Alexander Cowper Hutchison

The history of Montreal’s architectural development would be incomplete were there failure to make reference to Alexander Cowper Hutchison, who, though in his seventy-seventh year, is yet active in his profession in which he has long been a recognized leader. His position today is that of consulting architect and his utterances are accepted as words of wisdom by younger representatives of the profession. Mr. Hutchison is one of the old-time residents of Montreal. In fact, his entire life has here been passed with the exception of a period of three years spent in Ottawa, Ontario. He has seen this city develop from less than forty thousand to a metropolitan center of over six hundred thousand inhabitants.

Mr. Hutchison was born April 2, 1838, on the east side of Queen Street between Wellington and William Streets, at Montreal and many years later it fell to his lot in the course of his business, to tear down the old house in which his birth had occurred, this being done to make room for the Ives and Allen warehouse which was erected upon that site. He comes of old Scotch ancestry. His father was William Hutchison who came from Ayrshire, Scotland. He was a builder in Montreal and afterward was connected with the public works department. The mother, whose maiden name was Helen Campbell Hall, was also a native of Ayrshire, Scotland.

Such schools as existed in Montreal during his youthful days provided Alexander Cowper Hutchison with his educational opportunities. When but a boy of twelve years he began to learn the stone-cutter’s trade under the direction of his father and during the winter months for two or three years after he had commenced work he attended the school conducted by the late C. P. Watson. Subsequently he became a student in night school and devoted all of his spare time to study, having come to a full realization of the value of education. He possessed an inherited talent for drawing and to develop his powers in that direction he attended drawing classes that were conducted at the Mechanics’ Institute. He had made rapid progress from the very first as a stone-cutter and displayed exceptional ability and skill in that direction.

When scarcely out of his teens he was placed in charge of the cut stone work on Christ Church Cathedral and some of the finest stone work around the altar in that edifice was cut by him before he had attained his majority. After the completion of that building he was placed in charge of the cut stone work of the eastern block of the parliament buildings at Ottawa during their erection, his efforts in that connection continuing through the year 1862. While engaged in that work he successfully conducted classes in drawing which were largely attended. On the completion of the government buildings he was called to Montreal to conduct classes in connection with the Mechanics’ Institute, giving instructions in architectural and geometric drawing. These classes were afterward transferred to the Board of Arts and Manufacturers and it was while connected therewith that he took up the active practice of his profession which he followed for many years. The beauty and utility which have always been salient features of his designs are evident in many of the principal buildings of Montreal.

Among the many structures designed by Mr. Hutchison independently or in a partnership relation, and which stand as monuments to his skill and ingenuity may be mentioned: Redpath Museum; McGill University; Erskine church; Crescent Street Presbyterian church; Warren Memorial church at Louisville, Kentucky; St. Andrew’s church, at Westmount; Montreal high school and a number of other school buildings; Royal Insurance building; London & Liverpool & Globe Insurance Company’s building; Canadian Express Company’s building; La Presse building; Queen’s Hall block; Henry Birks & Sons’ building; Lord Strathcona’s residence; Macdonald College buildings at Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, as well as a large number of residences in Montreal and elsewhere together with many warehouses, factories etc. One of the most recent expressions of his architectural skill is seen in the Chalmers church at Ottawa. He has not only practiced his profession as one of its active followers, but has also gained renown as an educator in his special field. He has lectured on ecclesiastical architecture before the Presbyterian College of Montreal and he was one of the original members, selected by its founder, the Marquis of Lorne, of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art, and remained its vice president until 1907, when he resigned. He has likewise been honored with the presidency of the Quebec Architects’ Association, of which he was one of the founders, and thus has come to him direct recognition of the honor and respect entertained for him by the profession.

In political affairs Mr. Hutchison has taken a prominent part but never as a party leader in the commonly accepted sense of the term. With him men and measures have ever been considered before partisanship, and the public welfare has ever stood before personal aggrandizement. For years he was a member of the council and was the second mayor of Cote St. Antoine, now Westmount. His deep interest in and loyalty to the cause of education was demonstrated in his eighteen years of service as a school trustee. For a number of years he was a member of No. 5 Queen’s Company Volunteer Fire Brigade. He was likewise a member of the First Company Rifles which was originally an independent company and afterwards became the First Company of Prince of Wales’ Regiment. He was also an officer in a rifle company in Ottawa, while subsequently he became an officer of the Montreal Engineers, retiring with the rank of lieutenant. He took part in the Fenian raids of 1866 and 1870 and was accorded the Queen’s medal.

Mr. Hutchison manifested great interest in church work. He was formerly an elder in Erskine church, but afterward became connected with St. Andrew’s church at Westmount, which had previously been known as Melville church but differences of opinion caused a split in the congregation and the portion that left took the name with them. St. Andrew’s church was then organized and remained on the old site, at the corner of Stanton and Cote St. Antoine road. Mr. Hutchison was one of its founders and since the organization of this church has taken a most prominent part in its affairs. He has been an elder for many years, was superintendent of the Sunday school for thirty years and since 1886 has continuously served as session clerk. He is a member of the board of managers of the Montreal Presbyterian College and was a member of the national committee of the Presbyterian Laymen’s Missionary movement in 1909. He has likewise served as president of the Provincial Sunday School Union of Quebec.

No good work done in the name of charity or religion has ever sought his aid in vain, and his broad humanitarianism has been manifest in his helpful support of many movements to benefit the poor and needy or ameliorate the hard conditions of life for the unfortunate. He is a life governor of the Montreal General Hospital, of the Protestant Hospital for the Insane, governor of the Western Hospital, and president of the Protestant House of Industry and Refuge. He is an ex-president of the Canadian branch of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club and of the Montreal Caledonian Curling Club, being now honorary president of the latter and an ex-president of the Heather Curling Club of Westmount. He was a warm personal friend of the late Hon. Alexander Mackenzie and he counts among his close associates many of the most distinguished and eminent residents of Montreal and the province. The Ottawa Free Press has termed him “one of Montreal’s best known and most honored citizens.” He has long occupied positions of distinction, not only by reason of what he has accomplished along professional lines, but also owing to the fact that he has made his life of signal service and benefit to his fellowmen in his support of benevolent and religious plans and projects. His life has ever been actuated by the highest principles of honor and no citizen of Montreal is more worthy of high regard.

On the 10th of July, 1862, in Cobourg, Ontario, Mr. Hutchison was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Burnet of that place, and they celebrated their golden wedding in July, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison have two sons and one daughter: William B., of the firm of Hutchison, Wood & Miller, architects, who is married; Charles Alexander, engaged in ornamental iron work, who is married and has two children, Margaret and Lorne; and Helen, the wife of George W. Wood of that firm. She has three sons: Alexander Campbell, George Arthur and Douglas Fletcher.

Mr. Hutchison resides at No. 240 Kensington Avenue and has lived in that immediate vicinity for nearly fifty years. During his boyhood his parents resided on the north side of St. James Street just a short distance west of Bleury Street which was then one of the attractive residential sections of the city and Mr. Hutchison relates some highly interesting incidents of those early days.

In 1865 when he took up his residence in what is now Westmount, that district was supposed to be far out in the country. In fact, the nearest residence, other than homes of farmers, was on Dorchester West near what is now Greene Street. While Mr. Hutchison has passed the seventy-sixth milestone upon life’s journey, he is a well preserved man, active in mind and body. Regular in his habits, he has never tasted intoxicating liquors or used tobacco in any form. His great vitality has enabled him to withstand three very serious operations since reaching the age of seventy years and his complete recovery has attracted the attention of members of the medical profession. He is a splendid type of a high-minded gentleman of the old school, whose natural politeness and courtesy are in evidence at all times.