Mr. Fowler belonged to the Episcopal church and to its teachings was loyal and faithful. He was a member of the Philharmonic Club. He manifested the qualities of good citizenship and was devoted to the welfare of his family, who, when he passed away in April, 1903, lost a loving and generous husband and father, while his associates mourned the death of a loyal, faithful friend.
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.
ALEXANDER C. HUTCHISON
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.