EDWARD MAXWELL, R.C.A -- the Storied Province of Quebec
"The Storied Province of Quebec" is a history book with biographies of important persons and companies. It consists of 5 volumes and was printed in 1931. The copyright has expired.
The book has a section about Edward Maxwell:
EDWARD MAXWELL, R.C.A
For years an outstanding figure in the architectural profession in North America, the late Edward Maxwell, R.C.A., was especially well known throughout Canada. With headquarters in Montreal, he was engaged there in the active practice of his profession for some thirty years, during which he won a very large number of architectural competitions in all parts of the Dominion. As a result he was entrusted with many important commissions, which included some of the finest buildings erected in different sections of Canada during the period of his activity. He was equally successful in all types of architecture, having to his credit public and private buildings, churches, hotels, hospitals, schools, banks and residences. To a remarkable degree he combined thorough professional knowledge, fine artistic taste and exceptional business and executive ability, and it was only natural that he was considered one of the leading architects of Canada and the United States. A patron of fine arts and himself a collector of works of art, he was prominently active in the affairs of the Royal Canadian Academy. Throughout his life he took great interest and an active part in advancing the welfare of his native city, Montreal, where naturally he enjoyed a prominent position and where he was highly respected.
Edward Maxwell was born in Montreal, December 31. 1867, a son of the late Edward J. and Johan (McBean) Maxwell. His father was the founder of the E. J. Maxwell Lumber Company of Montreal, a large and widely known establishment. Edward Maxwell received his early education in the public schools of Montreal and afterwards studied architecture in the office of the late A. F. Dunlop, one of the most prominent Canadian architects of that period. Later he went for some years to Boston, Massachusetts, where he was associated with one of that city's leading architectural firms, Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge. Returning to Montreal in 1892, he established himself as an architect under his own name and he continued to practice alone until 1903, when he was joined by his brother, W. S. Maxwell. At that time the name of the firm was changed to Edward and W. S. Maxwell, and Mr. Maxwell remained an active member until a short time before his death. Mr. Maxwell enjoyed a very large practice, one of the largest in Canada, Amongst the many important buildings of which he was the architect, should be especially mentioned the Art Association Building, the Royal Alexandra Hospital, a large addition to the General Hospital, the Nurses' Home of the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Montreal High School, the Stock Exchange, the Merchant Bank Building, the Church of the Messiah, all of Montreal; the Legislative and Executive Buildings at Regina; the Canadian Pacific Railway Hotels at Winnipeg, Calgary, and a large addition to the famous Chateau Frontenac at Quebec. He was also the architect for many of the finest private residences in Montreal, including those of C. R. Hosmer, R. B. Angus, the Senator Forget, J. T. Davis, Sir Vincent Meredith, Sir Edward Clouston, and many others. For a very long period he was a member and a councillor of the Royal Canadian Academy, of which he was also vice-president, and he was one of the pioneer members of the Province of Quebec Association of Architects. Owning and operating a large farm at Baie d'Urfe, known as Maxwelton Farm, he developed and maintained there one of the largest and finest government accredited Jersey herds in Canada. He was also a lover of good horses and very fond of outdoor life, and at his beautiful summer home at St. Andrew's, New Brunswick, he spent many happy hours in the study of nature and in living outdoors. A Mason, he was affiliated for many years as an active member and as an officer with St. Paul's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He was also a member of St. James' Club, the Laurentian Club, the Forest and Stream Club, and the Meno Keosawin Club. His religious affiliations were with the Presbyterian church, and more particularly with the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul of Montreal. Of the work of this church he was a faithful and generous supporter and he also gave freely of his time and means to many charitable nd benevolent institutions of his community.
Mr. Maxwell married at Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York, Elizabeth Ellen Aitchison, a native of Potsdam and a daughter of William and Jane (Blythe) Aitchison, both of Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell were the parents of four children: 1. Edward Blythe Maxwell, a graduate of McGill University and now vice-president and general manager of the E. J. Maxwell Lumber Company of Montreal, founded by his grandfather; married to Ruth Ballantyne. 2. Jean Agnes Reid Maxwell, who married Kenneth Fleming, of Windsor, Province of Ontario. 3. Herries Stirling Maxwell, a graduate of McGill University and, like his father, an architect. 4. Elizabeth Joan Maxwell.
Mr. Maxwell died after a prolonged illness at his Montreal residence, on Peel Street, November 14, 1923. He was laid to rest in Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal. His death meant the passing of a man, who, during his long and exceptionally brilliant and successful career as an architect, had made many contributions of outstanding importance to the building up and beautifying of many Canadian cities. These exerted a powerful influence on Canadian architecture during the first quarter of the twentieth century and this influence was always to be found on the side of good taste. By his death Montreal, where he had spent practically all of his life, lost one of its most public-spirited citizens, who could always be counted upon to support every movement tending to advance the welfare and prosperity of the community, its people and its institutions. In speaking of Mr. Maxwell's life and character, the Montreal "Gazette," at the time of his death, said:
To those, who knew him personally, was given the great privilege of an edifying, sympathetic and true friendship, while his versatility and wide experience commanded the respect of all.
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