CORNELIUS JOHN SOULE
The Story

story.htm
UPDATED 08/03/09

Port Hope, Ontario

In August of 1873 Cornelius arrived in Port Hope from the United States.   He was on a visit to Port Hope, but seeing the need for an architect in the community he decided to stay.

He first opened an office over Craick’s Store but in the latter part of September his advertisement shows his office as being over C. A. Hagerman’s store.

His first known commission was for the West Primary School in Englishtown on the corner of Bruton and Bramley Sts.  He was originally commissioned by the School Board to provide plans and specifications for the sum of $40.     In the end he received $50 and a positive review of his work. [$50 would be worth about $800 in 2006]

In October Cornelius was showcasing his talent at the Port Hope Horticultural Show where he won prizes in the amateur and professional large drawing and a water color picture categories.

In October of 1873 Cornelius received a commission to build the Cavan Township Hall in Millbrook, Ontario about 18 miles NW of Port Hope.  He was paid the princely sum of $75.

"Mr. Soule, Architect, Port Hope presented the plans and Specifications prepared by him for the new Town Hall in Millbrook which were examined and approved by the council.  Moved by Mr. Richard Staples Deputy Reeve and seconded by Mr. William Fallis, councilor that an order be issued on the Treasurer for $75.00 in favor of Mr Soule for Plans and Specifications of new Town Hall.     Motion carried." [$75 would be worth about $1,200 today]

In January of this year Cornelius advertised that his office could now be found over Hagerman’s store.

In 1873 Port Hope’s YMCA had swelled to 145 members and had outgrown their rented premises.  So in the Summer of 1874 the YMCA decided on purchasing the property of Mr. Horace Perry, on John Street and Cornelius was commissioned to design their new building.  In April subscribers to the YMCA were being asked to pay their subscriptions early so that the building committee would have money to commence the construction.  It was hoped to complete it by the end of the year.

With its entrance on John Street it had a corridor running along the right side of the building all the way through to the Lecture Hall at the rear. The Hall was a room 30 by 60 feet, capable of seating 400 persons. To the left, inside the entrance, a door led into the Library and Reading Room and from it another door gave access to the Secretary’s office. A stairway ran up from the corridor to the upstairs floor, where two rooms were located, which were intended for smaller meetings, games and recreation.

The Lecture Hall proved a convenient place for holding gatherings of various kinds and over the years many events took place there, among them the first concert by phonograph and in 1895, the first moving picture show.    Boasting a gymnasium, possibly a later addition, the building became the centre of a good deal of the town’s sporting activities.

Also in 1874 Cornelius designed renovations for "Terralta Cottage" at 160 Dorset Street west, for lawyer Thomas Moore Benson.  Built in the 1850’s the building was transformed, by Cornelius into a Gothic Cottage, complete with lacy bargeboards, a steep gable facing the street and unusual upstairs windows that peek out from behind three sided "nun’s coif" dormers.  There was some speculation that the tower was part of a later renovation but it does show up in Soule's plans.  Benson later became Queens Counsel and a senior judge in the county court.  This is the only structure, so far, for which we have obtained drawings (from the Ontario Archives).

In August, 1874 Cornelius again entered drawings in the Port Hope Agricultural Exhibition where it was mentioned that "... there were some excellent drawings by Mr. C. J. Soule."

Cornelius advertised not only as an architect and superintendent but he also advertised,

Mr. Soule having had considerable experience Landscape Gardening in England is prepared to furnish designs for laying out Public and Private Grounds, summer Houses, Park Gates &c. and superintend the work.

Port Hope and Stratford, Ontario

In November of 1874 the Stratford Beacon, a weekly newspaper, printed an article saying that Cornelius had opened an office and associated himself with J. G. Kirk, a Civil Engineer.  It made mention of his formal training in architecture and his practical experience in both Canada and the United States.  In December there was an advertisement in the Beacon that Cornelius could be found in Kirk's office on Carrall St, Statford.

In January he advertised  his services in Port Hope as Architect and superintendent and that instructions left with Wm. Garnett, Esq., Port Hope will receive prompt attention.  William Garnett was a local contractor.

In March of 1875 Cornelius was continuing to advertise in Stratford and that he could be found in his office in the Carrall Block.

On October 6, Cornelius married Anna Mary (Annie) Rubidge.   She was one of the eleven children of Port Hope lawyer, Alfred Richard Rubidge and the former Ellen Semanthe Spalding of Grafton.  They were married at the Rubidge home in Port Hope, their announcement stating that they were both from Port Hope.

The fact that Cornelius wanted people to leave word for him at the Midland Railway office, coupled with the fact that Mr. Hugel, the president of the Midland Railway, provided Cornelius with a letter of recommendation probably indicates that he did work for the Railway or for Mr. Hugel personally, or both.  However we have yet to come across any evidence of this.

According to the Latter Day Saints site Mary Semanthe, Cornelius' and Anna's first daughter, was born 03 Aug, 1876 in Port Hope, Durham County, Ontario. 
The 1901 Canada census and her nieces birthday  book say she was born September 3, 1876.  Her obituary says she was born in Guelph.  But so far I have yet to see any confirming documentation.

Perhaps Anna stayed in Port Hope while Cornelius roamed around looking for work.

Cornelius immediately set about making contacts and setting himself up socially by becoming a critic in the YMCA.   Incidentally in this year Mr. "William" Guthrie was the president.   Later Cornelius took a picture of the "Donald" Guthrie home.  Is there the possibility that Cornelius designed the home, which later became the Homewood Sanitarium?

Cornelius immediately petitioned the Wellington County Council for the position vacated by Victor Stewart.

No specific records have been found to confirm that Cornelius reached Denver and practiced there.

HOME | 1882 to 1885