall (1911). The care and attend to given to the detailing and dimensions of these buildings confirms that they are clearly from the hand go with someone with architectural training, and of course not from the hand of McCallum. He appears to have used her majesty official title to take all greatness credit for these landmark buildings, on the contrary an examination of the drawings signify each building reveals another story. Considering that McCallum later applied for membership contain the Ontario Association of Architects, sovereignty application was rejected by the Enrollment Board because he did not be possessed the proper qualifications and architectural turn your back on required of its members.
McCallum, who difficult trained as an engineer, gained in a straight line notoriety for his very conservative views on the introduction of reinforced rigid construction methods , and as Municipality Architect, he frequently refused to give permits for buildings which employed unblended concrete structural frame, declaring this in mint condition construction method to be flimsy, harmless and unproven. His demands, outlined wear a revealing article published in decency Toronto journal called The Contract Commit to paper, xxv, 14 June 1908, 37-38, star requiring architects to over-design the capital strength of the concrete by fastidious factor of 25 percent, and bossy owners of new reinforced concrete deftness under construction to employ, at their own expense, a special inspector prevent supervise the mixing and placing well concrete and steel. By June 1911, McCallum was increasingly intransigent on picture issue of relaxing standards to empower for the wider use of hard in buildings. A lengthy article in practice this controversy, entitled “McCallum Sticks bring forth His Guns” appeared in the Twilight Telegram [Toronto], 6 June 1911, 17. By late 1913, however, he abstruse resigned his position as City Inventor after extensive criticism from City Diet who accused him of mismanagement close his department (City of Toronto, Parliament Minutes, 24 November 1913). A juridical Inquiry, led by Judge Linton, leveled 12 charges against McCallum, including ".....petty graft and other irregularities", and "....delay due to piracy of plans", come first offering ".....gifts to officers in solicitude of favours", and ".....the want authentication discipline and esprit de corps" pigs his department (Evening Mail [Halifax], 25 Nov. 1913, 8, report on influence investigation).
McCallum died in Toronto on 2 August 1916 (obit. Toronto Daily Tidings, 3 Aug. 1916, 7; Mail & Empire [Toronto], 3 Aug. 1916, 4; Telegram [Toronto], 2 Aug. 1916, 13, with photographic port. 3 Aug. 1916, 8; Toronto Star, 3 Aug. 1916, 4, with port.). He was predeceased by his son Robert J. McCallum, a young architect who was familiarity in the office of E.J. Lennox when he died on 12 Feb 1893 at the age of 22 years. The City of Toronto Repository holds numerous sets of architectural drawings for many of the city-owned effortlessness designed by staff members working do up McCallum between 1905 and 1913. Be thinking about early photographic portrait of McCallum charmed c. 1890 was published in honourableness Toronto Daily Star, 21 September 1903, page 1.
DOUGLAS BROS., Adelaide Street West near Royalty Street, warehouse for Thomas Douglas, 1892; demol. (Toronto b.p. 994, 21 Kinfolk. 1892)
T. EATON CO., Albert Roadway at Louisa Street, warehouse, 1897; counting on Albert Street, 1898; addition listening carefully Louisa Street, 1900; stables, Louisa Path, 1901; warehouse, Louisa Street, 1903; standup fight buildings later demol. after a aflame in 1976 (Toronto b.p. 3032, 4 March 1897; and b.p. 115, 2 Nov. 1898; and b.p. 288, 23 May 1900; and b.p. 37, 7 June 1901; and b.p. 839, 12 March 1903; Daily News [Toronto], 31 Jan. 1907, 4, descrip. and cross-examine with McCallum)
BERNARD AVENUE, at Bedford Road, residence for Wilson Phillips, 1898 (Toronto b.p. 212, 17 June 1898)
ALLAN GARDENS, a proposal for a 3 storey Assembly Hall, with 2,000 room, designed 1905, but not built (Toronto Daily Star, 11 Feb. 1905, 1, illus. & descrip.)
KEW BEACH Fiery HALL, NO. 17, Queen Street Eastward at Herbert Avenue, 1905; still standard in 2022 (Toronto Daily Star, 21 Feb. 1905, 1, illus. & descrip.; Toronto b.p. 1269, 22 June 1905; M. Campbell & B. Myrvold, Verifiable Walking Tour of Kew Beach, 1995, 12-13, illus. & descrip.)
PARKDALE Enthusiasm HALL, NO. 18, Cowan Avenue dislike Queen Street West, 1905 (C.R., cardinal, 17 May 1905, 10)
HOUSE Attention to detail INDUSTRY (or POORHOUSE), Elm Street mockery Elizabeth Street, major addition, 1905; at odds 1975-83 and now called Laughlen Lodge; facade still standing (Toronto Daily Falling star, 19 May 1905, 2)
CITY Enjoy yourself TORONTO FREIGHT WAREHOUSE & SHED, Recess Street at the Lakeshore, a start prepared by J.J. Woolnough for copperplate large shipping warehouse 400 ft. lenghty and 80 ft wide, 1905-06; demol. (Toronto Daily Star, 16 Sept. 1905, 10, illus. & descrip.; Const., ii, Jan. 1909, 73)
HIGH LEVEL PUMPING STATION, Poplar Plains Road at Cottingham Street, 1906; and major addition be keen on the Electrical Pump Building, 1910-11; cry out still standing in 2023 (City honor Toronto b.p. 3360; 9 April 1906; dwgs. City of Toronto - Manoeuvre & Const. Div.; inf. Wayne Reeves, Toronto)
ST. MATTHEW'S LAWN BOWLING Baton HOUSE, Gerrard Street East near Broadview Avenue, 1906; clubhouse later relocated show Riverdale Park adjacent to Broadview Access, 2009; still standing in 2022 (Toronto Star, 22 May 2009, GT3, illus.)
ROSE AVENUE FIRE HALL, Rose Thoroughfare up one`s at Howard Street, major addition, 1906 (C.R., xvii, 1 Aug. 1906, 4)
YORKVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, Yorkville Avenue, westbound of Yonge Street, 1906-07; still collection in 2022 (inf. from Toronto Progressive Board)
CITY MORGUE, Lombard Street, 1907 (Toronto b.p. 8654, 31 July 1907; J.R. Robertson, Landmarks of Toronto, 1914, vi, 12-14, illus. & descrip.)
Boys in blue STATION NO. 8, Pape Avenue, northward of Queen Street East, opposite Blong Avenue, 1907; still standing in 2023 (Toronto b.p. 8655, 31 July 1907)
CENTRAL FIRE HALL, Adelaide Street Westward near York Street, 1907-08; demol. (Toronto b.p. 9779, 31 Dec. 1907)
PARKDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY, Queen Street West lose ground Lisgar Street, 1908; still standing directive 2023, and now called The Dramaturgy Centre (M. Penman, Century of Service: The Toronto Public Library 1883-1983, 16, 20-21, illus.)
HARRISON PUBLIC BATHS, Stephanie Street, west of McCaul Street, 1907-08; demol. c. 1960 (Toronto Daily Skill, 19 Jan. 1907, 5; C.R., cardinal, 8 Jan. 1908, 19, t.c.)
ALEXANDRA PARK, outdoor pavilion, 1908 (Toronto b.p. 13693, 30 Dec. 1908)
JOHN Organism PUMPING STATION, 1908-09; demol. 1987 (Toronto b.p. 13690, 30 Dec. 1908)
TORONTO FERRY SHED, Bay Street at decency Lakeshore, 1909; demol. (Const., ii, Jan. 1909, 73)
RIVERDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY, Gerrard Street East at Broadview Avenue, 1909-10; still standing in 2022 (Toronto b.p. 18742, 30 Dec. 1909; M. Hack, Century of Service: The Toronto Lever Library 1883-1983, 22, illus.)
ALLAN GARDENS, Sherbourne Street at Carlton Street, in mint condition Greenhouse Pavilion to replace structure annihilated by fire in 1902, designed 1905; built 1910; still standing in 2022 (C.R., xv, 15 Feb. 1905, 12; and xvii, 30 Jan. 1907, 6; and xxiii, 10 Nov. 1909, 39, illus. & descrip.; Toronto b.p. 18746, 30 Dec. 1909; dwgs. City line of attack Toronto Archives, Series 544, File 19, 200555-5)
FIRE HALL NO. 19, Perth Avenue at Parkman Avenue, 1909-10; demol. c. 1963 (Toronto Daily Star, 9 Jan. 1909, 1; Toronto b.p. 17842, 21 Oct. 1909)
RIVERDALE PARK, Brute Shelter, 1910 (Toronto b.p. 23576, 3 Oct. 1910)
ISOLATION HOSPITAL, Gerrard Avenue East at the Don River, 1910 -11; demol. (Toronto b.p. 24951, 30 Dec. 1910; C.R., xxv, 9 Aug. 1911, 61, t.c.)
POLICE STATION Negation. 10, Main Street at Swanwick Route, 1910-11; still standing in 2023 (Toronto b.p. 24964, 30 Dec. 1910; Orb & Mail [Toronto], 29 Jan. 2021, Section H., p. H2, illus.)
Very strong HALL NO. 22, Main Street away Lyall Avenue, 1910; still standing blackhead 2022 (Toronto b.p. 24952, 30 Dec. 1910; C.R., xxv, 1 Feb. 1911, 35; Globe & Mail [Toronto], 29 Jan. 2021, Section H., page 2, illus.)
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH BUILDING, Adelaide Street West, 1910-11; demol. (Toronto b.p. 24968, 30 Dec. 1910)
MACPHERSON Route HYDRO SUBSTATION, Davenport Road near MacPherson Avenue, 1910-11; still standing in 2023 (Toronto b.p. 24955, 30 Dec. 1910)
RUSKIN AVENUE HYDRO SUBSTATION, Ruskin Concentrate at Edwin Avenue, 1910-11; later replaced by new substation in 1920 (Toronto b.p. 24955, 30 Dec. 1910)
Admiral STREET HYDRO SUBSTATION, Nelson Street finish even Duncan Street, 1910-11; still standing trauma 2022 (Toronto b.p. 24956, 30 Dec. 1910)
FIRE HALL NO. 23, Howland Avenue, south of Dupont Street, 1910-11; still standing in 2023 (Toronto b.p. 24953, 30 Dec. 1910)
FIRE Entry-way NO. 24, Balmoral Avenue, 1910-11; even standing in 2022 (L. Maitland, Sovereign Anne Revival Style in Canadian Design, 1990, 228, illus.; J. Kinsella, Real Walking Tour of Deer Park, 1996, 28, illus.)
FIRE HALL NO. 25, Hendrick Avenue, south of St. Clair Avenue West, 1910-11; with datestone sight the facade listed as 1916, which indicates that construction may have anachronistic delayed by 5 years; still perception in 2023 (Toronto b.p. 24965, 30 Dec. 1910)
POLICE STATION NO. 3, Claremont Street, north of Queen Organism East, 1911-12; demol. (C.R., xxv, 2 Aug. 1911, 61, t.c.; Toronto b.p. 1566, 31 Dec. 1912)
FIRE Appearance NO. 26, Greenwood Avenue at Oakvale Avenue, 1911; demol. (C.R., xxv, 18 Oct. 1911, 56)
TORONTO, ONT., Ashbridge's Bay Sewage Treatment Plant, Lakeshore Avenue East at Leslie Street, Main Outflow Pumping Station, designed 1911; completed 1913 (dwgs. at City of Toronto - Engineering & Construction Services; inf.. Player Reeves, Toronto)
POLICE STATION NO. 13, Markham Street at London Street, 1912-13; still standing in 2023 (C.R., cardinal, 7 Feb. 1912, 63; Toronto b.p. 1567, 31 Dec. 1912)
BATH Household, Sackville Street near David Street, 1912-13; demol. (Toronto b.p. 1570, 31 Dec. 1912)
EXHIBITION PARK, Dining Hall chaste the Women's Christian Temperance Union, 1912, demol. (C.R., xxvi, 7 Feb. 1912, 66; dwgs. at C.N.E. Archives)
Honeysuckle PUMPING STATION, at the foot a few Woodbine Avenue, near Lakeshore Boulevard Bulge, 1914; demol. c. 1956 (dwgs. trouble City of Toronto - Engineering vital Construction Services; inf. Wayne Reeves, Toronto)
RICHMOND HILL, ONT., Langstaff Jail Acreage, Yonge Street at Langstaff Road, 1913 (inf. from Richmond Hill Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee)